"You've seen more of Will's hand than anyone alive, I'd wager."
It is London in the year 1619 and, one by one, members of the King's Men theatre troupe are shuffling off this mortal coil. Now, it's up to those left behind to preserve the words, wit and wisdom of William Shakespeare's plays for future generations.
A heartfelt and joyous ode to Shakespeare's legacy, and those who made it possible, Lauren Gunderson's historical dramatic comedy THE BOOK WILL plays in the Firemen's Kitchen at Hickory Community Theatre from February 28th through March 15th.
Returning to the Hickory Community Theatre stage in this production as Ralph Crane, editor of the First Folio of William Shakespeare's plays, is Matt Finch.
A Conover resident and English teacher at Mitchell Community College, Finch holds a BA in English from Mars Hill University, an MA in English from Eastern Carolina University, and an Ed.S. in Higher Education from Appalachian State University. He enjoys gaming and writing in his free time, and like castmate and spouse Allison Finch, considers himself "the actor most likely to point out some bit of esoterica" related to the story of the play.
Finch previously appeared at HCT in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, END DAYS, and THE HOBBIT, for which he won a Kay Award for his portrayal of the Ring-obsessed Gollum. Finch has also appeared in multiple productions of Shakespeare's works for The Green Room Community Theatre, including THE TEMPEST, MACBETH, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, and JULIUS CAESAR.
Having studied the textual history of Shakespeare's work, Finch is delighted to be part of a production that brings that history to life, and to play someone who was so integral to that history. "It's just the right amount of lines and scenes where I can get engaged without getting overwhelmed."
Performances of THE BOOK OF WILL are Fridays and Saturdays, February 28th through March 14th at 7:30 PM; Saturday, March 15th at 2:30PM; Sunday, March 2nd and 9th at 2:30 PM; and, Thursday, March 13th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for youth and students.
Tickets are available online at hickorytheatre.org, or by phone at 828-328-2283. The theatre box office is open from 12-5 PM Wednesday through Friday, or one half-hour before a performance.
THE BOOK OF WILL is rated PG. Some material may not be appropriate for children.
THE BOOK OF WILL is produced in association with Alice and John McDonough, and David and Maria Williams, with additional support from Steve Austin and Sherry Griffin. The Hickory Community Theatre’s 76th season is sponsored by A Cleaner World, Belle Age, Covington Dental, LifeRootz, Protection Products, Inc., and Shurtape Technologies. HCT is a Funded Affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives additional support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
(Photo by Eric Seale)