The opening show was moved to November 7, and the play now runs for an added week through November 24.
Directed by Billy Hetherington, the show will feature a modern 20th Century setting, a local all-star cast, music with a live band, and a series of bold set changes—all served up on the expansive high school auditorium stage.
Director Hetherington who for years was a key player in productions at the Willits Shakespeare Company has brought on board actors from that estimable period, including ... view more »
The opening show was moved to November 7, and the play now runs for an added week through November 24.
Directed by Billy Hetherington, the show will feature a modern 20th Century setting, a local all-star cast, music with a live band, and a series of bold set changes—all served up on the expansive high school auditorium stage.
Director Hetherington who for years was a key player in productions at the Willits Shakespeare Company has brought on board actors from that estimable period, including Phaedra Swearengin starring as Olivia and Christopher Martineau as Duke Orsino. The show will be dedicated to the late Joe Hughes who founded the Shakespeare Company and served as its long-time mentor.
Appearing also in the grand production are Malakai Schindel as the clown minstrel Feste, Benjamin Strasser as the decadent Sir Tobey Belch, Ron O’Brien as the prim butler Malvolio, and Tori Perreault as the cross-dressing Viola. The cast also includes Garrett Moore, Misty Dawn Allen, Jeff Shipp, Mara Moratti, Joseph Loya, Elizabeth Dellett, Lisa Willcox and from the Ukiah and Willits high schools, students Miranda Swearengin, Ariel Herz-O’Brien, Allegra Rose Silveira, and Aria Eva Silveria. As a special addition, the show’s nightclub setting will feature the house band with Craig Mountain as the Musical Director.
Hetherington says, “We’re going for the grand spectacle. It’s what we’re aiming for with the elaborate set changes, the music and the big stage. It’s the rip-roaring 1920s style, in a night club, with the faded glory, and touches of the language from that era.” The show will also include the traditional Shakespeare frolic of gender-bending women dressed as men, bawdy moments of confused romance, and a tableau of colorful characters carrying on in true hilarious fashion.
The WCT production of “Twelfth Night” runs at Willits High School auditorium from November 7 to 24, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.
A special benefit performance sponsored by the P.E.O. Sisterhood will be held on the first Thursday, November 7. Benefit tickets are $20 and available through Kay Wright at 707-456-1094.
Tickets for all regular shows are $20 for Friday and Saturday performances, and $15 for Thursday and Sunday. Advance tickets can be obtained in person at Mazahar, 38 S. Main St., Willits; online at brownpapertickets.com; or by phone 24/7 at 1-800-838-3006. Tickets for each performance will also available at the door.
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