IOWA CITY, IOWA (May 17, 2023) — Riverside Theatre, Iowa City’s resident professional theatre, is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s iconic comedy, running for three weeks in Lower City Park, June 16 through July 2, 2023.
After losing her twin brother in a shipwreck, Viola washes onto the shores of Illyria: A idyllic dukedom full of revelry and music. Viola hatches a plan to survive on her own, disguising herself as a young gentleman in the court of Duke Orsino. Soon she is caught up in a storm of romance, antics, revenge, and mistaken identity. Shakespeare’s classic play, populated by a raucous band of Illyrians in a resort paradise, will make this a summer you’ll never forget.
The Festival Stage in Lower City Park opened in 2000 with Riverside’s first full Shakespeare production — Twelfth Night. Since then, Riverside has staged more than forty classical productions in the park. This program was made free for all in 2018 and regularly serves upwards of 2,500 attendees each summer. Riverside believes Shakespeare is for everyone; that his work endures because of its humor, its rich language, its exploration of the human experience, and its remarkable adaptability to the present.
2023 also marks the 400th Anniversary of the printing of the First Folio, which published, for the first time, seminal works such as Macbeth, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. Riverside’s production of Twelfth Night is one of several events in the corridor celebrating this milestone literary anniversary. A calendar of all the events may be found here.
Twelfth Night features cast members Olivia K Foster, Sarah Gazdowicz, Saffron Henke*, Monté J Howell*, HwaYoun Kang, Robert Kemp, Jacob Kostiv, Orlando Lopez, K Michael Moore, Bob Mussett, Anna Novak, and Aaron Stonerook*. The production is directed by Adam Knight, RT’s Producing Artistic Director. Knight recently directed The Weir, as well as Free Shakespeare productions The Winter's Tale and Henry V at Riverside Theatre.
The creative team includes Shawn Ketchum Johnson (sets), Abigail Mansfield-Coleman (costumes), Lauren Duffie (lighting), Melissa LF Turner* (stage manager), Anna Novak (music coordinator), Carrie Pozdol (intimacy direction), Saffron Henke* (verse & speech Coach), K Michael Moore (fight choreography), Kathleen Johnson (assistant director), and Meenakshi KN and Sophie Young (assistant stage managers).
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Thirty minutes’ prior to each evening’s performance, there will be a ten-minute “Green Show” in which patrons can enjoy a hilarious rundown of Twelfth Night’s Illyria, featuring cast members from the show. Lawn games and other family-friendly activities will also be provided.
Twelfth Night will be performed at the Festival Stage in Lower City Park on the following dates and times:
Fri 6/16/23 7:30PM
Sat 6/17/23 7:30PM
Sun 6/18/23 7:30PM (pre-show concert with Iowa City Community Band at 6:30)
Thu 6/22/23 7:30PM
Fri 6/23/23 7:30PM
Sat 6/24/23 7:30PM
Sun 6/25/23 7:30PM
Thu 6/29/23 7:30PM
Fri 6/30/23 7:30PM
Sat 7/1/23 7:30PM **
Sun 7/2/23 7:30PM
**Time subject to change in coordination with Iowa City fireworks
Approximate run time: Two hours and thirty minutes, including one fifteen-minute intermission. Tickets are free; no reservation required.
COVID protocols: Masks are optional at all performances at Lower City Park.
Twelfth Night is generously sponsored by Oaknoll Retirement Residence and the University of Iowa school of Dentistry.
More information at http://riversidetheatre.org/12night.
Now in its forty-second season, Riverside Theatre is Iowa City’s resident professional theatre, connecting artists and audiences through intimate, engaging, and provocative productions from the classics to new works. Riverside is a core member of the National New Play Network and a member of Theatre Communications Group.
