Cox, Innvar, Robinette, King, Soule Will Celebrate Twelfth Night in DC and NJ

By Kenneth Jones
October 10, 2008

Director Rebecca Bayla Taichman's new production of Twelfth Night will feature Veanne Cox as Olivia and Chris Innvar as Orsino, who will play the roles in Washington, DC, and Princeton, NJ.

The co-presentation by Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC and Princeton's McCarter Theatre will play the nation's capital first, Dec. 2-Jan. 4, 2009, at Sidney Harman Hall, where Broadway's Innvar (110 in the Shade) and Cox (Caroline, or Change, Company) are currently starring in The Way of the World.

The McCarter engagement will play March 8-29, 2009. Casting has not been announced by McCarter, but members of the DC run are expected to repeat roles in the Garden State.

The cast will also include Rick Foucheux as Sir Toby Belch, Floyd King as Feste, Nancy Robinette as Maria, Todd Scofield as Captain/Priest, J. Fred Shiffman as Fabian, Samantha Soule as Viola, Tom Story as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Ted van Griethuysen as Malvolio, with Nathan Bennett, Stacy Cabaj, Billy Finn, Dan Lawrence and Jeffrey Scott.

	Samantha Soule as Viola
	photo by Scott Suchman

Here's how STC bills the circa 1600 play: "One of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, Twelfth Night ponders love lost and found. A shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian, but tragedy quickly turns to comedy when they wash up in a land turned upside-down by love. With raucous antics, ravishing language and rich characters, Shakespeare creates a bittersweet tale of laughter and longing."

The creative team includes Riccardo Hernandez (set designer), Miranda Hoffman (costume designer), Christopher Akerlind (lighting designer), Martin Desjardins (composer/sound designer), Rick Sordelet (fight director), Frank Ventura (choreographer), Ellen O'Brien (voice and text coach), Alan Paul (assistant director), M. William Shiner (stage manager) and Benjamin Royer (assistant stage manager).

Taichman is remembered for her acclaimed STC production of The Taming of the Shrew.

For more information visit shakespearedc.org or mccarter.org.