Previews: THE BOOK OF WILL at The Guild Hall Players At St. James Episcopal Church
Runs May 21 through 24, 2026
Guild Hall Players present “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson on May 21-24, 2026. Show times are 8 p.m. from May 21-24 and 7 p.m. on May 24. Guild Hall Players perform at St. James Episcopal Church located at 3750 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita, KS 67208. Reservations can be made by calling 316-683-5686, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Book of Will” takes place seven years after Shakespeare’s death and follows JohnHeminges and Henry Condell, two actors in The King’s Men, putting together the First Folio, the first official collection of Shakespeare’s work. Through many trials and tribulations, the two achieve this goal with the help of people who are just as passionate about the project as them. The show highlights themes of family, friendship, love, loss, leaving a legacy behind and how you honor the important people in your lives.
Directing the production is Jeremy Buoy, a graduate of the Wichita State University Theatre Department. The cast is led by Jonny Kline and Anthony Larkin- Valdez, playing John Heminges and Henry Condell. Playing around 24 other roles are Dan Schuster, Emily Larkin-Valdez, Chelsea Daniel, Vonda Schuster, Owen Balman, Braden LaBrue-Layman, Matt Neises, Ethan Mowery, Luke Jones, and Robert Brining.
Like the First Folio, it takes a village to make this show happen. On the production team are Emily Redfield as the stage manager and fight choreographer, Jane Tanner and Christy Railsback as co-costume designers, Cole Adams as lighting designer and dialect coach, Louise Brinegar as properties designer, Erin Urick as the intimacy coordinator and Todd Reifschneider constructing a printing press.
Several cast members also serve on the production team. Balman is the publicity coordinator, Dan Schuster is the sound designer, and Brining has composed original music featured in the show. Buoy also serves as the set designer, with Randy Harrison serving as the technical director.
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