What begin as a lecture in 2012, traveling libraries in California and Colorado, became an award-winning, 75-minute, frenetic comedy about finding one's voice from trauma to triumph through the words and works of William Shakespeare.
Written and performed by Terra Taylor Knudson, and directed by and developed with Jessica Lynn Johnson, "Willy" has played dozens of times in numerous venues across California and Arizona since 2016 and in 2022 the show makes its international debut as participant in the online programs at the Greater Manchester Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Sydney Fringe, and Melbourne Fringe.
This energetic show runs like a bullet train from start to finish, making hairpin turns from humor to drama, whipping in and out of the most iconic characters and modern, very relatable experience as actress/playwright, Terra Taylor Knudson weaves Shakespeare's works into a truly unique coming-of-age story, illustrating the surprising ways that the Bard shaped her voice and helped her find a voice as a woman and an artist.
2016 - Present
A fast-paced comedy about the journey through adversity to discover a voice with Shakespeare.
Willy is thrilled to be part of C ARTS' award-winning international independent arts program of outstanding independent work at the Edinburgh Fringe, in-person and online year-round.
Oct 6 - 23, 2022
Willy made a virtual leap Down Under when it streamed Down Under at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Sept 1 - 30, 2022
Then a short a hop, skip, and a kangaroo jump from Melbourne, Willy streamed at the annual Sydney Fringe Festival.
Aug 5 - 29, 2022
Willy followed a July digital run at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival with a virtual trip to the oldest & most famous fringe festival in the world, Edinburgh, Scotland!
July 1 - 31, 2022
Willy's made an international debut with the digital program at Greater Manchester Fringe Festival.
June 2022
Willy made a digital appearance at the Kansas City Fringe Festival, launching it's virtual streaming tour.
ln November of 2019, Willy hit the road and travelled to northern California to appear as a guest production at the critically acclaimed Mendocino Playhouse, once again playing to a sold out house and enjoying the gorgeous pacific northwest.
Producer Cat Elrod brought Willy to the award-winning Garage Theatre in Long Beach, CA for a successful weekend run in September 2019.
producer producer
The historical Santa Monica Playhouse welcomed Willy as a guest production in May 2019, playing to a wildly successful, sold out house.
In May, 2018, Willy was produced by the Los Angeles based 2Cent Theatre company as part of their Variety Series at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood. The weekend was well received and enjoyed a sold out run.
In June of 2017, Willy appeared at the nationally acclaimed Hollywood Fringe Festival where it earned rave reviews and placed 6th of all solo festivals that year. It also earned a prestigious ENCORE Producer's Award for excellenc, followed by an additional encore performance in July of that same year.
Grunion Reivew THE SHOWBUZZ (pdf)
DownloadBroadway World Interview (pdf)
DownloadWilly's Lil Virgin Queen Reviews (jpg)
DownloadShe Wolf Blog 2022 Greater Manchester Fringe (pdf)
DownloadThe Phoenix Remix 2022 Edinburgh Fringe (pdf)
DownloadWilly’s Lil Virgin Queen - 2022 Manchester Press Release (pdf)
DownloadFemale Solo Artists Search for Hope & Joy - 2022 Edinburgh Festival (pdf)
DownloadWilly’s Lil Virgin Queen - 2022 Edinburgh Press Release (pdf)
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