Seattle Shakespeare Company: A free, live stream reading of Shakespeare’s 12th Night June 18 at 7:30 PM
Website: https://www.seattleshakespeare.org/ruffreads/ or
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/seattleshakes
For the second presentation in Seattle Shakespeare’s Ruff Reads series, the company will present an online reading of the comedy Twelfth Night. The reading will feature much of the cast of the 2012 Wooden O production of the play. Audiences can relive their fun summer memories of this hilarious Wooden O production by gathering (but still social distancing!) with family and friends for this digital event. A brief Q&A session on YouTube will follow the event.
In Twelfth Night, love has everyone unglued in Illyria. When Viola, a castaway, disguises herself as a boy to find work as Duke Orsino’s servant, she gets caught in a compromising love triangle. Meanwhile, Olivia’s household cranks up their mischief making by tricking a stuffy steward into believing his mistress has fallen for him. This treasured comedy brims with wild infatuations, delightful antics, and beloved comic characters.
“June would be the month that Wooden O rehearsals would have started in preparation for a summer tradition of free Shakespeare in area parks,” said Artistic Director George Mount. “Unfortunately, with the global pandemic, the need to refrain from large group gatherings to protect the health of audiences and artists, and the community at large, means we won’t be able to perform live this summer. So, we decided to look back into the archives of Wooden O and find a show to celebrate the sunny, funny delight that typifies a Wooden O summer. With an over 25 year history of shows, there really was no shortage to choose from. But the easy, breezy Twelfth Night from 2012, affectionately called “The Gilligan’s Island 12th Night”, certainly hit the mark. It was an audience favorite and one the actors loved as well. There was lot of silliness, some surprises, and a whole lot of fun in that show. Getting the cast back together to revisit this adored production is going to be a blast. It’s not a substitute for actually being in the parks with audiences and fresh productions. But it is a way to keep the spirit and share some time together.”
12th Night. Seattle Shakespeare Company, Ruff Reads online presentation. Thurs evening, June 18. 7:30 pm.
Website: https://www.seattleshakespeare.org/ruffreads/ or
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/seattleshakes
or www.seattleshakespeare.org) or through the company’s YouTube channel. The reading is free, and donations will be encouraged.