The Actors Shakespeare Company of New Jersey will present the
final offering of its 2005-06 season, Twelfth Night – Or What You Will,
for 16 performances this June. For the first time in its six-year
history, ASC will present the first-half of this limited engagement at
its current residence, New Jersey City University's West Side
Theatre, before moving the production to Exchange Place Plaza, Jersey
City, where the remaining eight performances will be performed outdoors.
"Shipwrecks,
mistaken identity, unrequited love and stealthy disguise combine to
make mischief in Shakespeare's classic comedy. Despite
drunken midnight revels, a haughty servant and a lovesick Duke, the
truth shines forth in the form of one young woman who risks everything
for love," state press notes.
From Thursday, June 1 through Sunday, June 11, the play will be
performed at New Jersey City University's West Side Theatre, located at
285 West Side Ave. (near the intersection
of Audubon Ave.) in Jersey City. From
Thursday, June 15 through Sunday, June 24, Twelfth Night will be
performed outdoors at Jersey City's Exchange Place Plaza.
Headed
by Play Masters Mia Borrelli and Ron Sanborn, the creative team for
Twelfth Night includes Paul Hudson (scenic and lighting design), Eva
Lachur Omeljaniuk (costume design), Anthony Bex (music composition) and
Kristen Seidle (movement and choreography).
The cast features Susanna Baddiel (Olivia), Nicola Barber (Fabian,
Orsino's Attendant), Benjamin Curns (Sir Toby Belch), Peter
Galman (Captaine, Anthonio), Justin Gibbs (Sebastian), Gregory Gray
(Valentine, First Officer), Michael Hajek (Malvolio), Timur Kocak (Sir
Andrew Ague-cheeke), Bethany Reeves (Viola), Ed Roggenkamp (Feste,
Priest), Kate Ross (Maria), Colin Ryan (Orsino), Eva Sachs (Curio,
Olivia's Servant) and Santo Sanabria (Orsino's Attendant,
Second Officer).
Actors Shakespeare Company programming
is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on
the Arts / Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National
Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for
the Arts. Additional sponsorhip is provided by Merrill Lynch, Light
House Tavern, Porto Leggero and the Hartz Corporation
"In
October of 2000, eighteen actors met in a small studio in New York City
and discussed a mutual desire to create an artistic home for the
production and study of Shakespeare's works. The
initial three years were spent building the artistry and membership of
a core ensemble, a strong production history and educational
programming for high schools through Shakespeare WINS. As ASC plans to
move into its seventh season next fall, the Company and its vision are
clearer and stronger than ever. In its two new homes at New Jersey City
University and Exchange Place Plaza, the Company is busy planning its
2006-07 season, including
Macbeth, King John (the Company's
first history play) and
As You Like It. The Company's plans and
goals continue to reflect the intentions that its founders put forth at
their first gathering: to unlock the deeply human nature of classical
theatre for contemporary audiences of all ages," state press notes.
Performances at the West Side Theatre are Thursday and Friday
evenings at 8 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets
are $30 ($15 for students, seniors and children under 18) and are now
available through
TheaterMania.com
or by calling 866-811-4111. Outdoor performances at the Exchange
Place Plaza will be held Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30
p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Visit
www.ascnj.org for more information.
