Love makes fools of us all in Shakespeare’s celebrated comedy, Twelfth Night, while blurring
the lines between gender, identity and love. Twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked off the
coast of Illyria, separated and believing each to be dead. Viola, disguised as a boy, serves
Duke Orsino and is sent to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf. Olivia falls in love with the
cross-dressed page while Viola loves Orsino; and mischievous servants play pranks at each
other’s expense. Chaos of mistaken identity ensues, finally resolved in marriage as twins and
lovers are reunited. Directed by Christopher Commander.
The Tempest is Shakespeare’s farewell to theatre and a story of romance, sorcery and love
that changes vengeance into humility and humanity thus making possible for all to return to a
world made new by the power of forgiveness. Prospero, the duke of Milan and a sorcerer, is
cast away on a remote island with his daughter, Miranda, through the deceptions of Prospero’s
envious brother, Antonio, and co-conspirators. Over a decade later, those responsible have
been shipwrecked on the island by Prospero’s magic. Begrudged creatures and drunken
clowns, charmed royals and magical spirits alike, all struggle between the temptation for
revenge and greed, and the grace of forgiveness and humanity. Directed by Deborah Shakespeare Thurber.