Twelfth Night – Shakespeare In The Park With a Swashbucking Twist!

Stratford CT – The Milford Arts Council’s Eastbound Theatre, in proud collaboration with the renowned Hudson Shakespeare Company, is delighted to present William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as part of this year’s Shakespeare in the Park series—featuring a bold new twist inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean.

Directed by Noelle Fair and Stage Managed by Geoffrey Byrne, this imaginative outdoor production fuses Shakespeare’s classic comedy with pirate-infused energy. Expect mistaken identities, cross-dressing, revelry, music, fools, and of course—plenty of swashbuckling swordplay and yellow stockings!

Set in the whimsical land of Illyria, Twelfth Night is a tale of mistaken identities, unrequited love, and delightful confusion. The story begins with Viola (Elisabeth Boshka), who survives a shipwreck and believes her twin brother, Sebastian (Benjamin Jesuliatis), has drowned. Alone in a strange land, Viola disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino (David S. Donnelly), who quickly becomes enamored with the young man - much to the dismay of his begrudging servant Curio (Laina Kominos). Orsino, who is hopelessly in love with the grieving Countess Olivia (Erin Wallace) sends Cesario to plead his case, but Olivia becomes smitten with Cesario—unaware that “he” is actually Viola in disguise. Meanwhile, Viola finds herself falling for Orsino, setting off a triangle of love and longing.

Unbeknownst to Viola, Sebastian is alive and has been rescued by Antonio (Michael DiChello), a sea captain who has grown deeply devoted to him. Though Antonio has enemies in Illyria due to a past conflict, he follows Sebastian out of loyalty and affection, risking his safety. His arrival in Illyria adds to the unfolding chaos, especially as others begin to mistake Sebastian—for Cesario.

Further adding to the comic disorder are Olivia’s rowdy uncle Sir Toby Belch (CJ Nolan), his ridiculous companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Dyllan Siegmund), the sharp-witted gentlewoman Maria (Cait Farrell), and the clever jester Feste (Molly McCullough). This mischievous group conspires to trick Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolia (Ashley Rockwood), into believing that Olivia loves her, leading to one of the play’s most memorable and absurd pranks.

As identities are mistaken and affections misplaced, the truth eventually surfaces. Viola and Sebastian are joyfully reunited, Orsino discovers Viola’s true identity and returns her love, Olivia remains happily wed to Sebastian, and Antonio’s loyalty is acknowledged. With misunderstandings mended and hearts aligned, joy and harmony are restored in Illyria.

What Can Audiences Expect?

Director Noelle Fair promises a production that’s as heartfelt as it is hilarious. “First and foremost—fun! This is a comedy, after all,” she says. “But beyond the laughs, we've infused this Twelfth Night with a vibrant nautical flair—complete with live sea shanties that complement the setting—and, of course, swashbuckling pirates, mistaken identities, and unrequited love.”

Fair’s take on Shakespeare’s classic also includes a bold reimagining of gender roles that adds new dimension and depth to the story. “I wanted to create more space for women in the play—not just in casting, but in how we interpret the characters. For instance, Malvolio is now ‘Malvolia,’ played by a female actor using she/her pronouns. We’ve also cast the fool, Feste, as a woman. That means all of Olivia’s household staff are women. I took Shakespeare at his word when he wrote that Olivia has ‘abjured the company and sight of men.’ The only person who slips through is Cesario—because, of course, she’s secretly a woman in disguise.”

This gender play doesn’t just serve representation—it brings a refreshing lens to the play’s central theme: love. “We’ve leaned into the fluidity of relationships,” Fair explains. “In our version, a woman falls for another woman, a woman falls for a woman disguised as a man, a man falls for that same ‘man,’ and we even see two men openly sharing affection. It encourages audiences to think about love not in terms of gender, but in terms of who someone is.”

Fair is quick to add that the tone remains playful and spirited throughout. “All of this is explored in a lighthearted, joyous way. It’s been an absolute delight to bring this vision to life.”

Who is Hudson Shakespeare?

Founded in 1992 by L. Robert “Luther” Johnson in Jersey City, NJ, Hudson Shakespeare Company has grown from a modest group of actors performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Hamilton Park into a vibrant regional institution, mounting over 100 productions—Shakespearean classics and modern plays alike—across outdoor and indoor venues. Under the artistic leadership of Johnson and Jon Ciccarelli, the Company became known for bold programming, including lesser-known works like Cardenio and Timon of Athens. In 2020, operations paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since reviving in 2021, Hudson Shakespeare has firmly reestablished its summer residency in Stratford, CT—staging fully costumed productions at the Stratford Library courtyard and Boothe Park grounds each summer, delighting local audiences with their dynamic 1950’s sitcom rendition of The Merry Wives of Windsor. This return has solidified the Company’s roots in Stratford, reinforcing its mission to make Shakespeare accessible, engaging, and community-centered.

In addition, the Company is proud to partner with Milford Arts Council and Eastbound Theatre for an extended run of performances in August, bringing Twelfth Night to even more Connecticut audiences.

Audiences are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy this classic comedy under the stars! Picnicing is also welcomed.

The Stratford Library performance is free and open to the public.

Performances at Boothe Memorial Park are $20, and all funds go to the upkeep of the historic site and ensuring the continuance of future Shakespeare performances.

Please see ticket and and more performance information below.

🎭 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 🎭

STRATFORD LIBRARY
📍 2203 Main St, Stratford, CT
🗓 Saturday, July 12 at 2:00 PM
☀️ In case of rain or extreme heat, this performance will move indoors to the Lovell Room.

BOOTHE MEMORIAL PARK – SPONSORED BY FRIENDS OF BOOTHE PARK
📍 5800 Main St, Stratford, CT
🗓 Friday, July 18, at 7:00 PM
🗓 Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 PM
🗓 Friday, July 25, at 7:00 PM
🗓 Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $20 (All proceeds benefit the upkeep of Boothe Park and future Shakespeare programming.
🎫 Purchase tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/e...
🌧 Rain Dates: Sunday July 20 at 5:00 PM and Sunday July 27 at 5:00 PM

Come for the pirates, stay for the poetry—this Twelfth Night is full of heart, hilarity, and high-seas hijinks. Perfect for the whole family and Shakespeare fans of all ages.
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Hudson Shakespeare Company

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