By Lorraine Seabrook
McCarter Theatre Education and Hopewell Valley Central High Sschool Present
Abridged Version of Twelfth Night on Friday the 13th
PENNINGTON, NJ—The McCarter Theatre Education Department and Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS) present an abridged version of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night on Friday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the school’s Performing Arts Center. The public is welcome and admission is free.
This updated version of Shakespeare’s classic tale of mistaken identity is set in the 1940s and includes practical jokes, dancing and swing music. Heather Krause, a teaching artist and director with McCarter Theatre and Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre, directs the production. Tery Solomon, HVCHS English teacher, is associate director, Carrie Ballinger is scenic artist and Susaye Lawson is choreographer. The McCarter Theatre Education Department and Scene Shop have overseen the physical production.
The cast of eleven students from HVCHS features Elizabeth Plevy (Viola); Jess Novobilsky (Sebastian); Michele Seabrook (Olivia); Leah Giovannoli (Malvolio); Elizabeth Donoghue (Count Orsino); Maria (Wren Seiber); Rob Campana (Sir Andrew Aguecheek); Sara Kuhn (Feste); Jennifer Pfaff (Sir Toby Belch); Anna Cahill (Valentine/Antonia); and Greg Mariani (Gregorio/Officer).
The production, which will tour to all four district elementary schools and Timberlane Middle School during the week of March 16, is designed to introduce elementary school students to Shakespeare as he was meant to be experienced–on stage, out loud, with jokes and music intact–but in a shortened form. Parents of elementary and middle school students are welcome to attend the school performances and are encouraged to check with their schools for days and show times.
The script was created by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Education Director Brian B. Crowe and made available for this educational production. The program has been made possible through a grant from the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation.
