His comedies, histories, and tragedies have been performed worldwide for more than 400 years, but William Shakespeare’s personal life remains something of a mystery. In a special installment of the unique, Emmy Award-winning series Meet the Past, the famed playwright – as portrayed by Kansas City actor Mark Robbins – sits down with Library Director Crosby Kemper III for a probing, public conversation about his life and celebrated body of work.

The latest installment of the Library’s Emmy Award-winning series, Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III, spotlights one of the preeminent figures in 20th century African American literature, Zora Neale Hurston.

From Kansas City’s signature Country Club Plaza to pristine shopping districts and neighborhoods across the country, J.C. Nichols’ imprint on the American landscape remains deep and far-reaching. The famed real estate developer, who died a little more than 64 years ago, is spotlighted in this installment of the Library’s popular Meet the Past series.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Patrick Lee.

Bingham (1811-1879) - portrayed by actor Robert Gibby Brand - returns for the Library's popular Meet the Past series. Conducting the interview is library director Crosby Kemper III.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with James Naismith, portrayed by Bill Worley.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with Edgar Snow, as portrayed by actor Robert Gibby Brand, on the Lyric Opera set for Nixon in China in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with George Caleb Bingham, whose paintings of Missouri and the American frontier have earned him a reputation as one of America’s greatest genre painters of the 19th century.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with President Woodrow Wilson, as portrayed by Judd Bankert, a Wilson re-enactor from Staunton, Va., at the National World War I Museum.

Meet the Past features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures (as portrayed by actors and veteran Chautauqua performers) with Kansas City-area connections. Kerry Altenbernd portrays John Brown, the famous (and infamous) abolitionist.

Meet the Past features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures (as portrayed by actors and veteran Chautauqua performers) with Kansas City-area connections. Jan Chapman portrays Annie Chambers, Kansas City's most well-known brothel proprietor.

Meet the Past features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures (as portrayed by veteran Chautauqua performers) with Kansas City-area connections. Doug Mishler portrays Thomas Hart Benton, the Missouri-born artist famous for his paintings showing ordinary people doing common things.

Meet the Past features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures (as portrayed by veteran Chautauqua performers) with Kansas City-area connections. Pete Hansen portrays Arthur Stilwell, the dreamer and visionary whose crowning achievement was the railroad that became the Kansas City Southern.

Meet the Past features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures (as portrayed by veteran Chautauqua performers) with Kansas City-area connections. This episode features a conversation with Walt Disney, who began his career as an animator in Kansas City.

Kansas City Public Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviews Amelia Earhart, portrayed by Ann Birney, as part of the Library's Meet the Past series.