Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Director’s Notes:
As a director, I believe my job is to take a good tough look at the world and figure out how the play I am directing can add to the conversation. Twelfth Night certainly provides fodder for that charge. Themes of defying traditional gender roles, human identity, sexual politics, and social hierarchy are all ripe for exploration in this over 400 year old play.
And I don’t care.
I mean, I care, don’t get me wrong. But right now I keep coming back to only one thing I want to add to the conversation: joy and beauty.
This is because, for me, the world feels a bit overwhelming right now. There seems to be a weight, a sadness, a constant state of anxiety and confusion that fills the air I breathe. And, for me, Twelfth Night is ultimately about a group of strangers who are in mourning, who are terrified, who are lost and confused, who are bored and hopeless and yet still manage to come together to find, at various points and in various ways, joy and beauty in the world. And maybe learn a thing or two about expectations and empathy in the process.
“She sat like patience on a monument smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?”
-Viola (Act II, sc. iv)
Was this not love indeed?
-spj
Director’s Notes:
As a director, I believe my job is to take a good tough look at the world and figure out how the play I am directing can add to the conversation. Twelfth Night certainly provides fodder for that charge. Themes of defying traditional gender roles, human identity, sexual politics, and social hierarchy are all ripe for exploration in this over 400 year old play.
And I don’t care.
I mean, I care, don’t get me wrong. But right now I keep coming back to only one thing I want to add to the conversation: joy and beauty.
This is because, for me, the world feels a bit overwhelming right now. There seems to be a weight, a sadness, a constant state of anxiety and confusion that fills the air I breathe. And, for me, Twelfth Night is ultimately about a group of strangers who are in mourning, who are terrified, who are lost and confused, who are bored and hopeless and yet still manage to come together to find, at various points and in various ways, joy and beauty in the world. And maybe learn a thing or two about expectations and empathy in the process.
“She sat like patience on a monument smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?”
-Viola (Act II, sc. iv)
Was this not love indeed?
-spj
|
Set & Property Design by Tavia DeFelice Lighting Design by Cassandra Bierman Costume Design by Christina Leinicke Make-up Design by Amber Bieberstein |
Twelfth Night Original Music Playlist:
“Olivia”- music and lyrics by The Fremonts (www.thefremontsmusic.com)
“Oh Mistress Mine”- music by Jason Mraz, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Hold Thy Peace Thou Knave”- Music by Benjamin Donahue & Julia Petterson, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Come Away Death”- Music by Liza Scheidler & Clare Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Hey Robin Jolly Robin”- Music by Liza Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Wind and the Rain”- Music by Liza Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Olivia”- music and lyrics by The Fremonts (www.thefremontsmusic.com)
“Oh Mistress Mine”- music by Jason Mraz, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Hold Thy Peace Thou Knave”- Music by Benjamin Donahue & Julia Petterson, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Come Away Death”- Music by Liza Scheidler & Clare Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Hey Robin Jolly Robin”- Music by Liza Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
“Wind and the Rain”- Music by Liza Scheidler, lyrics by Shakespeare
