The Theatre Illuminata is home to every play ever written – and to Beatrice Shakespeare Smith ("Bertie" for short), who was left on its doorstep as an infant. Now she lives on its stage and consorts with spirits, pirates, kings, and... well, in short, every character ever to stride the boards.

Constantly accompanied (whether she wants to be or not) by four cake-obsessed fairies, Bertie can't seem to stay out of trouble. It's gotten so bad that management is ready to throw her out, unless she can – against all odds – prove her worth to the theater.

With its willful and engaging heroine, dazzling concept, and host of Shakespearian characters, Lisa Mantchev's debut novel is itself like a great piece of theatre. Shifting effortlessly from hilarity to romance to loss to redemption, it is bound to delight anyone who has ever dreamed of the stage.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (“Bertie” for short) consorts daily with fairies, spirits, pirates, kings and queens. Left in infancy on the doorstep of the Theatre Illuminata, Bertie’s confidants and acquaintances step from the pages of plays. When the Theatre decides to evict her from her home of seventeen years, Bertie fights to stay where she is as the curtain goes up on a drama of longing and discovery- with Bertie searching out the well-concealed secrets of her past. Infused with the love of the theater, Lisa Mantchev’s first novel weaves a coming-of-age tale which is rich and sensual, screamingly funny, deeply mystical and ultimately joyous. ©2009 Lisa Mantchev (P)2010 Full Cast Audio