The Beard of Avon is a play by Amy Freed, originally commissioned and produced by South Coast Repertory in 2001. It is a farcical treatment of the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship, in which both Shakespeare and his wife become involved, in different ways, with secret playwright Edward de Vere and find themselves helping to present the works of several other secretive authors under Shakespeare's name, including Queen Elizabeth I herself. Cast of characters Sources: Student Guide, Goodman Theatre Script Lead characters William Shakspere – A lad of Stratford. In his early thirties. Simple, honest, very appealing fellow. Possessor of hidden gifts. Poses as a playwright under the stage name "William Shakespeare". Geoffrey Dunderbread – The Company's slutty Boy player, and leading lady of the Globe Theatre. Shakspere's confidante. Plays the roles of Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, Lavinia in Titus Andronicus, and Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew. Edward De Vere - 17th Earl of Oxford. in his forties. Wicked, charming, sexy, brilliant. A closet writer. In a "secret" homosexual affair with Henry Wriothesley Henry Wriothesley – 20s. Young and beautiful. Third Earl of Southampton. Anne Hathaway – Shakspere's wife. Lively, illiterate, promiscuous. When abandoned by her husband, she goes to London disguised as a whore. She seduces de Vere and becomes Shakspere's "Shadow woman". Queen Elizabeth I – Queen of England. Between forty and sixty. A sacred monster. Wants a boyfriend. John Heminge – manager of an acting company Henry Condel – partner of Heminge Supporting characters Members of Queen Elizabeth’s court: Francis Bacon Lady Lettice Francis Walsingham Lord Burleigh Earl of Derby Additional members of Heminge's company Richard Burbage – an actor, the leading man Walter Fitch, a playwright Productions The play premiered at the South Coast Repertory Theater in June 2001, and went on to productions in Salt Lake City and the Seattle Repertory Theatre in November to December 2001. It opened at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, in January 2002. Freed noted: "There's something about it that has the attractiveness of a good mystery.... You just can't leave it alone." The play was presented at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, from October 7, 2002, to November 2, 2002, directed by Resident Director David Petrarca. The play opened Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on November 18, 2003 and closed on December 21, 2003. Directed by Doug Hughes, the cast featured Tim Blake Nelson