The Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV Opens Shakespeare ’s Twelfth Night Dec. 1
The Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV Opens
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Dec. 1
The Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV (NCT) opens William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will, the second production in NCT’s Main Season, at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 1. Acclaimed Shakespearean director James Edmondson, a resident artist with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival since 1972, directs. Edmondson has directed and acted in productions for the American Conservatory Theatre, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, PCPA Theaterfest, and San Jose Repertory Theatre.
Twelfth Night is the twelfth day after Christmas. In the 15th century, this was the major Christmas festival associated with the Feast of Fools. It was a period of holiday abandon in which the normal rules and order of life were suspended or inverted. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is full of mischief and merriment and features some of his most irresistible characters. There is a pair of shipwrecked twins, the winsome Viola, the roguish Sir Toby Belch, and the pompous Malvolio, who reveal the secrets of love, laughter, and life.
Two actors with Actors’ Equity Association are featured in this production. Michael Tylo plays Malvolio and Alan Coates is Sir Toby Belch.
Tylo has performed extensively on stage, film, and television. His stage credits include seasons at The Long Wharf, Alley Theatre, Meadowbrook Theatre, as well as performing at The Roundabout Theatre and the Louise Lortel Theatre in New York City. He is a founding board member of The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. His television credits include featured roles on Murder She Wrote, Even Stevens, and Perry Mason.
Coates has performed in Tony Award-winning productions on Broadway, including Dracula, Scapino, Sherlock Holmes, Death, and The King’s Horseman. His regional theatre credits include the Ahmanson Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, Baltimore’s Center Stage, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Hartford Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and the Cleveland Playhouse.
Stephen Crandall plays Orsino, the Duke of Illyria; Lisa Easley and Tee Jay Jones are the separated twins; and Meredith Wolfe is Viola. Others in the cast are Robert Hamilton, Spenser Rowe, Steven Fehr, Zonya Johnson, Alex Holmes, Kyle Van Son, Matthew Arrington, Adam Graham, Arthur Ross, Kim Kelly, Joan Mullaney, Melanie Turner, Frank Gambino, Stephen Lewandowski and Richie Villafeurty.
Scene design is by guest artist Mihai Ciupe, a Romanian scenic artist who received a double MFA degree in costume and set design from Carnegie Mellon University. While working on his MFA, he was granted the George Kimberly Scene Design Award and the Oren Parker Award in Design and Production.
Costumes are by Judy Ryerson, director of the costume design program at UNLV, with lighting by Hannah Boigon, a graduate student in the MFA program.
A discussion with the cast and artists, moderated by Dave McGinnis, will be held following the performance on Thursday, December 7.
Performances are December 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 8 p.m. with matinees at 2 p.m. on December 3, 9 and 10. Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for students, seniors, military and handicapped, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Box Office may be reached by calling 895-ARTS (2787).
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