CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FOR
THE BOOK OF WILL

Note on casting: Age ranges are not necessarily indicative of casting. All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to audition for all roles listed. Doubling likely (see below).

HENRY CONDELL – late 30s-40s: feisty, hopeful friend and actor in the King’s Men.
JOHN HEMINGES – mid 40s-50s: reasonable friend and financial manager of the King’s Men; owner of the Globe Tap House; a good man, a gentleman, if serious.
RICHARD BURBAGE – 50s-60s; seasoned lion of the stage, famous across England, loud and proud.
ALICE HEMINGES – late 20s-30s; John’s daughter and alewife, knows everyone and hangs with the boys.
BEN JOHNSON – Poet laureate of England, friend/rival of Shakespeare. Amazing drunk. A bear of a man. Surprisingly weepy.
ELIZABETH CONDELL – Henry’s wife, savvy and fun.
REBECCA HEMINGES – John’s wife, a good woman, Strong, busy with their grocery business, a woman who has weathered much but loves her husband and sons and God.
ED KNIGHT – “Stage manager” for the King’s Men, self-serious and particular.
RALPH CRANE – Humble scrivener of the King’s Men. Quick, sure, quiet.
WILLIAM JAGGARD – Successful if shady publisher of books, plays, and playbills. He is confident in his ability to get what he wants. Very experienced, very connected, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
ISAAC JAGGARD – William’s son, will inherit the print shop, nosy but honest.
EMILIA BASSANO LANIER – late 40s-50s, fiery Italian (no accent) feminist and poet, independent woman, lover of life (and Shakespeare)
MARCUS – 20s, printer’s apprentice at the Jaggard print shop, nosy but honest
COMPOSITOR – Works for Jaggard, young
ANNE HATHAWAY SHAKESPEARE – late 50s-60s, Shakespeare’s now ailing wife. Strong willed, a classy lady, a survivor
SUSANNAH SHAKESPEARE – 30s, good girl and daughter of Shakespeare
CRIER – Newsboy
SIR EDWARD DERING – book and theatre lover
HORATIO, MARCELLUS, BERNARDO, FRANCISCO – Actors playing those roles
BOY HAMLET– Young actor. Not a very good one. Probably idolizes Burbage.
BARMAN – Ruffian
BARMAN 2 – Drunk

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FOR
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Age ranges are not necessarily indicative of casting. All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to audition for all roles listed.

JOHN FALSTAFF (115 lines)
A bumbling and arrogant man, Falstaff is convinced of his irresistible charm and wit. He attempts to woo both Mrs Ford and Mrs Page. Despite his confidence, he is repeatedly tricked and humiliated by the clever wives.
MRS ALICE FORD (77 lines)
Witty, resourceful, and confident, Mrs Ford is the wife of the jealous Frank Ford. Her intelligence and sharp humor drive the plot forward, making her a central figure in the comedy of deception.
MRS MEG PAGE (92 lines)
Mistress Page is a clever and perceptive woman who partners with Mistress Ford to outwit Falstaff. Her sense of humor and quick thinking help orchestrate Falstaff’s repeated humiliations.
MR FRANK FORD (88 lines)
The jealous husband of Mrs Ford, Frank Ford is suspicious to the point of paranoia. His mistrust drives much of the plot’s tension.
MR GEORGE PAGE(67 lines)
A reasonable and trusting husband, George Page is the opposite of Ford. He remains confident in his wife’s fidelity. His steady demeanor provides a contrast to the chaos around him, making him a voice of calm in the storm of misunderstandings.
ANNE PAGE (19 lines)
Anne Page is the youthful and sought-after daughter of the Pages. She is pursued by multiple suitors. Intelligent and independent.
SLENDER (50 lines)
Slender is a bumbling, awkward young man who is being pushed to court Anne Page. Despite his wealth, he lacks confidence, charm, and wit, making him an unlikely suitor.
DR CAIUS (39 lines)
A hot-tempered French physician, Dr. Caius is another suitor of Anne Page. His thick accent and cultural misunderstandings add to the humor.
SIR HUGH EVANS (63 lines)
A well-meaning but comical Welsh parson, Sir Hugh Evans is involved in arranging the marriage between Slender and Anne Page. His thick Welsh accent, pedantic nature, and frequent mispronunciations make him a source of humor.
FENTON (21 lines)
A young gentleman of good birth. Though Anne’s parents disapprove of him, his determination and genuine affection for Anne contrast with the awkwardness of her other suitors.
ROBERT SHALLOW (54 lines)
A pompous justice of the peace, Shallow is obsessed with his status and reputation. He frequently complains about Falstaff’s wrongdoings and supports his nephew, Slender, in courting Anne Page.
MISS QUICKLY (64 lines)
A gossipy and somewhat meddling servant, Miss Quickly works for Dr. Caius but assists multiple characters with their romanticschemes. She delivers messages between the suitors and Anne Page, often causing confusion.
BARDOPLH (14 lines)
Falstaff’s unruly follower, Bardolph is a roguish companion who participates in petty theft and schemes.
PISTOL (19 lines)
Another of Falstaff’s disloyal companions, Pistol is brash and theatrical.
SIMPLE (25 lines)
Simple is Slender’s somewhat clueless and loyal friend. He is often sent on errands and caught up in misunderstandings.
FULLER (37 lines)
The owner of the Boars Head Soda Shop.