A New Musical Workshop: The Willing
A full-length musical by Amy Engelhardt & Robert John Ford
Book & Lyrics By:
Music & Lyrics By:
A New Musical Workshop: The Willing
A full-length musical by Amy Engelhardt & Robert John Ford
Book & Lyrics By:
Music & Lyrics By:
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.
This workshop will be a dynamic fusion of creativity and collaboration. DHP has joined a distinguished team of Off-Broadway and Broadway veterans who will work alongside Duluth’s most talented actors, singers, dancers, and technicians. Together, they will engage in a three-phase creative process:
Phase One: Collaborative exploration of the book, music, and characters, setting the foundation for the new musical.
Phase Two: Intensive rehearsals where the team will refine and adapt the work, potentially making changes to characters, songs, and plot.
Phase Three: Four FREE public performances providing a unique chance to experience the evolving musical and see how it transforms throughout the two-week period.
The workshop will take place within the Depot's vibrant arts and cultural hub, utilizing its rehearsal spaces and The Depot Theater for presentations.
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.