Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT Comes to City Theatre Company, Now thru 6/22

Orsino loves Olivia, but Olivia loves Cesario. Only, Cesario is really Viola, and Viola loves Orsino. Mistaken identity, unrequited love, gender bending, fools and bawdy revelry takes the stage in William Shakespeare's best-loved comedy, Twelfth Night, or What You Will, running today, May 30 to June 22 at City Theatre.

The City Theatre Company is thrilled to kick off the 2014 summer theatre season with William Shakespeare's wonderful romantic comedy Twelfth Night. Romance, wit, merriment, masquerades, and music make it perfect Austin summer fare. Guest director Ben McLemore leads the production.

"If music be the food of love, play on." - Duke Orsino (Act I, Scene 1)

Revelry, disguises, serenades, swashbuckling, and, of course, pining lovers abound in what some call Shakespeare's most perfect comedy. Written in 1601, Twelfth Night takes place in the fantastical land of Illyria. Twin brother and sister go down in a shipwreck. Believing her brother has perished, the sister, Viola, disguised as a man,
becomes the confidante of Orsino, the duke of Illyria. Orsino sends Viola (now Cesario) to woo Olivia, who, also grieving a dead brother, has vowed never to marry.

Olivia then falls in love with Viola/Cesario, who has herself fallen in love with Orsino. Adding to the comedic confusion is Feste the Clown, the drunken Sir Toby Belch, the foolish Aquecheek, the conniving Malvolio, and Sebastian, Viola's presumed drowned brother. A tale of mistaken identity and mismatched ardor unfurls as lords and ladies, servants and masters wind a topsy-turvy path to happiness.

The City Theatre Company is excited to have guest director Ben McLemore leading the summer production. He has directed and acted for numerous Austin theatre companies including the Last Act Theatre Company (Austin Critics' Table Award for Titus Andronicus), Austin Shakespeare, Different Stages, The Baron's Men, Present Company, Paradox Players, NxNW Theatre Company, and the Abilene Shakespeare Festival. He was last seen on the City Theatre stage as Romeo in the 2012 production of Romeo and Juliet. The City Theatre has assembled an exciting ensemble for the show with actors seen recently on Austin stages and in many Shakespeare productions around the city.

The cast includes Maria Latiolais, Karen Alvarado, Robert Slack, Kristin Hall, Zac Crofford, Bob Jones, Robert Stevens, Owen Ziegler, Levi Gore, Taylor Flanagan, Alessandra Manon and Alexander Whittlesey.

The City Theatre Company is an Austin-based, not-for-profit arts organization and is sponsored in part by the Austin Creative Alliance and the Austin Cultural Arts Division. Founded in 2006, the company has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Awards, the B. Iden Payne Awards, the Central Texas Excellence in Theatre Awards, and has twice been voted "Best Theatre Company" by Austin-American Statesman's Austin 360. CTC is dedicated in providing quality theatrical experiences and entertainment for Austin artists and its community.

SHOW INFORMATION: Twelfth Night, or What You Will by William Shakespeare runs May 30 - June 22, playing Thursday - Saturday 8:00 pm and Sunday 5:30 pm. The City Theatre is located at 3823 Airport Blvd. 78722 -- east corner of Airport Blvd. and 38 ½ Street. General Seating $15. Guaranteed Front/2nd Row Reserved $25. Students $12. Thursday all seats $10. Group discounts are available. Reservations 512-524-2870 or info@citytheatreaustin.org or online at www.citytheatreaustin.org.