The Willing, a new musical, will spring to life in Duluth, MN in January 2026 in a workshop setting. The Willing is the compelling true story of William Henry Ireland, a boy of 19, who desperately sought his emotionally distant father’s love and respect. The tale unfolds in the world of London’s theater community in 1797. Our workshop will act as a dynamic laboratory where the writer, composer, actors, musicians and workshop director will explore, rehearse and ultimately present several public performances of their work.   

Synopsis

It’s 1797 and London can’t get enough Shakespeare! 19-year-old William Henry Ireland is a lost soul grappling with teen angst, social anxiety and a loveless father. His only solace: the world of the theatre, where nothing is as it seems. His father’s obsession with William Shakespeare prompts William Henry to concoct a forgery scheme resulting in a whirlwind of consequences, all set against the backdrop of the world of the London Theater.