THE 22nd Annual Will-a-Thon
Conceived and Directed by Charles E. Gerber
“Will’s Way”
THE WORKSHOP THEATER in association with THE SOCIETY OF ETHICAL CULTURE Presents THE 22ND ANNUAL WILL-A-THON a two day fesitval celebrating the 461st birthday of William Shakespeare — Conceived and Directed by CHARLES E. GERBER
THE SOCIETY OF ETHICAL CULTURE
2 W. 64TH ST., 4TH FLOOR — Ceremonial Hall
Friday April 25, 2025 — 7:00pm
Featuring: ADEMIDE AKINTILO*, TOM LUKE DiCOSTANZO, CHARLES E. GERBER*, CORDIS HEARD*, CHARLES KENNEDY, ERIK KOCHENBERGER, MARY LAUREN*, JEFF PAUL*
ROGER LIPSON( PSM)*
*Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production.
See also Part II - "FOR THY SWEET LOVE REMEMB'RED" 4/27/25 @ 1:30pm
Some of the critical praise the festival has received over the two decades of its history:
"Lovers of Shakespeare will find moments to savor at The WILL-A-THON"!
—Martin Denton, NYTheatre.com"WILL'S PLAYSHOP players provide the best spoken Shakespeare in New York City"
—the late, Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio"Gerber creates a delicious smorgasboard of Shakespeare's works. I wondered how this could be done. Now I can marvel at the achievement."
—Rachel Levine, Splash Magazine Worldwide"The great quality of Shakespeare's work is that it was always meant to be HEARD, not read- and by different voices.
Nothing realizes his genius better than hearing different voices reading the text in different rhythms and different tones.
And THAT, of course is the joy of WILL'S PLAYSHOP!"
—Richard Easton(1933-2019), Tony Award Winner(2001), Theater Hall Of fame Honoree(2008), and Guest Artist in successive WILL-A-THONS :2013, 2014, and 2015 .
Charles E. Gerber ( Conceiver, Director, Composer, Player) has been a professional actor now for 53 years and a producer/director for some thirty five. He's appeared on Broadway(OH! CALCUTTA!, HAMLET,) and has starred in two National Tours( TORCH SONG TRILOGY, and DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST).A Founding Artist of THE WORKSHOP THEATER along with his late wife, Carol Bennett Gerber,he's appeared in a number of films and television series. For more, go to his YouTube Channel.GO WILL POWER!
Ademide Akintilo Born in Westminster, England. Grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Ademide Akintilo has dipped his toes in many aspects of the industry. From Television( Madame Secretary & Law and Order:SVU) To Off-Broadway(New York Classical Theatre's The Importance of Being Earnest & The Rewards of Being Frank) Film(To Us) and even Voice(World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, Sugar Maple, Spy Bros: The Siren: A Minecraft Spy Film, Farmer Dorie, and Siren: The Muse)
Tom Luke DiCostanzo, bitten by the performance bug while studying filmmaking at SUNY Purchase, has honed his craft in an international community, including training at The International Actors Studio and various Manhattan studios. His drive to challenge himself has led to roles such as a Featured Player on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and in an upcoming short film from a Producer of AMERICAN FICTION, all with the support of his team at Independent Artists Entertainment IAE. A romantic at his core, he feels this training and subsequent festival has strengthened the vine that connects his head to his heart, so it may continue to bloom the art and expression he cannot live without. He thanks his community for continued unconditional love and support!
Cordis Heard began her theatrical career with Robert Sickenger of the Hull House Theater in Chicago where she met Charles Gerber forty some odd years ago. She continued with Paul Sill’s The Story Theater and later with Stuart Gordon’s Organic Theater. In New York she was seen in The Elephant Man, WARP! and MacBeth on Broadway. After many years of TV, Regional Theater and Off Broadway she became a teaching artist with the Lincoln Center Institute as well as the director of the after school program ReCreate Arts and Athletics . Shakespeare has always been a challenge and a goal. She’s happy to give it a try- enjoy
Charles Kennedy studied Stories & Society at the NYU Gallatin School where he founded the improv group “After School Special”, and wrote and directed a 1-act parody of Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. Charles has acted in movies like “My Last Best Friend”, “Good Dog”, “Kaddish”, “Indignation”, and “Spoiled by my Three Brothers”. He has performed at many theaters as Renfield in Dracula, Baron Wotspur in The Man in the Iron Mask, the Dauphin in Henry V, and Sam in Sam Did Something. The latest play that he wrote (and will be acting in) is called “The Landlord” which is inspired by true events to the extent that his lawyers will allow.
Erik Kochenberger is an actor, writer, and director based out of Brooklyn. Credits include: Sense and Sensibility (Cape Playhouse), The Great Gatsby (Ivoryton Theater), In This Place (Theatre Row), Macbeth (DCPA), Other Desert Cities(HPAC), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Rosie (Writing and Directorial Debut), and Against the Night (Ball Four Productions).
Mary Lauren an AEA multi-hyphenate Performer, Director/Choreographer, and Writer. B.F.A. from CSF. Cathy, The Last 5 Years, Louise, Gypsy, Sarah, Sarah Was Mine, The Girl, Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Helena, Midsummer and Gertrude, Hamlet. Written works; My Shadow and Me and Start With I Do (choice award winner.) Film: Lead, Dream of Spring. She is Youth Artistic Director at AMT Theatre. Thank you, Charles! marylaurenonline.com.
Jeff Paul - Jeff is happy to be involved for another year, and celebrates the 22th anniversary of the Workshop Theater/C.E. Gerber’s Will-A-Thon and to be working with this fantastic group of artists. A toast to all who love and appreciate the artistry and magic of Shakespeare! “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” AEA/SAG/AFTRA
Roger Lipson (Production Stage Manager) Recent credits include: Off Broadway: Night Sings It's Songs; This is Not a Time of Peace; The End of Hester (all directed by Jerry Heymann); Curtain Theatre of NJ: Macbeth Saratoga Shakespeare Company:Twelfth Night (Directed by Helena Binder); Public Theatre of Maine: Polka Dots – the cool kids musical (Directed by Adam Blais); Esther in the Spotlight (Produced by Rich Orloff;) Di Froyen (Directed by Rachel Botchan / Produced by New Yiddish Rep). As a musician: sitar soloist for Holiday Music of Eric Whitacre (Carnegie Hall / Conducted by the composer); Lead guitar during Off Broadway run of Hedwig & The Angry Inch Member: AEA; SAG-AFTRA.