GSC Theatre Presents Performance of 'Twelfth Night' Wednesday Through Sunday
The Gordon State College Theatre performance of “Twelfth Night,” a comedy by William Shakespeare opens Wednesday, Nov. 7 and continues through Nov. 11.
Twelfth Night features themes such as identical twins, disguise, romance, pranks, and a bit of melancholy. The GSC production is set in the modern-day Caribbean. In the play, identical twins Sebastian and Viola are caught in a storm at sea. They are separated, and Viola is shipwrecked on Illyria. Viola decides to disguise herself as a man named Cesario so that she can work under Duke Orsino, who happens to be madly in love with Olivia. Olivia falls in love with “Cesario,” and many other comedic twists and turns follow.
“I truly feel this is the most beautiful comedy ever written - other comedies are lighter – but this has undercurrents of honesty and realness,” said Lisa Ferguson, Assistant Director of Theater and Director of the production. “The play has things like romance, sword fights, dancing singing, disguise and much more.”
The cast includes Ashley Cannon as Viola; Sera Davidson as the understudy for Viola; Raekwan Myers as the Captain; Brian Lewis as Duke Orsino; Timothy Morris as Sebastian; Raphael Cotton as Antonio; Joba Duke as Olivia; Lilly Camp as the understudy for Olivia; Nate Rogers as Feste; Jacob Rivera as Toby Belch; Skip Lazerby as Andrew Augecheek; Danielle Willis as Maria; Trez Anderson as Malvolio; Alec Moon as Curio; Lala Sneed as Valentine; Amaya Hill-Lowder , Rebecca Bridges,Ericka Manhan, Breyana Posey, Lilly Camp, Emilee Goodwin as Olivia’s Court; Nicole Vanderbush, Hampton Calhoun, Daryn Morrison, Alec Moon, Lala Sneed, Selina Abbott as Duke Orsino’s Court; and Nicole Vanderbush, Hampton Calhoun and Alec Moon as Musicians.
“We also plan to bring in hundreds of field trip students – high school students, and of course Gordon students in the evenings – we’re even updating the production to make the language more accessible but still very “Shakespearean.” We’ve also trimmed the time to accomodate a high school field trip,” adds Ferguson. “The students not only get the experience of performing, but the high school kids we bring In get exposure to Gordon, and our students get to experience performing for a high energy crowd that is just ready to laugh. It will be a great play for everyone!”
“Twelfth Night” runs Nov. 7-10 with curtains up at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance is Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and all Gordon State College students and employees free with I.D.