Photo credit: Steven Townshend / Distant Era
by Lauren Gunderson
Promethean Theatre Ensemble
September 15 – October 25, 2025
Director’s Note in the Program:
I saw my first Shakespeare play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival when I was 12 years old. It was A Midsummer Night’s Dream and my parents had gone out of their way to prepare me beforehand. But at intermission, I burst into tears. “I can’t understand it!” I cried.
My parents went over the plot again and I nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, I know! But I don’t understand EVERY WORD!!!” Cue more tears.
Despite this rocky start, I fell in love with Shakespeare’s plays and have focused a significant part of my theatrical career on his works. While I am a proud co-founder of Promethean Theatre Ensemble and was honored to serve as Artistic Director for a time, it was Shakespeare who lured me away from the company when I followed a dream to produce and direct Shakespeare in the Park. It is so fitting, then, that the play to bring me back to my first artistic home is this ode to Shakespeare and his friends.
The characters in THE BOOK OF WILL sustain their friend’s legacy because they had the incredible prescience to preserve these plays for the ages. Or perhaps they just wanted to hold the book in their hands. Whatever the reason, their effort exemplifies the staggering impact of art, collaboration, and community. And thus, their own legacy is preserved alongside Will’s, in this immense and immeasurable gift to the world—a gift that I, for one, have built a life around.
A note on dialect: we made the decision not to use British dialects in our production. In fact, what we consider “British” in 2025 sounds very little like the British English spoken in the 17th century. More than that, in American theatre it is generally accepted that actors use their natural dialects when performing Shakespeare; if the plays are meant for everyone, we should put ourselves—our real voices—directly into the work. So too with Lauren Gunderson’s play. The individuals portrayed in THE BOOK OF WILL preserved Shakespeare’s legacy for us all. We honor that legacy by speaking the speech with our real and varied voices.
Reviews
“Directed by Beth Wolf, Promethean Theatre Ensemble’s production leans into Gunderson’s crowd-pleasing-for-the-literati tendencies (not unlike the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love). The ensemble reflects Gunderson’s directive in the published version of her own play: “Casting should be diverse. Shakespeare is for everyone.”… The Book of Will succeeds at making the populist case for his work. And perhaps more importantly, as we see history and art under attack by the current regime (and AI stealing writers’ work), it also celebrates those who refuse to let the villains and hacks win the battle for culture.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Chicago Reader, 10.01.2025
“You certainly don’t have to be a [Shakespeare] fan to fall in love with this sweet, unhurried play. Credit director Beth Wolf’s crisp direction along with the fine ensemble for crafting a very organic theatrical experience that celebrates not only theatrical genius, but the many, many hands needed to keep a company together. … We cannot all be Shakespeare. But each of us are blessed with the ability to preserve and advance greatness. By doing so we take arms against the ravages of time. Perhaps we even have the chance to earn small victories in the battle we are all destined to lose. At least that is my takeaway from “The Book of Will”: In these uncertain times, it makes sense to take inspiration from wherever we can find it.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
NewCity Stage, 09.29.2025
“Led by director Beth Wolf and a cast of gifted actors playing other actors, a simple story of compiling William Shakespeare’s plays into a singular source is transformed into a magnetic period piece. … This relatively straight-forward story is a testament to the importance of theatre and storytelling – and laughter – in an increasingly dark world. It is a much-needed, fun night out at the theatre. And it’s a very good show!”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Around the Town, 09.2025
“There is very little tension to be had in this story—we all know the outcome—which makes it even more remarkable how gripping the show is, especially the first act. Director Beth Wolf, aided by a crackerjack cast and some sharp lighting by Jackson Mikkelsen, keeps things moving at a rollicking pace. The jokes come fast and are pitched at exactly the right level of nerdiness—there is a running joke about Pericles that never gets old—and the comic timing of the cast is flawless…. an absolute corker of a last scene involving the entire cast firing on all cylinders bringing the energy to a crescendo before ending in near silence with a single word. .. Late that night, several hours after coming home from the show, I found myself squatting down in front of one of my bookcases to pull out my copy of The Riverside Shakespeare, and for the first time in ages, I revisited some of my favorite passages. In my book, that’s a success.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Stage and Cinema, 09.21.2025
Directed by Beth Wolf, the production is a warm celebration of theatre, friendship, the privilege of growing older–and of course, Shakespeare himself.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Talkin’ Broadway, 09.2025
“Beth Wolf uses her great skill as a Shakespearean (she directs Midsommer Flight’s Shakespeare in the Parks each summer) to direct this cast of ten actors…who all are enchanting in their various characters.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Third Coast Review, 09.22.2025
“A truly enjoyable night at the theatre, reminding us all that great work can take a village, and, of course, that where there’s a Will, there’s a way.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Chicago On Stage, 10.10.2025
“Much of the production’s success is due to the excellence of its director, Beth Wolf, thoroughly conversant with all things William Shakespeare…the audience is given the distinct treat of experiencing a great “Shakespearean” play grow via this dedicated re-creation…. Go see it!”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Splash Magazine, 09.26.2025
“Comedy keeps the story energized, …the Promethean Theatre Ensemble cast directed by Beth Wolf delivers top notch performances.”
RECOMMENDED
Buzz Center Stage, 10.25.2025
Cast and Crew
Cast: Jesús Barajas (Marcus, Boy, et al.), Jared Dennis* (John Heminges), Brendan Hutt* (Richard Burbage, William Jaggard, et al.), James Lewis (Ben Jonson, et al.), Jonathan Perkins (Ralph Crane, et al.), Kevin Sheehan* (Ed Knight, Isaac Jaggard), Anne Sheridan Smith (Rebecca Heminges, Anne Hathaway Shakespeare), Ben Veatch (Henry Condell), Sabine Wan (Elizabeth Condell, Emilia Bassanio Lanier, et al.), Brittani Yawn (Alice Heminges, Susannah Shakespeare)
Production Staff: Beth Wolf (Director), Erin Galvin (Stage Manager), Chase Wheaton-Werle (Assistant Director), Trevor Dotson (Scenic Designer), Devin Meseke (Asst. Scenic Designer), Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume Designer), Jackson Mikkelson (Lighting Designer), Alex Trinh (Sound Designer), Courtney Abbott (Intimacy Director), Kevin Sheehan (Dramaturg), Becca Holloway (Casting Director), Jeremiah Barr (Technical Director / Props Designer), Samantha K. Barr (Production Manager)
*indicates member of Promethean Theatre Ensemble
Beth Wolf 