Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute Reading with Rebecca Lehmann

Each year, the Folger Shakespeare Library celebrates the birthday of Emily Dickinson with a special tribute reading. For the 2026 edition, the featured reader is Rebecca Lehmann, a poet, essayist, and debut novelist whose work has won the AWP Donald Hall Prize for *Ringer*. Lehmann will read selections from her own poetry and prose alongside passages from Dickinson’s poems, offering a dialogue between the past and present. The evening is co-sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum, and in a nod to Dickinson’s domestic side, her famous black cake—made from her own recipe—will be served to attendees.

When: Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 7:30pm.

Venue: Folger Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.

Tickets: This reading is part of the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series 2026‑2027 season. A full series subscription covering all five readings costs $81 (including a $6 handling fee). Subscribers save 25% off single ticket prices, get guaranteed seats, unlimited access to recordings of all readings, and discounts on other Folger programs. Virtual packages are also available starting at $30, providing live-stream access to any three or more readings plus unlimited on-demand viewing.

Lineup: Featured reader and poet Rebecca Lehmann.

Run time: The reading begins at 7:30pm; exact duration is not specified, but typical poetry readings in the series run about 60–90 minutes.

Ages: Not explicitly stated; likely suitable for general audiences.

Note: The event includes a serving of Emily Dickinson’s black cake. Co‑sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum. Subscriptions are on sale now through the Folger box office.