WCU's Dept. of Theatre & Dance Presents TWELFTH NIGHT April 20 – 23
Celebrate “Shakespeare Day” with a Free Public Performance of TWELFTH NIGHT on the Quad on Sunday, April 23 (Shakespeare’s Birthday!)
West Chester University’s Department of Theatre & Dance presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from April 20 - 23, 2023. One of Shakespeare’s most treasured works, Twelfth Night is being directed by WCU Associate Professor of Theatre John Bellomo, and runs Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. in the MainStage Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester. General Admission tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children at https://wcupatix.com/theatreanddance.
In celebration of “Shakespeare Day,” Twelfth Night will culminate in a FREE outdoor performance for the public on West Chester University’s Academic Quad. on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. The performance will be preceded by a Renaissance Faire with food, games, music, dance and fencing demonstrations, and other family-friendly activities from 12 -3 p.m. A “Globe-like” theatre will be erected for the performance.
Twelfth Night is part of the larger two-week “Fortnight of Festivities” happening on WCU’s campus from April 10 – 23, 2023. The festival celebrates the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s “First Folio.” WCU houses one of only approximately 200 remaining copies in the world of the rare and valuable “First Folio.” The “First Folio” will be on display throughout the “Fortnight of Festivities,” and many free, public events are planned. More information and a schedule of events is found at https://www.wcupa.edu/arts/shakespeare-fortnight/.
Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola, a young heroine who washes up on the shores of Illyria, disguises herself as a man, is sent to court a countess and falls hard for a Duke. As she navigates this strange and wonderful new land, she finds her true self and her true love in the process.
Twelfth Night’s cast of and instrumentalists include: Aliyah Green (Viola), Nicci Hardaway (Olivia), Mar’keece Barnett (Sebastian), David Gold (Orsino), Ryan Snopek (Malvolio), Jack McGinniss (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Dontay Rasheen Driver (Sir Toby Belch), Gwen Nolen (Feste), Laurel Bendetti (Maria), Exavior Rease (Antonio), Albert Gonzalez (Valentine, Flute), Sophie Cox (Curio), Daniel Redmond (Captain/Officer), Olivia Mannino (Priest, Trumpet, Bass Guitar), Lauren Kuershcner (Understudy/Servant), Briana Silasavage (Understudy/Servant).
The Department of Theatre and Dance at West Chester University, an accredited institution of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, prepares students for the professional and the academic worlds of Theatre and Dance, while raising student awareness of civility, diversity, creativity, problem solving and social responsibility. The department offers a BA Theatre degree program with elective concentrations in Musical Theatre, Performance, and Design and Production, in addition to a dance minor and theatre minor.