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Gene Kelly Award Winner Jacob Ming-Trent comes home to Pittsburgh following a hit run at the Folger Theater in Washington D.C. and an upcoming engagement at NY Public. How Shakespeare Saved My Life is a powerful play blending Shakespeare, hip-hop, poetry, music, and personal storytelling. Tracing his journey from a turbulent childhood to a life transformed by the power of language, Ming-Trent reveals how Shakespeare became an unexpected lifeline leading him toward purpose, healing, and self-discovery. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and inspiring, this unforgettable theatrical experience celebrates resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of art.
 

“The bottom line is, this is the best performance of the year.” 
— Peter Freeman, DC Outlook 

“Jacob Ming-Trent’s How Shakespeare Saved My Life at Folger Theatre is a moving testimony to the power of personal heroes and finding your light.” 
— BroadwayWorld DC

Introducing, our PAY WHAT YOU CAN PREVIEW on Wednesday, November 11! Choose your price, starting at $5, and be part of the first audience to see this remarkable production.

World Premiere produced by

Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA

Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director / Tom Parrish, Managing Director

by Folger Theatre, Karen Ann Daniels, Artistic Director;

and by Red Bull Theater, Jesse Berger, Artistic Director

Originally commissioned and developed by

Folger Theatre, Karen Ann Daniels, Artistic Director

Red Bull Theater, Jesse Berger, Artistic Director

Recommended for ages 13 and up. Mature language and adult situations and conversations.