The Brigham Young University Department of Theatre and Media Arts will present Shakespeare's comic masterpiece "Twelfth Night" in the Nelke Theatre Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 3-7 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 5-9 at 6 p.m.
The show is formatted for young audiences and will be performed by the BYU Young Company.
There will be no performances Sundays and Mondays, and matinees will take place at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Tickets are $10 or $6 weeknights and $7 weekends with a BYU or student ID. For selected performances, all tickets will be $5. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Fine Arts Ticket Office, by calling (801) 422-7664 or by visiting performances.byu.edu.
Shipwrecked and far from home, Viola poses as her twin brother, Sebastian, to uncover the story behind his disappearance. Zany love triangles and mixed-up identities ensue, and the story illustrates the importance of looking beyond outward appearances to understand true character and love.
"For me, Shakespearean comedy is about movement, color and energy," said director Christopher Clark, a doctoral candidate at BYU and assistant professor of theatre at Utah Valley State College. "These plays, originally performed in the open air in front of hundreds of rowdy spectators, must have been full of sound, character and imagination, and so it is our goal to provide just that."
Clark will pull double duty for the play as the director and as Sebastian, a role he will share with Ben Phelan, a junior in theatre arts education. Shalaina Fotheringham, a senior studying therapeutic recreation and acting, will play Viola.
Other cast members include Matthew Carlin as the captain, Malvolio and Sir Topas; Christy Gordon as Andrew Aguecheek; J. William Hasler as Duke Orsino; Gene Ledbetter as Toby Belch; Lauren Noll as Feste; Laura Sorenson as Olivia; and Alexis Wardle as Maria.
The production team is comprised of assistant director Annette Turner, show director Rebeca Witham Wallin, costume designer Amelia Schow and dramaturg Bianca Dillard.
For more information, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348.
Writer: Elizabeth Kasper