FSC's *Twelfth Night* at Wyuka and On Tour

 

Flatwater Shakespeare Company celebrates twenty years of productions with Twelfth Night, the play that started it all for the ensemble in Wyuka Cemetery back in 2001.  Kathryn Cover directs this brisk, seventy-five minute version that is ideal for all ages. Paid performances in The Stables at Wyuka, 3600 “O” Street, are Thursday through Sunday, June 17-20. Flatwater FREE Shakespeare performances will tour Lincoln area parks the following week and finish at James Arthur Vineyards in Raymond. Show time is 7 p.m. for all performances.

After a shipwreck, Viola is separated from her twin, Sebastian, and finds herself alone in Illyria, not knowing whether her brother is dead or alive. For self-protection, she dresses as a boy and becomes an attendant at the court of Duke Orsino, with whom she quickly falls in love. Orsino, however, is in love with the Countess Olivia and sends Viola – in her disguise as Cesario – to court her for him. Olivia, who had been mourning for her own brother’s death, falls for “Cesario” instead. Malvolio, steward of Olivia’s estate, is also in love with Olivia. Maria, Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, teams up with Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and with another suitor for Olivia’s hand, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, in a plot to trick Malvolio into thinking that Olivia already returns his as-yet-unspoken love. Sebastian arrives on the scene, attended by Antonio, a mariner who saved him from the shipwreck. Sebastian’s presence leads to one case of mistaken identity after another. All this confusion is overseen by Feste, a wise and witty jester.

Molly Davis and Tim Andersen make their Flatwater Shakespeare debuts in the roles of Viola and Orsino. FSC veterans in the cast include Emily Funkey as Maria, Keith Ghormley as Sir Toby, Katie Hoppe as Sir Andrew, Emily Martinez as Olivia, Paul Shaw as Malvolio, Scott Shomaker as Sebastian, and Reed Westerhoff as Antonio. Other FSC newcomers include Laura Lippman as Feste, Holden Meier as Valentine, and Sam Pynes as Fabian. Fred Vogel appears as a Troubadour accompanying Feste and performing original music.

Kathryn Cover is Costumer, Set Designer, and Prop Master, as well as Director. Michelle Zinke is Stage Manager and Amelia-Marie Altstadt is Assistant Stage Manager. Stephen Buhler is Dramaturg and Text Editor.

Seating (chairs provided) will be limited in The Stables at Wyuka. Adult admission is $18 and children under 12 (accompanied by an adult) admission is $5. Please bring lawn chairs or blankets for the Flatwater FREE Shakespeare performances at city parks and at James Arthur Vineyards.

Flatwater FREE Shakespeare in the parks is made possible through support from Union Bank & Trust, Ameritas, and the Lincoln Arts Council.

June 17-20: The Stables at Wyuka, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln.

June 23: Trago Park, 22^nd and U Streets

June 24: Henry Park, 44^th Street and Prescott Avenue

June 25: Cooper Park, 8^th and D Streets

June 26: Havelock Park, 63^rd Street and Ballard Avenue

June 27: James Arthur Vineyards, 2001 W. Raymond Rd., Raymond, NE

Visit flatwatershakespearecompany.org for details and tickets.