Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project Jazzes Up the Holiday with TWELFTH NIGHT

Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project, Inc. cures the winter blues with its production of William Shakespeare's comedy with original music, Twelfth Night from December 24, 2015 to January 3, 2015 at The Secret Theatre at 4402 23rd Street, Long Island City.

Giving New Yorkers a reason to stay home for the holidays and visitors an affordable alternative to big ticket attractions, Shakespeare's beloved characters inhabit a modern jazz club drinking, partying, singing, and playing pranks in their quest to find love?or at least distraction from New Year's Eve to Twelfth Night. Viola, shipwrecked and armed with a little hope that she may find her brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a boy named Cesario to serve Orsino as a singer and confidante. Orsino sends Viola to plead his love to the grieving Olivia to whom he has loved?ever since he first saw her. But Olivia prizes Cesario's honesty over Orsino's praise and a wild chase ensues. Meanwhile, Toby Belch and his friends Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, and the fool play pranks to pass the time as Andrew waits in vain for Olivia to even notice him.

Becca C. Kidwell focuses her direction on the words and the storytelling within the confines of different areas of a jazz club. Returning to Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project after their sold-out performances in Radiance, The Passion of Marie Curie are Ewa Maria Wojcik as Olivia and Adam R. Deremer as Malvolio. Joining the jovial party are talented newcomers: Emma K. Campbell as the Fool, Benjamin David Knight as Antonio, Jack Martin as Orsino, Dani Martineck as Viola, Zac Pierce-Messick as Sebastian, James Overton as Andrew Aguecheek, Annie Winneg as Maria, Sophia Kokonas and Holly Spalding in the Ensemble, as well as veteran New York character actor, Andrew R. Cooksey, Jr. as Toby Belch.

Original songs by Jenni Lark heighten the jazz club atmosphere based on Shakespeare's text. To celebrate this new music, the cast musicians and composer will premiere the music at QEDAstoria on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:30pm.

As part of Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project's education initiative, Becca C. Kidwell will be teaching a Shakespeare workshop to heighten audience's appreciation of Twelfth Night at QEDAstoria on Sunday, December 6th at 1:00pm. Participants will work together examining the text; they will also receive their own copy of the play and a discount to the production.

Tickets are available at: http://swiftlytwelfth.brownpapertickets.com, 1-800-838-3006, or in person at The Secret Theatre, 4402 23rd St, Long Island City, NY.

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