Get your tickets now for The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson, presented by Flashback Theater Co. (FbTC) and CHI Saint Joseph Health London. The Book of Will runs for six live performances on selected dates from February 16 to February 26. Tickets can be purchased beginning January 10, 2023 at: www.flashbacktheater.co/events/book-of-will/ The production features Flashback familiars Keifer Adkins, Thomas Alvey, Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow, Steve Cleberg, Tyler Fish, Amber Frangos, Seth Hart, Shelby Holmes, Martha Pratt, Laura Torres and Tiffany Warren, joined by Isaac Martin for his Flashback Debut!
The production team features Sommer Schoch as director, and Joshua West as Stage Manager. Though Schoch has directed many Flashback shows, West finds himself in the stage manager’s seat for the first time.
Sommer Schoch is the founder and Producing Artistic Director at FbTC. She studied Theatre & Entrepreneurship at Northern Kentucky University before pursuing a dual Master’s degree in Arts Administration and Business Administration at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. Her directing credits include many FbTC shows, such as The Dollmaker, Rosies: The Women Who Riveted the Nation, and Pirates of Penzance.
The Book of Will begins with a poorly performed “To be or not to be” speech from a scrappy young actor and transitions into the bar owned by John Heminges (played by Seth Hart), who is joined by his fellow actors: Richard Burbage (played by Steve Cleberg) and Henry Condell (played by Keifer Adkins). Condell’s daughter, Alice (played by Tiffany Warren), rounds out the scene as they recount their rage at the botched (and stolen) production of Hamlet.
Seth Hart is an artist from Monticello, KY, working full time as a Fine Arts Program Assistant/Instructor for the Cooperative Extension Service and independently as a potter and sculptor for his business, Art By Hart. He’s performed in many productions at Good Neighbors Theater in Byrdstown, TN including: A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Radio Suspense Theater. He was also in the FbTC production of The Mousetrap in February 2022.
Keifer Adkins currently serves as Flashback’s Community Development Coordinator and is a recent graduate of the 2022 Leadership KY Elevate program. He received two Bachelor’s degrees in history and theater at Western Kentucky University. His acting credits span many years, noted credits include Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, The Elephant Man, True West, and Wait Until Dark.
Steve Cleberg retired as the director of theatre & film from Somerset Community College in 2020. He has written a series of plays following the history of a fictional radio company from the golden age of radio entitled Radio Suspense Theatre. Two from the series are published by Playscripts, Inc. He also penned the librettos for the musicals, Tin Pan Alley Tavern and All the Boys Love Mary. Cleberg has written over a dozen produced screenplays including the award winning, A Simple Arrangement.
Tiffany Warren is a Theatre BA graduate from NKU and alumni of SCC. At SCC, she was in Steel Magnolias, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Radio Suspense Theater: The Final Episode. Working with FbTC, she has been in shows such as The American Parade, The Dollmaker, and The Lady’s Not For Burning.
Settling down, they relive their favorite moments as the King’s Men: from friends who have moved on to cherished roles they can no longer play, and even a mention of Christopher Marlowe and his foolish youth taken away too soon. Enter the young actor who played Hamlet, Burbage shows the young man how the role should be played to thunderous applause from the bar patrons, leading to a quick tail-tucked exit by the boy and his friends.
Exit, Burbage. The next day, Condell reveals to Heminges that Burbage passed away in his sleep. The women, including Elizabeth Condell (played by Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow ) and Rebecca Heminges (played by Laura Torres), along with Ben Jonson (played by Thomas Alvey), wait for Henry and John at the bar to mourn yet another lost friend, as “you can’t have the comedies without the tragedies.” The play explores legacy and what we leave behind and who we leave it behind for. The men find solace in the collection of Shakespeare’s writings, forever saving his life’s work into a published folio and cementing him into the literary hall of fame, securing his legacy through his community of actors, friends, rivals, and admirers.
Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow is excited to return to the FbTC stage after performing in Steel Magnolias at Somerset Community College and Mary: Her Story and The Mousetrap at FbTC. After receiving her Theater degree from Georgetown College and Communications degree from UK, she has been teaching at SCC for 30 years. She wants to thank her kids, Braden and Brynlee and husband/biggest fan, Brad for all the love, laughter, and lessons.
Laura Torres is glad to be back for another production with FbTC. She grew up performing in school and local community productions. She graduated from Lindsey Wilson College with a Bachelors in History and Christian Ministries as well as a Masters in Christian Leadership. She lives in Somerset with her husband and son
Thomas Alvey is ready to take the stage again, after playing in the assistant director’s chair of The American Parade in the summer and Steel Magnolias at SCC in the fall. FbTC Acting Credits include: Mary: Her Story, The Mousetrap, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead!, among others. BA Theatre Arts, MFA Writing for the Screen and Stage
Also in the play are Flashback veterans Amber Frangos as Anne Hathaway Shakespeare, Martha Pratt as William Jaggard, Tyler Fish in various roles, and Shelby Holmes in various roles. Joined by Rylee Moore as Susannah Shakespeare and Isaac Martin in various roles in their Flashback Mainstage debuts. Also bringing the script to the stage, Costume Design is by Traci Bray, Set Design is by CJ Bloomer.
Amber Frangos is the resident Playwright at Flashback Theater. Her past FbTC works include And the Tide Shall Cover The Earth, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Importance of Being Earnest, Pirates of Penzance, A Nightmare on Backstreet, Christmas at Pemberley, The Dining Room, Prometheus the Godfather, The Dollmaker and Mary: Her Story.
Martha Pratt works as a Patient Services Coordinator for PT Solutions by day and an actor by night. She has been with Flashback since 2018. She’s appeared in shows such as Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberly, Pirates of Penzance, The Dollmaker, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), The Mousetrap, and Miracle on 34th Street.
Tyler Fish is excited to be in another FbTC production. Previous stage and film roles at FbTC: Miracle on 34th Street, The American Parade, at SCC include Spirits, 2012 Readers Theatre, The Choices We Make, and The Go-Betweens.
Shelby Holmes is a junior at Southwestern High School. She participates in choir, theater and is interested in musical theater, singing, guitar, piano, drawing and art. She played Phillip in The American Parade (Junior Cast) at FbTC, Ned in Radio Suspense Theatre at SWHS, and The Shop Steward of Elves Local No. 10 and her puppet in Miracle on 34th Street.
Rylee Moore is a young upcoming actress who enjoys homeschooling, acting, singing, writing, and spending time with friends and family. Active in LCCT for the last 7 years, her favorite roles include Ms. Hannigan in Annie Jr. and Zazu in Lion King Jr. Rylee is excited for her debut with FbTC.
A newcomer to the stage, Isaac Martin has always had a fondness for films. He started working at a movie theater in high school and now owns a cinema service company with his father, Shawn. Isaac is honored to experience live theater, the very thing that made modern cinema possible.
The Book of Will is Traci Bray’s costume design debut. A first responder and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; she enjoys being able to experience life from all different angles. Now, joining with the theater, she is helping tell stories through the textures and colors of fabric.
C.J. Bloomer fancies himself an ‘Art Mercenary’ and is involved in a plethora of creative endeavors including, but not limited to, Illustration, Graphic Design, Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Traditional Crafts, and most recent Set Design. The Book of Will utilizes a large swathe of his skills and talents, and he is very excited to share them with a live audience.
As with most Flashback Theater shows, all seating is assigned at the time of purchase. With just under 60 seats available for each of the six performances, getting a ticket early is highly recommended for all patrons. Tickets are available beginning January 10, 2023 in person at the Flashback box office (400 E Mt Vernon St) or by calling FbTC at (888) 394-FbTC ext. 1. Adult single tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, Student Single tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Seating is assigned at the time of ticket purchase and limited seating is available.
Dates and Times
Thursday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 17th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 19th at 2:30 p.m.
Friday, February 24th at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 26th at 2:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices
Adults – $18 Advance, $20 Door
Students – $12 Advance, $15 Door
Tickets may be purchased online (www.flashbacktheater.co/events), in person at 400 East Mt. Vernon St, Somerset, KY 42501, Tuesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., or be reserved in advance by calling the box office at (888) 394-FbTC ext. 1. Advance ticket sales end online 2 hours prior to showtime. We accept all major credit cards. Refunds may be made at no cost up to 24 hours prior to the ticketed performance by calling the box office.
A very special thank you to our 2022-23 Spotlight Sponsors: Applied Behavioral Advancements, City of Somerset, M&W Printing, and Footlight Sponsors: David Daring Rentals, Kinetic by Windstream, United Cumberland Bank, T. Ronald Kidd Trust, Fireborn Energy, and HealthMarkets for their continued support of FbTC’s production of theater that speaks to the soul. This production is brought to you in partnership with Title Sponsor: CHI Saint Joseph Health London and Artist Sponsors: Southern Petroleum, First Southern National Bank, Kentucky Utilities, and Hollaender Manufacturing.