Twelfth Night Set at Elm Street Shakespeare

 Aaron Moss (Duke Orsino). Photo courtesy of El Street Shakespeare Company.

Elm Shakespeare Company continues its 20th anniversary season celebration Aug. 20-Sept. 6 with 16 performances of Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and riotous comedies of mistaken identity.

Since its inception in 1995, Elm Shakespeare Company has been engaging audiences each summer with its professional productions under the stars in Edgerton Park, New Haven.

This summer, under the direction of Artistic Director James Andreassi (who will also play the role of Sir Toby Belch),Twelfth Night has been relocated from Illyria to the south of Spain. Andreassi and the company's veteran design team have created a production that is redolent with the mystery of Moorish Andalucia. The designers are: sets Vladimir Shpitalnik, costumes Elizabeth Bolster, sound/music Nathan Roberts  and lighting Jamie Burnett.

The cast includes Paula Plum as Maria, Aaron Moss as Duke Orsino, Raphael Massie and Jeremy Funke as Malvolio and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Also Andrea Goldman as Olivia, Lydia Barnett-Mulligan as Viola, Jacob Heimer as Feste. Other cast members include Shawn Tyler Allen, Joshua Dill, Edward Hall, Jonathan Higginbotham, Nathan Tracy and Keith Watford.

True to its mission to strengthen the artistic and educational landscape of New Haven, the company remains dedicated to mentoring and training local high school students passionate about theater. Joining the professional company this summer as either cast members or in technical positions are 10 students from high schools in the Greater New Haven area: Zane Bendici (Shelton), Talia Colten (New Haven), Sydnee Peterson (Hamden), Sophia Ginnow (Ansonia), Jeremy Bedoya (New Haven), Candice Gosta (New Haven), Chiara Giampietro (Meriden), Kathryn Kuhn (New Haven), Ashley Velleco (Ansonia) and Mimi Zschack (Orange).

Information:

Outdoor performances of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

Edgerton Park, 75 Cliff St., New Haven

Aug. 20-23, 25-30 and Sept. 1-6

All performances at 8 pm

Free with a suggested donation

Bring a blanket or chair. Picnics encouraged.

Free street parking

Handicap accessible parking available

(203) 874-0801; info@elmshakespeare.org; www.elmshakespeare.org

Coming up:

Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5-8 pm: 20th Anniversary Gala and Auction, in support of Elm Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare in the Park performances each summer and innovative educational programs throughout the year. Food and drinks provided by many of the finest restaurants and caterers in New Haven: L’Orcio, Le Petit Gourmet, Caseus, Temple Grill, Whitneyville Food Center, Geronimo and others.

Followed by performance of Twelfth Night

Tickets for Gala: $125-$200