The Book of Will

March 7-22, 2025
Week 1: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 2: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Week 3: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

THE BOOK OF WILL
Play by Lauren Gunderson
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)

What's it about?

The Book of Will explores the story behind the first publication of William Shakespeare's complete works, known as the First Folio. The play is set in 1619, a few years after Shakespeare's death. It centers around a group of his close friends and former acting company members, including Henry Condell and John Heminges, who are determined to preserve Shakespeare's legacy by compiling and publishing his plays.

What's to love about The Book of Will?

The play blends historical fact with fictional storytelling to celebrate the power of friendship, the art of theater, and the enduring impact of Shakespeare's genius. It highlights the unsung heroes who helped ensure that iconic plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear would survive for future generations to enjoy.
The play premiered in 2017 and has since been produced at regional theaters across the United States, earning praise for its engaging characters, witty dialogue, and reverence for Shakespeare's literary legacy.

Content Advisory

Narrative Complexity: Ages 14+

The play The Book of Will has a fairly broad appeal in terms of recommended age range. More context:

Teenagers (ages 14-18): The play explores themes of friendship, legacy, and preserving artistic works that would be engaging for older teenagers. The language and content is generally appropriate for this age group.
Adults (ages 18+): The complex relationships, historical context, and exploration of Shakespeare's lasting impact would resonate most with adult viewers. Those who have an appreciation for literature, theater, and history will find this play very compelling. The reflections on mortality and legacy could be especially meaningful for older audience members.

A lot or a little?

A guide to help you decide if this show is right for your family.

positive message: ★★★

The primary positive message conveyed in The Book of Will is the enduring power and importance of preserving great works of art and literature for future generations. The play highlights several key themes that contribute to this overarching message: the value of friendship and collaboration, the legacy of artistic genius, defying mortality through creative works, and honoring the past to shape the future.

diverse representation: ★☆☆

The Book of Will does make an effort to include some diversity in its representation, though the core cast of characters is primarily white and male, reflecting the historical context of 17th century London theater.

sex and Romance: ★★☆

The most prominent romantic storyline involves the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne. The play explores their marital dynamic and Anne's role in preserving her husband's legacy after his death. Some key romantic moments include:

References to Shakespeare's courtship and marriage to the younger Anne when he was in his late 20s.
Portrayals of the couple's affection and partnership, even as Shakespeare pursues his creative work.
Scenes depicting Anne's grief and determination to see his plays preserved after his passing.

violence and scariness: ☆☆☆

No, the play The Book of Will does not contain any significant violence or elements of horror/scariness. It is a fairly tame, historical drama focused on the efforts to preserve Shakespeare's work after his death.

adult language: ★☆☆

Yes, there is some mild adult language. The language reflects the historical setting of early 17th century London and the working-class backgrounds of some of the characters. A few examples of the adult language include:

Occasional uses of mild profanities like "damn," "hell," and "bloody."
Some crude slang or insults, such as referring to someone as a "scoundrel" or a "fool."
Brief sexual innuendos or double entendres, though nothing overly bawdy.

drinking, drugs, smoking: ★★☆

There is drinking in the show, but no drug use or smoking is depicted. At times characters may reference heavy drinking habits.

★★★ = There's a lot of this.
★★☆ = There's some of this.
★☆☆= There's a bit of this.
☆☆☆ = Don't expect this.