The Department of Communication and the Arts presents Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" as their first theater performance of the year this weekend in the Theatre-in-the-Round.
"Twelfth Night" is directed by Prof. Daniel Yates, a Seton Hall alumnus. Yates is the first professor to direct a Shakespearean play at Seton Hall after Dr. McGlone, who retired last year, directed Shakespeare and other plays at the Hall for 40 years. Yates expressed his profound love for theatre and the Seton Hall community.
"It has been a really great play. The students are fun to work with and we've been working hard," Yates said. "Dr. McGlone was my college mentor and I have a big background in Shakespeare. I toured the country for two years doing it."
This comedic Shakespearean performance has taken the cast and crew endless rehearsals since September to give what they hope will be a memorable experience.
"Twelfth Night," one of Shakespeare's more famous comedies, depicts the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated after a shipwreck and stranded on the fictional island of Illyria. Each thinking the other dead, they interact with the people of the island.
Viola disguises herself as a man, becoming the servant of the Count Orsino, who pines after the Lady Olivia. The conflict occurs when Olivia falls in love with Viola—in her servant persona Cesario— who has meanwhile fallen in love with the oblivious Orsino.
Stage Manager Jennifer Graham-Macht, a senior, will be running the show and is very pleased with the hard work and effort of the cast and crew.
"It is certainly hilarious. Dan Yates has chosen a comedic cast," she said. "‘Twelfth Night' is a more light hearted performance since the last fall opening was a more serious one with ‘King Lear.'"
Sophomore Emily Yates, who plays Viola, said she is having fun with both her character and the overall experience.
"I'm a girl in the play, but I dress up as a guy after the shipwreck," she said. "My dad is the director and it's been fun to work with him."
Yates said he tried to give all of the actors a chance to express their individuality and modernize the Shakespearean play in the hopes that the audience will get a better feel for the characters. Freshman Phalon Thornhill, who plays a court fool, brings her musical ability to the stage by singing and playing the tambourine. Students also created and will perform original music during the show.
"Twelfth Night" will be performed on Oct. 20 through Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. and on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold to Students, faculty, and staff for $8 with valid identification.
Natalie Negrotti can be reached at natalie.negrotti@student.shu.edu..
