Drama Studio presents Twelfth Night 

The Drama Studio will open Shakespeare’s beloved comedy Twelfth Night on March 19 at its theatre at 41 Oakland Street in Springfield. 

Filled with poetry and song, Twelfth Night takes place during the twelve days after Christmas. Shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, a young woman named Viola must disguise herself as a man to survive in the unfamiliar country of Illyria. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she falls for her new boss, Duke Orsino. Impossibly lovesick, the Duke sends Viola (disguised as Caesario) to woo the regal and wealthy Olivia who has sworn off men since the deaths of her brother and father. Naturally, Olivia falls in love with Caesario! This lovers’ knot gets more tangled when Viola’s twin brother Sebastion arrives in Illyria and is mistaken for “Caesario.” 

Meanwhile, the locals in Illyria are caught up in the high spirits of the Twelfth Night Festival. Olivia’s hard drinking Uncle, Sir Toby Belch, carouses with Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, the Clown Feste and Fabian, much to the chagrin of Olivia’s uptight butler, Malvolio. Spurned suitors, servants with delusions of grandeur, and cross-dressed confusion...it’s a hot mess that’s likely to put anyone in the madhouse. 

The Drama Studio’s Executive Director Steve Hays is directing and will set his production of Twelfth Night in Bermuda in the 1930’s, using elements from Bermudan culture (a blend of British, West African and indigenous New World cultures). Twelfth Night deals with class and power issues, low brow comedy, and sexual ambiguity. Men still wore “plus fours” (golfing outfits with knee length stockings) attire which is essential to the humiliation of Malvolio and his cross-gartering fiasco. Bermuda in the 1930’s featured women in slacks, the exiled Duke of Windsor (Bermuda’s Royal Viceroy) and his Duchess (the “woman I love”), steel bands and gombey dancing. 

The cast of 19 includes Kyle Kate Dudley, Maya Lawrence and Jacob Mueller of Springfield; Lucy Gouvin, Alexandra Lucey, Jenna Race, Emily Walthouse of Longmeadow; Colby Herchel and Allison Reardon of Hampden; Greg Boilard, Emily Kane, and Anthony Prieto of Wilbraham; Seth Olsen and Adaire Robinson of East Longmeadow; Charlie Fullwood, Kevin Morton and Kyle Morton of Holyoke; Abbie Gregory of Wales and Mat Bussler of Williamsburg. Sets and lights are designed by Craig Milne and costumes are designed by Greta Breglio-Redman.

Showtimes:
Twelfth Night will play Fridays at 7:30PM (March 19 and 26); Saturdays at 7:30PM (March 20 and 27) and Sundays at 6:30PM (March 21 and 28). A talk-back session with cast and audience will follow the Sunday, March 28 performance). In addition, there will be matinee performances on March 26 and 29 for area students. 

The Studio’s Board of Directors is hosting a dinner-theatre combination entitled Caribbean Caper on March 20th. Tickets are $35 each for a dinner at 6PM featuring a Caribbean menu followed by the 7:30PM performance. 

As the theatre seats only 63 people, reservations are strongly recommended. Call the Box Office at (413) 739-1983 to reserve your tickets. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. The Studio accepts VISA and MasterCard. Free parking is available on both sides of Oakland Street. 

For additional information, contact Jane Schneeloch at (413) 739-1983 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .