Sopris Theatre Company, Colorado Mountain College’s community-student hybrid theater program, will present Lauren Gunderson’s “The Book of Will” to close out its 2023-2024 season. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts originally commissioned this comedic drama, and it won the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association’s New Play Award in 2018. It runs about two hours, with an intermission between acts.
Set in London in 1619, the story tells of Henry Condell — portrayed by Michael Banks — and John Heminges — portrayed by Brad Moore, operations manager at Sopris Theatre Company. These two members of the King’s Men acting troupe are friends of the recently deceased William Shakespeare, working to preserve and create a folio of his collective works.
Also appearing in this production is Bob Moore as Richard Burbage and William Jaggard, Bostyn Elswick as Alice Heminges, Lisa Langer as Elizabeth Condell, Pax Wild as Rebecca Heminges and Emilia Bassano Lanier, Joshua Adamson as Issac Jaggard, Chris Wheatley as Ben Johnson, Travis Wilson as Ed Knight, Horatio and Sir Edward Dering, JD Emmonds as Ralph Crane and Bernardo, Sean Hamilton as Boy Hamlet, Lindsey Hamilton as Susanna Shakespeare, and Chip Winn Wells as Anne Hathaway.
“There are a hell of a lot of really good actors in this, so just that alone should be enough to bring people in to see this show,” Banks stated. “Even if they’re unfamiliar with the play, at least come see us.”
Asked why this production was chosen, Brad Moore said it was a combination of his adoration for Gunderson’s work and the play’s themes. Although filled with humor, he said, “The Book of Will” may leave audiences questioning their legacy and life, while also helping to reframe personal and collective grief.
“It’s filled with humor, charm and compelling moments of genuine emotion,” he stated. “These [characters] are facing their and their friends’ mortality and what it means to leave a legacy. I’ve certainly grown and learned from this process, as it’s given me a new outlook on grief and how everyone handles it differently.”
Director Thomas Cochran, a self-described Shakespeare aficionado, stated, “[Gunderson] is an amazing writer, and this script took me between laughing out loud as I read it and crying out loud when I read it. It took me through so many emotions and so many places. It’s a good script, so I jumped on board.”
Cochran further described the show as a journey of two men doing what was once thought to be impossible — publishing an anthology. In his day, Shakespeare typically did not finish and publish his plays all at once for fear of copycats. For members of the King’s Men troupe to keep his legacy (and their careers) alive, it took a lot of work.
“Plays weren’t highly regarded, so for somebody to collect and publish them in this fancy formal way was pretty crazy,” Cochran explained. “If they hadn’t done it, we probably wouldn’t have what we have of Shakespeare’s works today.”
What sets this production apart from previous Sopris Theatre shows is that older actors play most of the leading roles. Discussing the rewarding aspects of working on such a production, Bob Moore stated, “When Tom [Cochran] said he was doing this, it piqued my interest. The two characters I get to play are right up my alley. There are very few similarities between them — other than they lived simultaneously.”
“The Book of Will” will be presented at Colorado Mountain College’s New Space Theatre (Spring Valley Campus) at 7pm on April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, with three Sunday matinees: April 7, 14 and 21 at 2pm. The production will also be streamed live on April 7, 13 and 19 including a post-show conversation with the cast and crew.
To purchase tickets, visit www.bit.ly/SoprisTheatreTix or call the box office at 970-947-8177.