Elm Shakespeare Company to Present TWELFTH NIGHT

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 in Edgerton Park. Hundreds of thousands of people have been transported by the magic of these performances, returning annually to enjoy theater of the highest caliber under the stars.

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 for "Twelfth Night" are company stalwarts: set designer Vladimir Shpitalnik ("Pericles" and "Measure for Measure"), Elizabeth Bolster (Resident Costume Designer since 2002), Nathan Roberts (Original music/Soundscapes for "Macbeth", "Julius Caesar" and "Pericles") and Jamie Burnett (Resident Lighting Designer since 1995).

Audience members familiar with past Elm Shakespeare productions will recognize many familiar faces in the cast. Paula Plum*, a six-time IRNE award winner who last joined the company as Casca in "Julius Caesar", will be playing Maria. Yale School of Drama graduate Aaron Moss*, last seen as Ross in Elm Shakespeare's 2012 production of "Macbeth", will play Duke Orsino. Long-time company members Raphael Massie* and Jeremy Funke* return as Malvolio and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Andrea Goldman, last seen as Calpurnia in "Julius Caesar", will play Olivia. Lydia Barnett-Mulligan* (Thaisa in last summer's "Pericles") will play Viola. Jacob Heimer*, recently seen on TV in Tina Fey's "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", joins the company in the role of Feste. Other cast members include Shawn Tyler Allen, Joshua Dill, Edward Hall, Jonathan Higginbotham, Nathan Tracy and Keith Watford. (* Denotes member of Actors' Equity Association)

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).

"Twelfth Night" is made possible by the generosity of Lead Sponsor Whitney Center and Presenting Gala Sponsor Webster Bank.

Thursday, Sept. 3, 5-8 p.m.: 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.

For information: www.elmshakespeare.org, (203) 874-0801, info@elmshakespeare.org

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