The Department of Theatre at Mississippi University for Women and the Blue Line Shakespeare Festival present “Twelfth Night” April 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. in Cromwell Auditorium.
In the comedy by William Shakespeare, a twin brother and sister are separated in a shipwreck in the Adriatic Sea. Each seeks their fortune in the kingdom of Illyria, believing the other dead. Mistaken identity causes confusion, which leads to zany antics.
The cast includes guest artists Ty Fanning and Torey Byrne, alumna Mary Hickox and Casey Duke and students Kevin Barkman, Johnathan Best, Allison Jones, Gavin Mendus, Candice Monteith, Ryan Savage, Ray Sizemore, Karen Thead, Leah Thompson, Abi Wiggins, Parker Yarbrough and Graham Young.
The production team includes theatre faculty members William “Peppy” Biddy, producer; David Carter, technical director and producer; and Lee Crouse, director.
MUW alumnus Casey Duke designed lights, Dustin Gibson scenery, Anne Franklin Lamar costumes, with stage management by Mary Wildsmith.
Current MUW theatre students Johnathan Best designed sound, and Leah Thompson is assistant director. Candice Monteith is makeup designer, Katie Welch props mistress and Lindsey Tanner scenic charge. Original music is arranged by Andrew Walker.
Hickox, one of the founders of the Blue Line Shakespeare Festival and the actress playing Viola, said, “When I came up with the idea of having a Shakespeare festival at MUW, I thought it was a dream. Now that the dream has become a reality, I feel so blessed to be able to share one of my favorite shows with my beloved alma mater.”
“‘Twelfth Night’ has several funny twists and turns. Shakespeare wrote several memorable characters in this play, including Viola, ranked as one of his top female heroines. As a woman, she decides she must disguise herself as a man in order to survive. What follows creates chaos for the characters, but lots of fun for the audience,” said Director Lee Crouse.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the performance begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. The show runs one hour and 20 minutes, with no intermission.
For more information, visit muw.edu/as/theatre, the MUW Theatre Facebook page, or phone 662-329-7353.
Cromwell is located at the corner of 10th Street and Sixth Avenue South.
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