The Book of Will
by Playhouse 2000
Jun. 23 - Jun. 24
The historically based tale of the creation of "The First Folio," the very first published edition of the plays of William Shakespeare.
The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson Auditions June 23, 2024 at 2:30 pm and June 24 at 6:30 pm in the Werlein Annex Studio. Plays August 9-25, 2024
Director Amy Goodyear will be looking for at least 10 men/women of varying ages for the following characters. There will probably be some double casting and additional smaller roles will be also be divided among those cast. Ages of characters are also somewhat flexible.
Advance copies of scripts can be checked out for two days (seriously, two!) at P2K’s VK Garage Theater office, 305 Washington Street. For other questions, give Amy a call at (830) 896-9393 x 304.
Henry Condell: Feisty and hopeful, Henry is forty years old, Shakespeare’s friend, and actor in the King’s Men.
John Heminges: Reasonable and serious, John is fifty years old, Shakespeare’s friend, and financial manager of the King’s Men. He is a good man, a gentleman, and owner of the Globe Tap House.
Richard Burbage: A seasoned lion of the stage, loud and proud, Richard is in his fifties and famous across England.
Elizabeth Condell: Savvy and fun, Elizabeth is Condell’s wife.
Alice Heminges: John’s daughter and alewife, Alice is thirty years old, knows everyone, and hangs with the boys.
Rebecca Heminges: John’s wife, Rebecca is strong, busy with their grocery business, and a woman who has weathered much but loves her husband, her sons, and God. She is a good wife.
Ben Jonson: Poet laureate of England and friend/rival of Shakespeare, Ben is an amazing drunk, a bear of a man, and surprisingly weepy.
Ed Knight: “Stage manager” for the King’s Men, Ed is self-serious and particular.
Ralph Crane: Humble scrivener of the King’s Men, Ralph is quick, sure, and quiet.
William Jaggard: Successful if shady publisher of books, plays, and playbills, William is confident in his ability to get what he wants. He is very experienced, very connected, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, but an ass.
Isaac Jaggard: William’s son, Isaac will inherit the business. He is sensitive, an artist at heart.
Marcus: Printer’s apprentice at the Jaggard print shop, twenty-year-old Marcus is nosy but honest.
Compositor: Works for Jaggard, young.
Emilia Bassano Lanier: A fiery Italian feminist and poet, Emilia is fifty years old, an independent woman, and a lover of life (and of Shakespeare).
Sir Edward Dering: A book and theatre lover, Edward is sixty years old and the first customer of The First Folio.
Anne Hathaway Shakespeare: Shakespeare’s now ailing sixty-year-old wife, Anne is strong-willed, a classy lady, a survivor.
Susannah Shakespeare: A good girl and daughter of Shakespeare, Susannah is thirty years old.
Scripts are available for check out in the Playhouse 2000 office. Reading the script prior to audition is strongly recommended. Auditions will consist of readings from the script and possibly some movement games. No preparation is necessary.
