GENDER PLAY, OR WHAT YOU WILL

ABOUT THIS Show

Will invites you to an impromptu party to celebrate their new friendship with one of the oldest and queerest playwrights of the English language—William Shakespeare! For eight nights only, join total besties Will & Will as they reclaim the Bard’s old plays in all of their original homoerotic, cross-dressing, genderfluid glory. But to meet the guest of honor, we must perform the seance again, together.

Following a wildly successful run with About Face Theatre in 2023, Gender Play, or what you Will returns to Chicago for another mystical journey of queer joy, laughter, tarot and self-discovery through the classics.

This production of Gender Play originated at and is fiscally sponsored by Indianapolis Shakespeare Company.

PRESS

This incredibly original theatrical production isn’t exactly a play. It’s more like a happening or an event... filled with fun, festivities and flights of fantasy. RECOMMENDED.
— Chicago Theatre Review

A tour de force and a must-see!... a forceful and captivating performance.
★★★★★
— Around The Town

 
Delightfully, unapologetically queer... Whether you’re a Shakespeare devotee like me or would normally pass on his work, do yourself a favor and come see this show. It’s something truly special.
— Splash Magazine

 
A glimmering tour de force through some of Shakespeare’s most compelling characters and real-life lovers... Gender Play, or what you Will is an exuberant celebration of the potential of storytelling, filled with decadent costume reveals, surprise dance parties, a robust mastery of Shakespeare’s work, and the talent that is Will Wilhelm.
— Rescripted

About Will Wilhelm

Will Wilhelm (they/them) is a trans/non-binary actor, writer and educator based in Chicago. Will is the co-creator and performer of Gender Play, or what you Will, which premiered with About Face Theatre and garnered the artist two Jeff Award nominations: Best Solo Performance and Best New Work. Additional productions of Gender Play have been seen at Indianapolis Shakespeare Company and Island Shakespeare Festival. 

A Michigan native, Will became the first openly non-binary company member at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2018, where they reimagined genderqueer characters in As You Like It, Macbeth, and Bill Rauch’s Oklahoma! Other regional credits include RENT (Portland Center Stage) and Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Shakespeare Theatre Company). Select Chicago performance credits include Mr. Burns (Theater Wit), Straight White Men (Steppenwolf Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Goodman Theatre), and My Wonderful Birthday Suit (Chicago Children’s Theatre). As an educator, Will has been invited to teach and share work at universities across Chicago, the US and Europe.

Next up, the tour of Gender Play continues to Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. A proud Northwestern graduate, Will is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Full Creative Team

Co-Creators: Will Wilhelm (they/them) & Erin Murray (she/her)
Director: Emily Tarquin (they/them)
Stage Manager: Lucy Whipp (she/her)
Producer & Production Manager: Brannon Bowers (they/them)
Production Designer: Caitlin Ayer (she/her)
Costume Design: Winter Olamina (they/them)
Sound Design: Rhythm Science Sound: Scz Zarantonello (they/them) & Jared Zarantonello
Lighting Design: Tim Dick (they/them)
Prop Design: Rachelle Martin (she/her)
Magic Design: Taylor Martin

GENDER PLAY received its world premiere with About Face Theatre in May 2023 (produced by Megan Carney and Logan Jones, dramaturgy by Linnea Valdivia).

GENDER PLAY was developed with additional support from Island Shakespeare Festival, Northwestern University, Wofford College and a GIG Fund Grant from Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts.