The Book of Will at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

The Book of Will | By Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Bonnie J. Monte

The Book of Will is a beautiful love story and it is all true. The characters in the play were real, living, breathing people. They were not only Shakespeare’s fellow company members, they were his best friends. This story of how those friends, with the help of Providence and a small group of fellow accomplices, managed to rescue Shakespeare’s plays from oblivion is not only an extraordinary tale, but a truly inspiring and moving one. Lauren Gunderson shines a long-awaited spotlight on the two unknown actors, who by virtue of their determination to protect their friend’s work and reputation, achieved something miraculous against all odds. That “something” has created a ripple effect which has permeated every aspect of life, every day, for almost every human who has ever lived since they accomplished their goal of saving Shakespeare’s stories and words for all time.

It is a tale that rivals any epic saga that has ever recounted the feats of heroes. But these heroes were simple, ordinary folk who, thankfully and perspicaciously, recognized the priceless value of something so incredibly rare that they risked everything to save if for all of us.

Directed by STNJ’s Artistic Director Emerita, Bonnie J. Monte