DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University will unveil its new Studio Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury, with a staging of “Twelfth Night” this month.

Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is the original take on sexual identity and the vagaries of love. It combines mistaken identity with the plights of a cross-dressing aristocratic woman and her missing twin brother, an intoxicated uncle and his foolish friends, a beautiful lady-in-waiting and all types in between. WCSU Professor of Theatre Arts Pamela McDaniel will direct.

The show will open with performances at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 15 and 16, 2014. There will be 8 p.m. performances on Friday, Oct. 17 and 24, and Saturday, Oct. 18 and 25. There also will be 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19 and 26. To purchase tickets, call (203) 837-TIXX or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

McDaniel promises a fairly traditional adaptation of the Bard’s work, although this production has been condensed to about an hour and 40 minutes. McDaniel said she wanted to highlight Shakespeare’s interest in “playing with sexual ambiguity.”

“It’s all about being in love with the idea of being in love,” McDaniel said.

Set on an island inhabited by teenage and young adult characters, the play will feature choreography by Elizabeth Parkinson and musical direction by John Cuk.

The cast will include WCSU students Anna Morse, of Cheshire, as Viola; Kim Lustig, of Madison, as Olivia; Joshua Hahn, of Shelton, as Orsino; Norah Todd, of New London, as Sebastian; Mark Joy, of Winsted, as Sir Toby Belch; Joseph DeVellis, of Newtown, as Malvolio; Howard Powell, of West Haven, as Sir Andrew Aguecheek; and Miles Tripp, of West Haven, as the Clown.

For tickets or information, call the Box Office at (203) 837-TIXX or go to www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

 

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.