We are proud to announce the West Coast Premiere of Illyria, book, music, and lyrics by Peter Mills, adapted by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Illyria was originally produced by Prospect Theatre Company, New York, NY, and received its regional premiere at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
This musical re-telling of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s greatest comedy, captures both the rollicking energy of the play’s hilarious hijinks and its deeply felt emotions of loss and unrequited love.
Illyria will be directed by ShawnJ West and assistant directed by Roy Arauz. Music direction by Austin Anderson. Full production crew will be announced shortly.
This high-spirited, utterly engaging musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is an intergenerational winner that deserves an unequivocal thumbs-up. Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, who adapted the show, have managed to do the near impossible. They have taken Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece, kept its Elizabethan spirit, voice and wit, yet created a new, accessible work that brashly and, at times, poignantly speaks to contemporary musical theater.
— The New York Times
Performance dates are April 24 through May 9, 2009.
Auditions will be held on February 16 and 17.
Illyria is presented by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
