PHOTO FLASH: Public Works' TWELFTH NIGHT Composer/Lyricist Shaina Taub Remembers 'Heroines Who Made Noise and Lit The Way'

It's a big week ahead for composer/lyricist Shaina Taub, whose score for The Public Theater's Public Works production of a new musical adaptation of Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT premieres this weekend at Central Park's Delacorte Theater.

Conceived by Taub and Kwame Kwei-Armah, who directs, TWELFTH NIGHT will run for four performances only, September 2-5. Free tickets are available for every performance of TWELFTH NIGHT, with seating locations in every section of the theater. Visit publictheater.org.

Public Works is The Public Theater's local and national initiative that invites diverse communities across New York to join in creating ambitious works of theater. Professional artists and community members from partner organizations in all five boroughs perform together on stage in this love story that follows the young heroine Viola, who disguises herself as a man when she washes up on the shores of Illyria. When Viola's new boss, Duke Orsino, sends her to win over his unrequited love, the Countess Olivia, Viola's disguise proves too effective, and the Countess falls for the young girl dressed as a boy instead.

As opening night approaches, Taub expresses gratitude on social media to Elizabeth Swados and Jeanine Tesori, composers whose work at The Public Theater lit the way for women like her.

One of the features that makes Public Works Productions so uniquely a part of New York is that the companies of over 200 members largely consist of clients and employees from New York's social service organizations. This year they come from Brownsville Recreation Center (Brooklyn), Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education (Bronx), Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (Brooklyn), DreamYard Project (Bronx), Fortune Society (Queens) and Military Resilience Project (all boroughs), along with alumni partners Children's Aid Society and Domestic Workers United.

Participating New York-based cameo groups include COBU, Jambalaya Brass Band, The Love Show, New York Deaf Theatre, Ziranmen Kungfu Wushu Training Center, and one United States Postal Carrier.

The equity cast members in TWELFTH NIGHT include Nikki M. James (Viola), Andrew Kober (Malvolio), Jose Llana (Orsino), Jacob Ming-Trent (Sir Toby Belch), and Shaina Taub (Feste).

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy