The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey concludes its 2009 season and ushers in the holidays with Shakespeare’s popular and exhilarating comedy Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night begins performances on December 2 and continues through January 3 at the Shakespeare Theatre Main Stage – The F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road in Madison. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.
Named after the traditional end of the Christmas season, the romantic and witty Twelfth Night features one of Shakespeare’s most famous clowns, Feste, and a fast-paced story filled with love, illusion, music and pranks. Delightfully tart, ravishingly bittersweet and spectacularly frothy, it is a joyous show for the holidays and for family theatre-going. Twelfth Night is the basis for the hit musical Illyria presented by The Shakespeare Theatre in 2004.
The Cast
Ryan Farley returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play the clown Feste. Farley appeared in the title role in Henry VI: Blood & Roses. He has also appeared at theatres throughout the nation including the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, DC, the Wilma Theater, The Utah Shakespearean Festival and the American Conservatory Theater.
Longtime Shakespeare Theatre veteran Steve Wilson plays Orsino, the Duke of Illyria. Wilson, in his eleventh season at The Theatre appeared in the national tours of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sweet Charity and on Broadway in By Jeeves, Sunday in the Park with George, Lestat and The Frogs. At The Shakespeare Theatre, he appeared in A Christmas Carol, The Rivals, and Illyria among others. He has also appeared at the Walnut Street Theatre, Barrington Stage Company and Pittsburgh Public Theatre.
Elena Shaddow, who played Viola in The Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Illyria, returns to play Olivia in Twelfth Night. Shaddow has appeared on Broadway in The Woman in White, Fiddler on the Roof, Nine, Sweet Smell of Success and Les Miserables. She also appeared in the National tour of The Light in the Piazza and in Carnival at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Dave Shalansky plays Sir Toby Belch, a lover of drink and merriment. Shalansky returns for his third season at The Shakespeare Theatre where he appeared in The Tempest, The School for Scandal and Cyrano de Bergerac. He has appeared at theatres throughout the country including Huntington Theatre and North Hollywood Actors Studio. He television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Without a Trace, Six Feet Under, Entourage and The Gilmore Girls.
Following his appearance as Leartes in Hamlet, Daniel Stewart returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play the pompous Malvolio. Stewart’s Broadway credits include The Overwhelming and Not About Nightengales. Off-Broadway, he has appeared in Around the World in Eighty Days, Trousers and Bartleby the Scrivener, among others.
Drew University alumni and Shakespeare Theatre veterans Geoff Wilson and Amy Hutchins return to Madison to play the brother and sister duo Sebastian and Viola. Wilson is in his seventh season at The Shakespeare Theatre having appeared in As You Like It, Camino Real and All’s Well that Ends Well among others. He also appeared off-Broadway at the Woman’s Theatre Project. Hutchins returns for her third season at the Theatre having appeared in The Country Wife and with the Next Stage Ensemble. Regionally, she has appeared at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.
Erin Partin returns to the Theatre to play Maria and Matt Bradford Sullivan plays Andrew Aguecheek. Rounding out the cast are Jon Barker, Roger Casey, Philip Estrera, Philip Guerette, and Sean Hudock.
The Director
Twelfth Night marks the 45th production Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte has directed for the Theatre in her 19 years at its helm. In addition to creating and directing a number of original translations and adaptations for the stage including Pride and Prejudice, The Triumph of Love, and The Blue Bird, Monte has directed acclaimed productions of Hamlet, King Lear, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Cherry Orchard and Henry V. While associate artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, she was part of a writing team that collaborated with Tennessee Williams on an eight-hour, two part production entitled Tennessee Williams: A Celebration – a retrospective tribute to Williams’ literary canon.
The Artistic Staff
Creating the world of Twelfth Night are lighting designer Anthony Galaska, costume designer Clint Ramos. Ms. Monte serves as set designer. Denise Cardarelli serves as production stage manager.
Single tickets for Twelfth Night are now on sale and range in price from $30 to $54 depending on performance day and time. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.
Special Performances Preview performances for Twelfth Night are Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday, December 3 and 4 at 8:00 pm. These Preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first Preview performance is Pay What You Wish night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on December 2 and name your own admission price for that evening’s 7:30 preview performance (regularly $30 to $34, offer subject to availability).
For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances for each show include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for Twelfth Night will be Tuesday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 12 and December 19 at 2:00 p.m.
For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., artists from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider’s perspective on the production. Know the Show will be held on December 10 at 7:00 p.m. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening’s 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $43 balcony seating or $47 for orchestra seating.
The Saturday, December 19 at 2 p.m. performance will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge. Tickets for the Saturday 2 p.m. performance are $43 and $47.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby ShakespeareTheatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described, captioned and sign-language interpreted. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600, email boxoffice@ShakespeareNJ.org or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey’s only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.