Playhouse on the Square Will Present the Regional Premiere of THE BOOK OF WILL by Lauren Gunderson

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with Athens Paper and super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff will produce a new work by America's most produced living playwright, Lauren Gunderson.

When a poor rendition of Hamlet is performed, three years after the death of William Shakespeare, it is obvious to his friends - someone should put his work to pen - and save the words of the world's greatest playwright. But to make one, they'll have to battle an unscrupulous publisher, a boozy poet laureate, and their own mortality, to create Shakespeare's First Folio.

Ostrander Award-winner, Jeff Posson (All Saints in the Old Colony) directs a multi-talented cast of performers in this production, including Playhouse on the Square Resident Company Members Michael Gravois (Tuck Everlasting, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) as Henry Condell and Playhouse Associate Director, Dave Landis (Indecent, Kinky Boots) as John Heminges. Memphis theatre audiences will also be excited to welcome favorite Bill Andrews (The Rocky Horror Show, Jerry Springer: The Opera) back to the Playhouse on the Square stage as rival playwright Ben Jonson.

History About The First Folio of William Shakespeare

The first published collection of Shakespeare's plays was printed in 1623. They were produced seven years after his death. The collection groups his plays into categories-comedies, histories, and tragedies-for the first time. Out of the 36 plays included in the First Folio, 18 had never been published before. Without the First Folio, these plays might have been lost forever. The fact that the First Folio preserved 18 of Shakespeare's plays is essential, of course. But in addition, some of the other 18 plays in the First Folio are quite different from previous editions. The First Folio includes lines and passages in those plays that might also have been lost without it. -Folger Shakespeare Library

The complete cast and crew listing of The Book of Will is as follows:

Henry Condell - Michael Gravois

John Heminges - Dave Landis

Richard Burbage - John Maness

Elizabeth Condell / Emilia Bassano Lanier / Crier 2 - Kim Sanders

Rebecca Heminges / Anne Hathaway / Compositor / Francisco - Kim Justis

Alice Heminges / Susanna Shakespeare - Brooke Papritz

Isaac Jaggard / Ed Knight / Barman 1 - Donald Sutton

Ben Jonson - Bill Andrews

Boy Hamlet / Marcus / Marcellus / Crier 3 - Franklin Koch

Ralph Crane / Barman 2 / Bernardo / Crier 1 / Crier 4 - Christopher Tracy

PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THE BOOK OF WILL:

Directed by: Jeff Posson

Production Manager/Technical Director - Phillip Hughen

Stage Manager - Abby Teel

Costume Designer - Kathie Kovarik

Lighting Designer - Justin Gibson

Scenic Designer - Adam Spencer

Sound Designer - Carter McHann

Performances will run Thursday through Saturday with an 8:00 pm curtain. Sunday Matinees have a 2:00 pm curtain. Matinee performances for school groups are also available select days during the week. For tickets, call the Box Office at (901) 726-4656 or visit our website www.playhouseonthesquare.org. Follow with social media using #BookofWill901. Group rates available.

Special ticket pricing for opening weekend $27. Pay What You Can performance, sponsored by Arts First and the First Heritage Foundation is March 12th.

For questions and booking, please contact Playhouse on the Square Director of Community Relations, Marcus Cox (901) 937-6496.