Directed by Lorie Gill Hubscher

The Von Braun Center Playhouse
Huntsville, AL

Originally commissioned and produced at the Denver Center Theatre Company, A division of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
(Kent Thompson, Artistic Director)

Subsequent Rolling World Premiere produced by Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Garrison, New York (Davis McCallum, Artistic Director;
Kate Liberman, Managing Director)

This project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment on the Arts.

Supported in part by the Huntsville City Arts & Cultural Grant Fund,
a program of the City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville, Inc.

THE BOOK OF WILL is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com).

The Book of Will is performed in Two Acts, with one 15 minute intermission. Concessions may be enjoyed in the theatre.

Photographing or videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law.

The Time & Place

The Years of 1619 through 1623, A.D.

In London, England

The Globe Theatre
John Heminges’ Tap House at the Globe
Jaggard’s Print Shop
The Home of John Heminges
The Home of Henry Condell
The Home of Ben Jonson
The Home of Emilia Bassano Lanier

In Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

The Home of Anne Hathaway Shakespeare

Synopsis

Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have literary masterpieces like Romeo and Juliet. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare’s plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They’ll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, The Book of Will finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know.

The Players

Jake Barrow John Heminges
Bill Hubscher Henry Condell
Patrick Green Richard Burbage, William Jaggard
Erica Krenn Rebecca Heminges
Jacinda Swinehart Elizabeth Condell
Brianna Bond Alice Heminges
Gantt Moore Issac Jaggard
Andy Cayse Ben Jonson
Thomas Paladino Ralph Crane, Boy Hamlet
Robert Jones Marcus, Bernardo, Bar Patron, Mourner
Sara Wells Martin Emilia Bassano Lanier, Ed Knight, Bar Patron, Mourner
Leslie Gates Anne Hathaway Shakespeare
Paige McDonnell Susannah Shakespeare, Marcellus, Mourner, Maid
Justin Miller Compositor, Francisco, Barman 1, Butler, Mourner
Anthony Guffey Crier, Horatio, Printer, Barman 2
Briana Moore Edward Dering, Fruit Seller, Bar Patron, Mourner

Special Thanks

Biographies

Jake Barrow | John Heminges

Jake is a retired theatre teacher and has been involved with Theatre Huntsville since 2006 as both an actor and director in many productions since that time. His love of Shakespeare began when he was young and couldn’t even understand what he was reading yet! Some of his Shakespearean acting credits include the title roles of Hamlet and Richard III, Iago in Othello, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice. Other past acting roles include A Few Good Men, Rumors, I Hate Hamlet, and The 39 Steps. His directing credits for TH include The Diviners, Biloxi Blues, The Sunshine Boys, Enchanted April, The Boys Next Door and Rabbit Hole. He’d like to thank his wife, Erin, and son, Carter, for letting him come out and play with the Bard!

Brianna Bond | Alice Heminges 

Brianna got her BA in Performing Arts from the University of South Alabama. She made her television debut as a body for the game show The Cube, and spent March of 2022 filming season two. She also toured with the National Theatre for Children in 2018. She has done multiple shows for community theatre. Previous appearances on a Huntsville stage include Spamalot as Concorde/Laker Girl, Clue as Miss Scarlet, Things My Mother Taught Me as Olivia, and Mamma Mia as Lisa. She is excited and honored to be in this cast, and grateful for the ability to work with her talented cast mates. She thanks God for this opportunity and her family and friends for their constant encouragement.

Andy Cayse |  Assistant  Director, Ben Johnson

Andy is excited and a little terrified to be spending time on the other side of the production table for the first time. However, getting to learn under such a great director has been an incredible experience, and seeing first-hand just how much our stage managers really have to juggle has given him a newfound appreciation for what a labor of love this really is. A longtime utility actor with a Theater degree from Jacksonville State University, Andy most recently appeared for Theatre Huntsville as Tim the Enchanter and the Knight Who Says Ni in Spamalot, as Professor Plum in Clue, and as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot. He'd like to thank this stellar cast and amazing crew for making this possible, his family and friends for their support and for putting up with his nonsense, and everyone who buys a ticket to support local artists and entertainers.

Lennie Flowers | Technical Director, Scenic Design

Lennie is thrilled to join the TH team for her first show as Technical Director. She has worked and been involved in the performing arts for 20+ years. Lennie recently moved to the Huntsville area and made her area stage debut in Spamalot! Some of her most memorable productions have been, the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Mrs Graves in Enchanted April, and The Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. Lennie also has a love for directing, set design and film & television. Lennie is so excited to be a part the theater community in the Huntsville area!

Leslie Gates | Anne Hathaway Shakespeare

Leslie has enjoyed being back on the stage, and working with such a talented group of thespians. She recently directed Spamalot, and has appeared in and directed many productions for TH. Leslie has a BA in theatre from Mercer University and an MAA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. By day, she masquerades as the Executive Director of Theatre Huntsville, relishing in color-coded spreadsheets and financial reports…and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you all for supporting local theatre and bringing creativity to life in our community. Much love to her tiny minions Hamlet and Elby-Kay, and the PoF! 

Patrick Green | Richard Burbage

Patrick is thrilled to be back on the stage with Theatre Huntsville after a 5 1/2 year hiatus. His last performance was in 2018 production of Crimes of the Heart. Patrick has performed in over 100 plays, musicals, films, and commercials over the past 30 years, having earned his Bachelor's in Theatre from Troy University and MFA in acting from The University of Tennessee. As an English teacher for the past 25 years at Randolph School, Patrick jumped at the chance to take part in this important story. The best part is that he gets to work with old friends: Lorie Hubscher, our wonderful director, with whom he acted in his very first play in Huntsville back in 1990; her husband Bill, an old college friend with whom he shared the stage at Troy; and Jake Barrow, another Troy classmate who shared the stage with him memorably in both The Nerd and The Merchant of Venice. Patrick’s wife Angela is also an actor and director, currently teaching at Wallace State Community college, and his 12-year-old daughter, Daisy, is an accomplished dancer. Many thanks to all who have allowed him the opportunity to do what he loves!

Anthony Guffey | Crier, Horatio, Printer, Barman 2 

Anthony is forty four years old and has been involved with the theatre since he was six years old! From his first role as the Smallest Man in the World to now playing the Crier he has enjoyed every show he has been apart of. He would like to thank all the people who come out to see the show and Theatre Huntsville for casting him. Anthony’s mother is a retired high school English teacher who loves Shakespeare, so he grew up listening to his mother read and grade papers about Shakespeare. A student made a model of the Globe Theatre for Anthony’s mother and he remembers it being displayed on a bookcase in their house. Anthony would like to give his love and gratitude to his two daughters and his parents. He hope everyone enjoys the show!

Naomi Howard | Assistant Stage Manager

Naomi has enjoyed volunteering backstage for six different Theatre Huntsville shows (plus one accidental performance weekend). She is excited to be working with some of her favorite cast and crew members once again for The Book of Will. Enjoy the show! [Exeunt, pursued by a bear.]

Bill Hubscher | Henry Condell

Bill is humbled to honor the Bard with such an amazingly talented group of people. An award-winning actor and director, Bill was last seen onstage as King Arthur in Spamalot!. Other recent (pre-dark times) roles include Independent Musical Theatre’s Ragtime (Tateh), Theatre Huntsville’s productions of Peter and the Starcatcher (Leonard Aster), and A Christmas Story (The Old Man). He has been fortunate to work with many Huntsville theatre groups in various productions including: RENT and 1776 (for IMP); Glengarry Glen Ross, Jeffrey, and Spring Awakening (for Renaissance Theatre); Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Crucible, Angels in America, and Terra Nova (for Theatre Huntsville); A Christmas Carol and The Great Cross-Country Race (for Fantasy Playhouse). Local directorial credits include the spectacular casts of American Idiot (for Lyrique Music Productions), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (TH), The Last Five Years, and The Woman in Black (both for RT). Professional theatrical credits: The Lost Colony (directed by Terrence Mann), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Springer Opera House), and the international tour of Grease with Frankie Avalon (Phoenix Entertainment). Favorite role: devoted husband to Lorie and proud father of his two sons.

Lorie Gill Hubscher | Director

Lorie is returning to TH’s director’s chair this season. Her credits as Artistic Director include Emma and Terra Nova for Theatre Huntsville, A Christmas Carol, Freedom Riders, Alice in Wonderland, and The Princess and the Pea for Fantasy Playhouse, and has directed for Ars Nova and Independent Musical Productions among others. Lorie is grateful for the support of her family, Bill, Michael and Robert, and her dear friends and work family at the South Huntsville Public Library.

Erica Krenn | Rebecca Heminges

Erica is excited to back onstage with Theatre Huntsville!!! Erica has been performing professionally for over a decade and has recently returned from playing Madame de la Grand Bouche (Beauty and the Beast) at Olney Theater Center in Washington DC. She was seen in Rocktopia on Broadway and traveled across North America as Jennyanydots in the national tour of Cats.  She has been a featured singer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and she performed in the regional premiere of Mary Poppins at Merry Go Round Playhouse. Favorite credits include: Lady of the Lake (Spamalot), Queenie (Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party), Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Paulette (Legally Blonde), Olive Ostrovsky (The 25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Martha (The Secret Garden), and Diana Goodman (Next to Normal)

Robert Jones | Marcus, Bernardo, Bar Patron, Mourner

Robert is excited to return to the stage after nearly a decade of amateur voice acting and fiction writing. The Book of Will is the second production he has been a part of, and he is looking forward to being a part of many more to come. He is survived by his parents, brother, sister, five dogs, and fourteen chickens.

Sara Wells Martin | Emilia Bassano Lanier, Ed Knight, Bar Patron, Mourner

Though not a newbie to the stage, The Book of Will is only Sara’s 2nd production with TH.  She made her TH debut in their production of Monty Python’s Spamalot. When she isn’t on stage, Sara is hanging out with her family or volunteering as an usher for Broadway Theatre League.  She currently works in Adult Education. Many thanks to “My Boys” Brad, Asa, and Eli and her parents, Gary and Sandra, for their unwavering support.  XO

Paige McDonnell | Assistant Stage Manager, Susannah Shakespeare, Marcellus, Mourner, Maid

Paige is thrilled to be a part of The Book of Will. She has previously worked with Theatre Huntsville as an ASM for Steel Magnolias, as tech crew for A Christmas Story, Max Mirowski in Things My Mother Taught Me, Ensemble in Dreamgirls, and Marie Antoinette’s understudy in UAH’s The Revolutionists (also by Lauren Gunderson!). 

Justin Miller |  Compositor, Francisco, Barman 1, Butler, Mourner

Justin is joining Theatre Huntsville from Atlanta via a long and twisty path that includes multiple countries and various stops for theater. After joining the Air Force, Justin moved to Montgomery, Alabama and joined the Faulkner Theater program, working in shows such as A Curious Savage, Blood Wedding, The Trojan Women, and A Dennis Leary Christmas Show. After this, there was a lull due to work that stopped any theater activities, but pushed him more and more into music. There were two more moves involved. One to the United Kingdom and the second to Germany. In Germany, theater was back in the plans. Justin had a great return to stage as Lurch in The Addams Family the Musical. Finally, Justin moved to Huntsville and was cast in this production of The Book of Will.

Gantt Moore | Issac Jaggard

After six years of stand-up comedy, Gantt made his return to stage acting as Wadsworth in Theatre Huntsville’s 2023 production of Clue, and was immediately hooked. He went on to partake in Spamalot as Sir Lancelot a few months later. Being a part of The Book of Will has been an enriching experience for him, with Isaac Jaggard being his most challenging character to date.

Thomas Paladino | Thomas Crane, Boy Hamlet 

Thomas is Hamlet if you would know, this studious chap Ralph Crane in certain, and he is excited for his first chance to perform with Theatre Huntsville after previously wandering onto the crew of Spamalot during tech week. He has had the pleasure before of playing Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the latter being his favorite of the Bard's works.

Jacinda Swinehart | Elizabeth Condell

Thankful for another return to the Theatre Huntsville stage, Jacinda has been busy building up the confidence and voices of voice students and young actors of the Tennessee Valley. She recently won a Best Supporting Actress Award for (Unnamed Sitcom with Sheepshed Entertainment under the brilliant direction of Katherine Johnson, distribution coming soon…) at the Content Media Awards 2023! She has been a professional actress for over two decades, and grateful for every moment onstage, on screen, and on voice over! Thankful for Jason and Adelaide, her Stars and Moon. Cheers to the cast and crew! 

Haley Anderson Whaley | Stage Manager

Haley is excited to be back to stage managing after a brief hiatus and very happy to be working with some of her favorite people, actors, directors, and crew again. She has most recently stage-managed TH’s Steel Magnolias and Things My Mother Taught Me. Haley thanks her husband, Phillip, for his wonderful support and love and her crew and cast for being spectacular. You're in for a fantastic show.