Ithaca College Theatre opens its fall 2018 season with a modern adaptation of a timeless Shakespeare comedy. “Twelfth Night or, What You Will” brings the Croatian-inspired kingdom of Illyria to life to set the stage for a comedic tale of romance and self-discovery.
“Twelfth Night” tells the story of shipwrecked twins, Viola and Sebastian, who arrive separately on the coast of Illyria, a mystical and romantic kingdom near the Adriatic Sea. Each believing the other to be dead, both siblings must find themselves while redefining the rules of gender, identity and love. Mayhem ensues, with mishaps and mistaken identities.
The director of the show, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre Arts Catherine Weidner, emphasizes how important it was to adapt “Twelfth Night” to modern times and emphasize the themes of love.
“We wanted to focus on how real love transcends all, no matter your sexuality or gender,” said Weidner. “Illyria is a place of self-discovery for these characters to help them understand that love is love.”
The cast features:
- Hannah Anderson ’19 as “Viola”
- Rafael Lopez ’21 as “Orsino”
- Margaret Gillette ’19 as “Olivia”
- Jacob Froehlich ’19 as “Sebastian”
- Cameron Hunt Mitchell ’19 as “Malvolio”
- Juliet Kimble ’19 as “Maria”
- Joseph D’Amore ’21 as “Antonio”
- Andrew Nauden ’20 as “Sir Toby Belch”
- Jordan Sledd ’20 as “Sir Andrew Aguecheek”
The creative team includes:
- Scenic design by Shane Hennessey ’19
- Lighting design by Ron Ziomek ’19
- Sound design by Aria Sardella ’20
- Costume design by Brock Viering ’19
- Stage manager Amanda Balter ’19
- Anna Michnowicz ’19 as the dramaturg
“Audiences should walk into our Clark Theatre with a fresh frame of mind, and let the world of Illyria take over,” said Mitchell. “Get ready to laugh, get ready to cry, and get ready for some outrageous surprises!”
“Twelfth Night or, What You Will” runs October 2–13 in Clark Theatre in Dillingham Center. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. performance on October 13 and a 2 p.m. only matinee on Oct. 7.
Tickets are on sale at the Ithaca College Theatre Box Office in Dillingham Center. Online sales are unavailable at this time and patrons must visit or call the box office at (607) 274-3224 to purchase tickets. The box office is open noon–5 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and noon–4 p.m. on Friday.