Thomas Jefferson was a man whose varied interests included math, astronomy, botany, architecture, the arts, literature, viniculture, philosophy and music. The fourth topic in the Curiosities Series delves into Thomas Jefferson’s love of William Shakespeare’s work. Jefferson quite literally grew up with the works of William Shakespeare. His father owned a collection of his work and Jefferson continually studied, read and attended performances of them throughout his life. Shakespeare’s compositions of history and drama were deeply influential to him. Join Poplar Forest and special guest Melora Kordos, a local director and Shakespeare expert, for a fascinating look into Shakespeare’s works and how they may have influenced one of the most important documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence. Discover some of the scenes that may have influenced Jefferson most, and watch as some of the key scenes from Shakespeare’s work are acted out on stage. Following the performance and talk, you can interact with Kordos and the cast at a wine and cheese reception in the lower level of the house. Tickets are $25 per person or $80 for all four Curiosities Series talks.

Friday, September 5 at 6:30 p.m.