THE 23nd Annual Will-a-Thon
Conceived and Directed by Charles E. Gerber
“Will’s Way”
...an Evening of Scenes, Speeches, and Soliloquies, with excerpts from: HAMLET, HENRY V, MACBETH, OTHELLO, & TWELFTH NIGHT.
THE WORKSHOP THEATER in association with THE SOCIETY OF ETHICAL CULTURE Presents THE 23RD ANNUAL WILL-A-THON a two day fesitval celebrating the 462nd 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 17, 2026 — 7:00pm
Featuring:
ZOE ANASTASSIOU* as First Witch, Maria & Ensemble
ARTHUR AULISI* as Duke of Venice, Malvolio & Ensemble
ETHAN CADOFF* as Iago & Ensemble
TOM LUKE DiCOSTANZO as Chorus( Henry V),Messenger, Captain & Ensemble
CHARLES E. GERBER as M.C., Ross, Brabantio, Feste & Ensemble, Composer
CHARLES KENNEDY as Hamlet, Angus, Cassio, Berowne & Ensemble
MARY LAUREN* as 2nd Witch, Lady Macbeth, Olivia, Emilia & Ensemble
ALLISON LINKER* as 3rd Witch, Desdemona, Viola & Ensemble
JASON NADAL as Banquo, Othello, Sir Toby Belch & Ensemble
JONNY WEBER* as Rosencrantz, Macbeth, Orsino & Ensemble
THOMAS J. DONOHOE ( 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" 4/19/25 @ 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 is a 55 year veteran of this profession. He's a Founding Member/Artist of The Workshop Theater along with his late wife, Carol Bennett Gerber. Charles recently portrayed Otto Frank in the new play, THE DIARY at Theater for the New City. He's received in the past few months two Best Actor Awards for the short film, "A KING'S CURTAIN" at The Burbank International Film Festival and The AMT International Film Festival. The Short itself has won several Best Drama accolades and is still touring the festival circuit. It shall play this coming June 4th at 8:00 P.M. at The New York City Indie Festival @ The Producers' Club on 44th St. by 9th Ave. info@nycindieff.com For more of Charles: YouTube/ Charles E. Gerber 2689
Zoe Anastassiou is a Greek-Aussie-British theatre/TV/film/voiceover actress. Zoe was last seen on stage in London in William Lyon’s Troubled Love. She can currently be seen in the newly re-released Aidan Quinn feature film Festival of Lights and heard in the upcoming How We Manage Stuff audio drama series. www.zoeanastassiou.com
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!
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.
Mary Lauren is an AEA Performer, Director/Choreographer, and Writer. B.F.A. from CSF. Cathy, The Last 5 Years, Louise, Gypsy, Sarah, Sarah Was Mine, Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Helena, Midsummer and Gertrude, Hamlet. Written works; Dream House (opening April 21st at the Wild Project) and Start With I Do. Film: Lead, Dream of Spring. Currently seeking representation. marylaurenonline.org
Jonny Weber is a veteran of Will's Playshop, playing such roles as Hamlet, Mark Anthony and Coriolanus. He is very excited to be returning after many years.
Thomas J. Donohoe II (Production Stage Manager/Sound Designer) is an NJ/NYC-based stage manager, director, and designer, with a degree in Directing/Stage Management from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Favorite recent credits include: The Public: The Other Americans (PA), The Tank:Hamlet on the Run (Director/Adaptation/Sound Designer), and Montclair Studio Playhouse: The Laramie Project (Director/Sound Designer). In 2020, he won the ACTF Region 2 National Award for Stage Management Excellence. tdonohoe05@gmail.com.