Acting Out! to present 'Twelfth Night' at Capaha Park

Local theater troupe Acting Out! will present Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" at 7:30 p.m. June 12 and 13 in the bandshell of Cape Girardeau's Capaha Park.

"Twelfth Night" is Acting Out's third Shakespeare-in-the-Park-type production -- beginning in 2013 with "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Kasey Cox, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," directed by Brittany Hastings last year, said Melissa Jennings, director of this year's production.

Admission is free, and audience members are encouraged to bring their own seating; picnics are welcome, in conformance with park regulations.

The sizable cast -- current or former students of Southeast Missouri State University or local high schools including Jackson, Cape Girardeau and Notre Dame -- includes Audra Novak as Viola/Cesario; Abby Ritter as Olivia; Brian Rhodes as Duke Orsino; Caleb Long as Malvolio; Ryan Settle as Sir Toby; Amanda Lawrence as Feste; Jess Emery as Maria; Colt Lincoln as Sir Andrew; Maria Drury as Fabian; Uriel Archilleus as Sebastian; Henry Bonney as Antonio; Bethany Whitehouse as Valentine; Emily Todt as Curio; and Brady Hendershott as captain/officer.

Joseph Graefe as Montague, bottom left, and Arthur Wilhite as Apothecary protest as secret-service members Sampson, portrayed by Tyler Myers, top right, and Gregory, portrayed by Kurt McDowell watch during the Acting Out! rehearsal for "Romeo and Juliet" on June 19, 2013, at the Jackson City Park bandshell. (Laura Simon)

Jennings provided this synopsis of the comedy, written by William Shakespeare in, it is believed, 1601 and 1602:

"We see Viola shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, where she disguises herself as a man, Cesario, in order to work for Duke Orsino. The Duke uses Cesario as an intermediary to profess his passionate love for the lady Olivia, who has refused to see any suitors for seven years due to the recent deaths of her father and brother. However, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, not realizing 'he' is really Viola. Viola, meanwhile, has fallen for Duke Orsino."

Should rain cause a postponement, word will be posted at facebook.com/actingoutsemo.

Pertinent address:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.