UKIAH>>> The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department will present Lauren Gunderson’s contemporary play The Book of Will for two weekends only October 17-27, in the Mendocino College Center Theatre on the Ukiah Campus. Gunderson is currently the most frequently produced playwright in the United States, and this play is one of her most popular scripts. The story, a love letter to the theatre, is about friendship, art, and the heart-achingly fragile nature of nearly everything. The action unfolds three years after the death of William Shakespeare as his friends and fellow actors realize that they alone hold his plays in their memories and in their scattered collections of unpublished scripts. Together they set out to publish and thereby preserve his plays and his legacy for future generations of theatregoers. Their efforts against all odds express not only their love of theatre, but also their shared humanity and devotion to their friend.
This production will feature costumes and scenery highlighting the work of students in Mendocino College’s CTE program in technical theatre under the direction of faculty and staff members Steve Decker, Kathy Dingman-Katz, and David Wolf. Theatre student Eduardo “Lalo” Torres is the show’s co-lighting designer and students Ella Cash and Hannah Hinrichs are assisting Steve Decker with the scenic design. Costuming students Shianne Robertson, Percival Knutson and Vicko Ciraulo are assisting designer Kathy Dingman-Katz. Sarah Jansen is assisting producer and director Reid Edelman, and the student stage manager is Jasmine Norris.
The talented cast features 18 actors, including many students and alumni of the Theatre Arts Department’s Conservatory Cohort ensemble. Eli Fowler and Julian Sterling play Shakespeare’s friends and fellow thespians Henry Condell and John Heminges, without whose efforts we would have lost at least half of Shakespeare’s works. One theme of Gunderson’s play is the unsung but essential contributions of women in preserving Shakespeare’s legacy, and the play features several powerful female roles, including Heidi Peterman as Alice Heminges (John’s daughter), Alicia Bales as John’s wife Rebecca Heminges, and Joni McLeod as Elizabeth Condell (Henry’s wife). Schuyler Marcier plays both playwright Ben Jonson and actor Richard Burbage. The ensemble cast also includes Miranda Swearengin, Rory Silveira, Jordan Wegner, Crispin Cain, Andrea McCullough, Scott Spears, Esteban Orozco, Percival Knutson, Phaedra Swearengin and Tina Marie Silveira. Julayne Ringstrom and Valerie O’Riordan are featured as Shakespeare’s daughter Susannah and widow Anne Hathaway.
According to director Reid Edelman, “this is truly one of the most beautiful plays I’ve ever encountered; it is just bursting with heart.” Due to some mature language, the production is appropriate for audiences ages 13 and older.
Performances are Thursday, Friday & Saturday October 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, Friday & Saturday October 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday October 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets ($20 general; $15 students and seniors) are available at the Mendocino Book Company and online at www.ArtsMendocino.org. The performance on Friday October 18 is a gala opening night celebration, and for this performance, the ticket price includes a food and beverage reception catered by the college’s Culinary Arts Program, starting one hour before the show. The performance on Saturday October 19 benefits the Mendocino College Foundation and student scholarships. A free glass of wine is included with the ticket price for this performance. Thursday October 17 is a “pay what you wish” preview. The performance on Thursday October 24 is a special discount night, with all tickets costing only $10. For information, call (707) 468-3172.
For information, call (707) 468-3172 or visit https://www.mendocino.edu/academics/programs/arts/theatre-arts.
