"Publish or vanish, wasn't it? We are near certain of the latter if we refuse this."
You know the works of Shakespeare. But do you know about all the drama that went into publishing his first official collection of timeless tragedies, comedies and histories?
Lauren Gunderson's THE BOOK OF WILL is a lively and loving celebration of those for whom Shakespeare's words meant the world, and how they preserved them for future generations. It finishes its extended run in the Firemen's Kitchen this Thursday and Friday, March 20th and March 21st.
Returning to the Firemen's Kitchen stage as John Heminges, true life compatriot to Shakespeare, and preserver of his work, is multi-Kay Award winner Christopher Honsaker.
A Hickory resident for nearly two decades, Honsaker can be found crisscrossing the area in his role as a courier for DHL. He last appeared on the Firemen's Kitchen stage as another real life John, essayist John D'Agata, in THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT. Other HCT credits include THE MUSIC MAN, THE LION IN WINTER, NOISES OFF, OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, THE ODD COUPLE, and WAIT UNTIL DARK. Other area credits include a second turn in WAIT UNTIL DARK at The Green Room Community Theatre, and EQUUS at Foothills Performing Arts. Honsaker has won three HCT Kay Awards for Best Actor, as well as a Best Actor Award from the Metrolina Theatre Association.
"I heard it was a good show, and well-written," Honsaker says of his interest in THE BOOK OF WILL. He appreciates "the amount of diverse and talented people" that HCT draws to all of its productions. And, describes him self as "the actor most likely to chew the scenery," Honsaker is delighted to be playing a role that gives him all the stage light he wants.
THE FINAL PERFORMANCE of THE BOOK OF WILL is Friday, March 21st at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for youth and students. VERY FEW SEATS ARE LEFT!
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)