http://www.twelfthnightop.com
Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy, which we’re bringing to Off-Broadway in Original Pronunciation (OP) for the first time in NYC theater history, is Twelfth Night. It begins when a pair of shipwrecked twins find themselves stranded penniless in the land of Illyria. Viola survives by assuming the identity of a young man, calling herself Cesario, and finds employment in Duke Orsino’s household. Soon she becomes his messenger of unrequited love to the fair Olivia. Things get complicated when Olivia falls in love with Cesario instead.
Unable to confess her true identity as a woman, Viola struggles to fend off Olivia’s advances while disguised as a man. Meanwhile, she falls head over heels in love with Count Orsino. The play is full of zany, irascible characters, each with their own agenda. Meanwhile, Viola’s twin brother Sebastian roams the land searching for his lost twin sister. At the same time, he is being pursued by Antonio, a sea captain who is enamored by him. In the end, Viola and Sebastian are reunited with everyone, finding true love and happiness.
Our play is being presented completely in Original Pronunciation, (OP) which is the way Shakespeare’s actors spoke on stage in the 1600‘s. This once dead pronunciation system has been rediscovered and it’s wonderfully alive and brings a refreshing sparkle to the rhymes and puns so important to the meaning of Shakespeare’s wonderful plays.
Our Voice Master in (OP) is John Windsor-Cunningham, with Twelfth Night OP transcription and recordings by Professor David Crystal, OBE.
Producer/Director: Hamilton Meadows
Associate Producer: Ron Song Destro - Artistic Director of the Oxford Shakespeare Company
Cast:
Lize Johnston/Viola, Samantha Dena/Olivia, Ron Song Destro/Feste, Frank Franconeri/Malvolio, Alex Sunderhus/Maria, Hamilton Meadows/Sir Toby, Joel Fullerton/Sir Andrew, Armond Esien & J.B. Alexander/Orsino, Jonathan Rentler/Sebastian, Daniel Mian/Antonio, Michael Villastrigo/Sea Captain, Troy Pepicelli/Fabian, and Diana Swinburne as herself.
Crew:
Stage/Sword Fighting Coach: Kelsey Black
Office Administration: Elizabeth Devito
Production Assistant: Madeleine Sykes
Sound and Lighting Board: Philip Waller
Set: Hamilton Meadows, Joel Fullerton, Michael Villastrigo
Twelfth Night opens Off-Broadway this February 15th 2012 at the Chernuchin Theatre at the American Theatre of Actors, and runs for one week, closing on February 19th. The theatre is located at 314 W. 54th street in New York City.
Shows starts each night at 8:00pm with a Sunday matinee at 2:00pm. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door and through SmartTix.com or 212-868-4444.
For further information, please call I Can Do That Theatrical Productions at 917-443-4691 or visit hamiltonmeadowsfilms.com.
