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This year the world is celebrating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. And by "celebrating" I don't mean the world is going, "Yay! Shakespeare is dead!" Although now that I'm thinking about it, if my middle son were still in the eighth grade struggling through "Romeo and Juliet," he'd probably be going, "Yay! Shakespeare can't write plays anymore!"

But whatever. That's not the point.

The point is that Shakespeare died 400 years ago this week — on April 23. When we were in D.C. last month, my husband, our son and I went to the Folger Shakespeare Library, which is home to a traveling exhibit of original documents and ephemera connected to the playwright — his coat of arms, his signature, various public records, that note from Mrs. Shakespeare reminding him to pick up a gallon of milk on his way home from the Globe.

Anyway. The Folger Library is inviting citizens to record a video answering one of the following questions and then share it using the hashtag #MySHX400. If this sounds like your kind of reindeer game, feel free to join in.

When did you first read or see Shakespeare?

Like a lot of women of my generation, I first became aware of Shakespeare thanks to Franco Zeffirelli, who used actual (also super hot!) teenagers in his film "Romeo and Juliet." Who can forget all that steamy flirting at the masquerade ball? All that rolling around in love? And also all that stabbing and poisoning at the end?

Share your favorite Shakespeare lines or speeches.

I used to like the lines with swear words in them, such as "Out damned spot!" or "Asses are made to bear and so are you." It was awesome to say swear words in English class without getting in trouble.

Tell us about your favorite play and why it is your favorite.

I like "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the best, although I did see an unsavory production once where the director turned the fairies into flies and the forest into a dung heap. Also, Puck wore safety pins in his ears and a dog collar around his neck.

Which Shakespeare character speaks to you and why?

I was in a production of "King Lear" once, by which I mean I was a serving wench who poured drinks onstage and didn't say anything. At the time I thought Lear was a dope. Even one of his pals tells him that he (Lear) shouldn't have grown old without becoming wise first. But as I've aged myself, I've come to understand that wisdom doesn't always come with birthdays. Acquiring wisdom is HARD, people.

What is the most memorable production of Shakespeare that you've seen?

That one where the director turned the fairies into flies and the forest into a dung heap. It wasn't the best production I've seen. But it was definitely the most memorable.

Share your take on the "to be or not to be" speech.

I really liked the way Mel Gibson said it before he went all crazytown Uncle Mel on us.

What does Shakespeare mean to you?

I have to say that Shakespeare is responsible for some of my happiest memories. For years we've gone to the festival in Cedar City and enjoyed the productions, even when I had absolutely no idea what was happening on the stage. For reasons he doesn't entirely understand, one of our boys has particularly enjoyed the festival, so whenever I think of Shakespeare I also think of sitting with him (the world's most unlikely Shakespeare geek) beneath a bright summer moon.

Happy anniversary, Will!

OK. Now it's your turn to give a shout-out to the Bard.

(Note: For ideas and information, go to folger.edu/MySHX400.)

Ann Cannon can be reached at acannon@sltrib.com or facebook.com/anncannontrib.