Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project Plays with Loneliness and Longing in its Jazzy Holiday Production of Twelfth Night Starting December 24th

    LONG ISLAND CITY, NY, October 09, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project, Inc. cures the winter blues with its production of William Shakespeare's comedy with original music, Twelfth Night from December 24, 2015 to January 3, 2015 at The Secret Theatre at 4402 23rd Street, Long Island City.

Giving New Yorkers a reason to stay home for the holidays and visitors an affordable alternative to big ticket attractions, Shakespeare's beloved characters inhabit a modern jazz club drinking, partying, singing, and playing pranks in their quest to find love or at least distraction from New Year's Eve to Twelfth Night. Viola, shipwrecked and armed with a little hope that she may find her brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a boy named Cesario to serve Orsino as a singer and confidante. Orsino sends Viola to plead his love to the grieving Olivia to whom he has loved―ever since he first saw her. But Olivia prizes Cesario's honesty over Orsino's praise and a wild chase ensues. Meanwhile, Toby Belch and his friends Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, and the fool play pranks to pass the time as Andrew waits in vain for Olivia to even notice him.

Becca C. Kidwell focuses her direction on the words and the storytelling within the confines of different areas of a jazz club. Returning to Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project after their sold-out performances in Radiance, The Passion of Marie Curie are Ewa Maria Wojcik as Olivia and Adam R. Deremer as Malvolio. Joining the jovial party are talented newcomers: Emma K. Campbell as the Fool, Benjamin David Knight as Antonio, Jack Martin as Orsino, Dani Martineck as Viola, Zac Pierce-Messick as Sebastian, James Overton as Andrew Aguecheek, Annie Winneg as Maria, Sophia Kokonas and Holly Spalding in the Ensemble, as well as veteran New York character actor, Andrew R. Cooksey, Jr. as Toby Belch.

The jazz lounge atmosphere is heightened with original songs and music by Jenni Lark based on Shakespeare's text. To celebrate this new music, the cast musicians and composer will premiere the music at QEDAstoria on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:30pm.

As part of Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project's education initiative, Becca C. Kidwell will be teaching a Shakespeare workshop to heighten audience's appreciation of Twelfth Night at QEDAstoria on Sunday, December 6th at 1:00pm. Participants will work together examining the text; they will also receive their own copy of the play and a discount to the production.

Tickets are available at: http://swiftlytwelfth.brownpapertickets.com, 1-800-838-3006, or in person at The Secret Theatre, 4402 23rd St, Long Island City, NY.

Swiftly Tilting Theatre Project, Inc. is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit by Fractured Atlas. Its passion and purpose is: to impact a small corner of the world and leave it a little better than before; to search for truth and to share love; to share our knowledge and skills in order to build a theatrical community, that provides affordable, quality, professional theatrical productions for the public through participation as artists, audiences, and students.

For more information, see http://swiftlytiltingtheatre.org.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

WHERE: The Secret Theatre, 4402 23rd St, Long Island City, NY

PRICES: $12 for all tickets, general admission
Tickets on sale at: http://swiftlytwelfth.brownpapertickets.com, 1-800-838-3006, or in person at The Secret
Theatre, 4402 23rd St, Long Island City, NY.

WHEN: Preview: December 24, 2015 at 2:30pm
Opening: December 26, 2015 at 7:30pm
December 27, 2015 at 4:30pm
December 28, 2015 at 7:30pm
January 1, 2016 at 7:30pm
January 2, 2016 at 7:30pm
January 3, 2016 at 4:30pm

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Shakespeare Workshop: December 6, 2015, 1:00-3:00pm
QEDAstoria, 2716 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY
$10, includes copy of play and discount to production.
Reservations at: http://www.qedastoria.com.

Twelfth Night Debut Music Jam: December 8, 2015, 7:30pm
QEDAstoria, 2716 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY
$5, Reservations at: http://www.qedastoria.com.

Featuring Actors: Emma K. Campbell (Fool), Andrew R. Cooksey Jr. (Toby Belch), Adam R. Deremer (Malvolio), Benjamin David Knight (Antonio), Sophia Kokonas (Ensemble), Jack Martin (Orsino), Dani Martineck (Viola), James Overton (Andrew Aguecheek), Zac Pierce-Messick (Sebastian), Holly Spalding (Ensemble), Annie Winneg (Maria), Ewa Maria Wojcik (Olivia)

Adapted & Directed by Becca C. Kidwell
Original Music & Musical Direction by Jenni Lark
Additional Lyrics by John Dowland "Come Again, Sweet Love" and
Robert Burns "Auld Lang Syne"
Stage Manager: Katelynn Sepulveda
Costumes: Camille B. Atkinson
Lighting: Neil Satterlund

Promotional Logo and Photos: http://www.swiftlytiltingtheatre.org/tnpromo/

# # #