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Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
The DCPA Theatre Company has announced the full casting and creative team for its upcoming production of Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy with live music that will perform from November 15 through December 22 in the Space Theatre.
Twelfth Night is scheduled for the holiday season because it is named for the last night of “The 12 Days of Christmas” – a traditional occasion for tomfoolery. And Twelfth Night is filled with it.
The story begins with beautiful noblewoman Viola shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast of a strange land called Illyria. Having lost her twin brother, Sebastian, in the storm, she disguises herself as a boy and assumes the name Cesario, as it is dangerous for a young woman to be alone in the world. She offers her gender-bending services as a page for Orsino, the local Duke. But alas, Viola quickly falls in love with her boss and, worse, is charged with serving as his proxy in his own courtship of Lady Olivia, who in turn forms an instant attraction for the messenger. Yes, this is a comedy where no one loves anyone who loves them back … until they do. The story is also populated by a number of colorful supporting characters, namely those who plot to torment Lady Olivia’s stuck-up steward, Malvolio.
The DCPA’s festive production will be directed by Artistic Director Chris Coleman. “This will be my first opportunity to direct Shakespeare for the DCPA Theatre Company and work in the round in The Space Theatre,” said Coleman. “When I’m working on Shakespeare, what I love most is to figure out how to illuminate it from within, and Twelfth Night is a fun, compelling comedy about love and identity that continues to resonate with audiences today. I’m extremely excited for audiences to experience the music, costumes and the cast in this production.”
There’s a reason the most enduring quote in all of Twelfth Night is, “If music be the food of love, play on.” Coleman has invited multi-instrumentalist Tom Hagerman from the internationally known Denver band DeVotchKa to compose the music, and several cast members will perform live music during the play. DeVotchKa previously collaborated with the DCPA Theatre Company on the making of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
“Audiences who saw Sweeney Todd can expect to hear something just as unique, and a beautiful blending of the music with the story of Twelfth Night,” Coleman said. “This production also will include costume designs by Kevin Copenhaver, and audiences can expect the costumes to be Renaissance with a Mediterranean twist.”
The cast will be led by returning Denverite Mehry Eslaminia as Viola. She was part of the first freshman class to include girls at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora and went on to earn her degree in acting from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Eslaminia previously appeared in the DCPA Theatre Company’s 2015 world-premiere play Appoggiatura playing both a live mandolin and a character named Kate. She also has performed with Creede Repertory Theatre, the DCPA’s Off-Center, Curious Theatre and more. She was nominated for a 2016 Henry Award as Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance as Adelaide in Creede Rep’s Guys and Dolls.
“Showing young actors of color that there are even more places for them in our world is the most beautiful responsibility I could have been given.” Mehry Eslaminia
Twelfth Night also will bring back several longtime Theatre Company veterans: Kim Staunton as Maria, former longtime DCPA Head of Acting Larry Hecht as the drunk fool Sir Toby Belch, Sam Gregory as the more insidious chump Malvolio and Larry Paulsen as Feste/The Fool.
Staunton, who has appeared in dozens of DCPA Theatre Company plays including Ruined and six August Wilson plays, was last seen here in the 2017 world premiere of the climate drama Two Degrees. Hecht has a long list of Denver Center acting credits including A Skull in Connemara, The Pillowman and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gregory, who has more than 40 DCPA credits since 1991 (most recently in Sweat), just completed the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship working under Tyne Daly, herself a founding member of the DCPA Theatre Company. Paulsen co-starred with Gregory in The 39 Steps.
Seth Dhonau, a veteran of the long-running DCPA Cabaret musicals First Date and Xanadu, will play Valentine. Actor and musician Runner Francisco, who attended Flatirons Academy in Westminster, will make his Theatre Company debut after having appeared in Local Theatre Company’s Discount Ghost Stories. He is currently performing in the Aurora Fox’s regional premiere of Miss You Like Hell.
In an interesting twist, this production also brings back busy company veteran and 2018 True West Award winner Rodney Lizcano, who last year appeared in The Constant Wife and currently can be seen in Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Tiny Beautiful Things. He played Sir Andrew Aguecheek in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s just-completed summer staging of Twelfth Night in Boulder. Here, he will play the Priest. Krystel Lucas (Olivia) last appeared at the DCPA as the pastor’s wife in The Christians.
Hilarious hijinks. Unrequited love. Gender-bending disguises. The clumsiness of romance is on display in every way in this Shakespearean comedy. Separated from her twin brother after a shipwreck in Illyria, Viola disguises herself as a man to work in the local household of Duke Orsino. The closer they become, the more Viola gets acquainted with Orsino’s crush, the beautiful noblewoman Olivia. Much to their dismay (and to your delight), the trio is inevitably thrust into a love triangle of mistaken identity and wanton foolishness. Overflowing with quick wit and titillating trysts, this standout play by The Bard is sure to please with its captivating characters and one of his most dynamic heroines
Take a look back at our “Meet the Cast” video when Mehry Eslaminia appeared in the world premiere of ‘Appoggiatura.’