Texas Theatre & Dance to Present TWELFTH NIGHT, 2/26-3/6

Following a shipwreck on a strange shore, Viola fears her brother dead and is forced to build a new life on her own. Masquerading as a man in order to procure a job with Duke Orsino, she finds herself in the midst of a topsy-turvy love triangle. Magic, mayhem and mistaken identities come to the stage in William Shakespeare's treasured romantic comedy of revelry, reunion and love.

"Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is, at its heart, a story of love, of being lost and being found again," shares Samuel Blake, the play's dramaturg. "Twelfth Night has been performed the world over and continues to enchant audiences as it almost certainly did when it was first staged over 400 years ago. Perhaps this is because we have all experienced the order of our world being overturned at some point, whether it be from the desperate passion of unrequited love, the inconsolable grief of losing a loved one, the raucous exuberance of too much revelry, or the necessity of disguising oneself simply to survive."

Led by guest director Robynn Rodriguez, the creative team sets Shakespeare's island of Illyria in the stylized world of 1840s Croatia. Inspired by films such as The Piano and works by visual artist Maxfield Parrish, Viola finds herself thrust into a place of refuge, love and transformation.

"To find a way forward, Viola becomes her twin brother. She disguises herself while she tries to rise to the challenges of a new life. It is through the guise of her brother that Viola's genial nature, her strength of character and her quick wit begin to blossom," says Rodriguez. "As 'Cesario,' Viola begins to discover the essence of who she is."

Robynn Rodriguez made her directorial debut at the Utah Shakespeare Festival where she has directed King John and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. For 22 seasons, Rodriguez was a member of the resident acting company at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. As an actor, her work has been seen at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Denver Center Theatre Company, Intiman Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and many others. Rodriguez received her M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She will direct Richard III at Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) in April.

Twelfth Night features an all-star cast of University of Texas at Austin students, including: Trey Curtis as Feste, Keith Machekanyanga as Orsino, Rama Tchuente as Olivia, Jake McDermott as Sebastion, Adolfo Lambert as Malvolio, Teddy Santiesteban as Valentine, Austin Greenwalt as Sir Toby Belch, Ian Price as Sir Andrew, Adriana Scamardi as Maria, Sam Kerner as Fabian, Jadon Hatley as Priest, Jose Alejandro Figueroa as Curio and Josh Cole as Musician.

Direction by Robynn Rodriguez Ÿ Technical Direction by Lawrence Bennett Ÿ Choreography by Andrea Beckham Ÿ Dramaturgy by Samuel Blake Ÿ Lighting Design by Yi-Tai Chung Ÿ Costume Design by Andie Day Ÿ Projection Design by Katherine Ducey Ÿ Sound Design by Billy Henry Ÿ Scenic Design by Teena Sauvola Ÿ Fight Choreography by Kevin Squires Ÿ Stage Management by Charlotte Campbell

For more information on Twelfth Night, please visit JoinTheDrama.org