Sunday & Monday, Dec. 4 & 5, 6:30 p.m.
Pull-Tight Players Theatre
112 2nd Ave. S., Franklin, TN

Performance dates: February 3-4, 8-11, & 15-18 at 7:30 p.m.; February 5 & 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Pull-Tight Players is thrilled to announce auditions for our upcoming production of The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson. Auditions consist of readings from the script. A wide variety of roles are available for 8 men and 6 women, ages 18+. All roles are open.

Please be prepared to list any and all conflict dates for the months of December through February. Though this play takes place in Shakespeare’s London, British accents will NOT be used. Please contact director Lenny West at west.lenny@gmail.com for more information.

If needed, callbacks will be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30.

Summary

The year is 1619. William Shakespeare has been dead for 3 years. John Heminges and Henry Condell, Will’s friends and members of his acting company, The King’s Men, are faced with the reality that not only are their friends and fellow performers dying, but so are Will’s plays. With their genius friend’s legacy and their life’s work on the line, John and Henry and a cast of colorful characters set off on a race against time to preserve Shakespeare’s work while it is still possible. With no money or publishing experience, they set out to collect, compile, edit and print The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. This unforgettable true story is a lively, funny and poignant love letter to theater and to the printed word.

Character Descriptions

Men

John Hemings—50+. Former actor and current financial manager of the King’s Men. Owner of the Globe Tap House. A good man, rational, logical, serious. Leads with his head and keeps his emotions below the surface. Husband to Rebecca, father of Alice. Stutters when things become overwhelming.

Henry Condell—45+. Actor in the King’s Men. Feisty, hopeful, sensitive. Has large feelings and emotions and isn’t afraid to show them. Leads with his heart. Husband to Elizabeth.

Ben Jonson—40+. Poet Laureate of England. Friend and rival of Shakespeare. One of the all-time great drunks. A bear of a man, yet surprisingly weepy.

Richard Burbage—50+. A seasoned lion of the stage. Famous across England. Loud and proud.

William Jaggard—60+. Successful if shady publisher of books, plays and playbills. He is confident in his ability to get what he wants. Willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and win. An ass. Blind. Father of Isaac.

Isaac Jaggard—25+. William’s son, will inherit the business. Sensitive. An artist at heart. Strives to do what is right.

Ralph Crane—30s-40s. Humble scribe and editor of the King’s Men. Quick, sure and quiet.

Ed Knight—30s-40s. Stage Manager for the King’s Men. Self-important, frenzied and prickly.

Boy Hamlet—20s. A very young and not-so-talented actor playing Hamlet

Marcus—20s. A young apprentice at Jaggard’s print shop. Opinionated, takes his work very seriously.

Barmen, Workers at Print Shop, Members of Shakespeare Society, Actors in Production of Hamlet

Women

Alice Hemings—25+. Operator and bartender of the Globe Tap House. Lover of theater. Sassy, spunky, blunt. Hangs with the boys. Daughter of John & Rebecca.

Rebecca Heminges—50+. Reserved, practical. A good woman, a good wife, a good mother. Strong, busy, but with a sense of humor. She has weathered much and always knows what is right. Wife to John and mother of Alice.

Elizabeth Condell—40s. Henry’s wife. Savvy and fun. Enjoys being the wife of a famous actor. The more practical half of the couple—her feet are on the ground while his head is in the clouds. A true and loyal friend.

Emilia Bassano Lanier—40+. A wealthy, successful poet. Regal and elegant, but warm and feisty. Lover of life (and of Shakespeare).

Anne Hathaway Shakespeare—60+. The ailing wife of William Shakespeare. Strong, classy, stoic.

Susannah Shakespeare—30+. William Shakespeare’s daughter. Has unresolved feelings about her father, disillusioned.

Compositor—25+. A typesetter in Jaggard’s print shop. Quick and efficient.

Barmaids, Ladies of Ill Repute, Members of Shakespeare Society, Workers at Print Shop, Actors in Production of Hamlet

A Few Notes on Casting

What did Shakespeare say? “All the world’s a stage … and one man in his time plays many parts.” This play does not necessarily follow a traditional format. It is written for actors to play multiple roles. Almost all performers will double up on roles (John, Henry and Alice are likely to be the ONLY exceptions). Some performers will have substantial speaking roles. Some will have one REALLY good dialogue scene and work within the ensemble for the remainder of the show. Please don’t think that only the principal roles are worth playing. I guarantee you that EVERY performer will be vital to the success of this show and that everyone will have the opportunity to shine. Part of the fun of being an actor is the ability to disappear into a character. What a fun challenge to disappear into multiple characters within the same show!

Audition Form

If you prefer to complete it ahead of time, download our audition form here.
PT Audition Form DOC
PT Audition Form PDF