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An oasis for those who love classic stories. Los Angeles Times

Lauren Gunderson's

The Book of Will

May 7 - June 4, 2023
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The Book of Will

By Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott & Geoff Elliott

May 7 – June 4, 2023

History, humor, and hijinks abound in this love letter to theater and friendship. After Shakespeare’s death, his friends, who also happen to be his fellow members of the King’s Men, are struck with the epiphany that it is up to them to preserve and print Will’s famous plays which otherwise exist only in script fragments and aging memories. Peppered with some of Shakespeare’s most famous lines, this fresh, modern look at the Bard is a must-see whether you love Shakespeare, origin stories, or tales of friendship.

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes including one 15-minute intermission

“STAGE RAW TOP TEN… RECOMMENDED… surprisingly suspenseful — a gripping, edge of your seat yarn… first rate.”
-F. Kathleen Foley, Stage Raw

“A DELIGHT… funny [and] fascinating… one of the most emotionally satisfying and exciting moments I’ve experienced in the theatre."
-Michael Doherty, Mostly Shakespeare

“WOW… GLORIOUSLY STAGED… the fascinating, illuminating, crowd-pleasing latest from A Noise Within… this modern classic is as magical as they get.”
-Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA

“SMART, FUNNY AND POIGNANT… ANW’s production is sharply compelling, with well-timed humor and poignant depth, making it both interesting and highly entertaining.”
-Anita W. Harris, LA Theatrix

“FIRST-RATE… the company can play the comedic, crowd-pleasing beats, and they can pluck the heartstrings with equal aplomb.”
-Evan Henerson, Broadway World

Read more reviews.
The Book of Will Production Photos
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Nicole Javier and Geoff Elliott. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Nicole Javier, Deborah Strang, and Trisha Miller. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Kasey Mahaffy, Jeremy Rabb, Stanley Andrew Jackson, and Geoff Elliott. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Ensemble. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Frederick Stuart and Stanley Andrew Jackson. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Kelvin Morales, Jeremy Rabb, and Geoff Elliott. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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From the Blog:

Q&A with Lauren Gunderson

Interview: Lauren Gunderson on The Book of Will

artists + cast

The Artists

Cast

  • Henry Condell: Jeremy Rabb*
  • John Heminges: Geoff Elliott*
  • Richard Burbage/William Jaggard/Horatio: Frederick Stuart*
  • Elizabeth Condell/Emilia Bassano Lanier/Fruit Seller/Marcellus: Trisha Miller*
  • Rebecca Heminges/Anne Hathaway Shakespeare: Deborah Strang*
  • Ralph Crane/Barman/Compositor/Francisco: Kasey Mahaffy*
  • Alice Heminges/Susannah Shakespeare: Nicole Javier*
  • Ed Knight/Isaac Jaggard: Stanley Andrew Jackson*
  • Ben Jonson/Barman 2/Sir Edward Dering: Alex Morris*
  • Marcus/Boy Hamlet/Crier/Bernardo: Kelvin Morales
  • Understudy Elizabeth Condell/Emilia Bassano Lanier/Fruit Seller/Marcellus: Caitlin Duffy*
  • Understudy Rebecca Heminges/Anne Hathaway Shakespeare: Tiffany Coty*
  • Understudy Ben Jonson/Barman 2/Sir Edward Dering: Rosney Mauger*
  • Understudy Marcus/Boy Hamlet/Crier/Bernardo/Ralph Crane/Barman/Compositor/Francisco: Clifton Adams
  • Understudy Ed Knight/Isaac Jaggard: Jack Zubieta
  • Understudy Alice Hemmings/Susannah Shakespeare: Arely Vianet
  • Understudy Richard Burbage/William Jaggard: Dennis Pearson*
  • Understudy Henry Condell: Brendan Mulligan

† Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

ANW Resident Artist

Header photo by Daniel Reichert. Pictured: Stanley Andrew Jackson, Jeremy Rabb, and Trisha Miller.