A fresh take on Shakespeare’s classic

Staged outdoors among the lush forests and gardens of the O’Hara Nature Center in Irvington, Twelfth Night finds twins Sebastian and Viola separated after a shipwreck. Believing her brother to be dead (hint: he isn’t) and determined to survive on her own, Viola takes on a disguise to begin working as a servant for Orsino, Duke of Illyria. It’s not long before Viola catches feelings for Orsino, but Orsino’s in love with Countess Olivia; this triangle serves as the foundation for the play’s timeless humor and madcap exploration of identity and unrequited love. 

This brand new, 90-minute production highlights the rich history of Irvington through a distinctly genderqueer lens, with live music from a Rip Van Winkle-inspired Feste helping to weave the magical tale of self-discovery, survival, and the myriad ways love shows itself.

Twelfth Night is a co-production with our newest Arts Partner, Irvington Shakespeare Company, marking their inaugural production.

As featured in The Hudson Independent, ArtsWestchester, and Broadway World

This event took place August 6-22, 2021.

 

Twelfth Night is directed by Irene Lazaridis. Irvington Shakespeare Company’s Artistic Director Kamran Saliani stars as Malvolio.

 
 
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 The cast of Twelfth Night features (L to R): Kat Quiñones as Viola, Dani Palmer as Olivia, Jack Saleeby as Orsino, Sage Newman as Sebastian, Sophia K. Metcalf as Feste, Stephanie Moreno as Antonio/Maria, and Kamran Saliani as Malvolio.

 
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Amanda Browne - Stage Manager
Grace Jeon - Costume Designer
Jonah Scott - Music Director
Sierra Scott - Co-Music Director
Jessica Ward - Dramaturg

Sophia K. Metcalf (Feste) is thrilled to be joining the cast of Irvington Shakespeare for their inaugural year! They recently graduated from UC Irvine’s MFA acting program and moved back home to New York City. Recent credits include: Netflix’s I Am No Longer Here, Odysseus in The Penelopiad (UC Irvine), and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Irvine). They are so happy to be back on the east coast and making their professional debut as Feste. Thanks to parents Jenn and Tim and managers Jamie Malone and Jacob St. Austin at MC Talent. Follow IG @sophiakmetcalf.

Stephanie Moreno (Maria/Antonio) is delighted to be making her post(?)-pandemic return to live theater! After months of hibernation and earning a mask tan while working at an outdoor vaccination site, she is excited to get back to what she loves with her favorite Shakespearean play! A graduate of Binghamton University, she was last seen performing at the Gallery Players New Play Festival in Brooklyn. Her favorite past roles include Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz and big-bosomed twin maids Isabelle and Sabine in The Liar. She is beyond grateful for this opportunity and sends all her love to her family and friends who have always supported her mischievous pursuits. www.stephaniejmoreno.com

Sage Newman (Sebastian) is an NYC-based performer who originally hails from Vancouver, BC. They most recently appeared as Hannah in Love Creek’s virtual production of Bargaining. Prior to that, they were a member of Chautauqua Theater Company's 2019 acting conservatory, where they performed in such shows as A Midsummer Night's DreamOne Man, Two Guvnors, and Preston Max Allen's Agent 355. Favorite theatrical credits include the staged reading of Epic Fog’s new musical Dublin Rising, Three of Cups’ actor-musician production of Spring Awakening, plus productions of Mamma Mia!Seussical, Love's Labour's Lost, Hamlet, The Tempest, Salt-Water Moon, Julius Caesar, and Grease. Sage would like to thank Maggie and Debra at MKM for their dedication and support, as well as Irene, Kamran, and everyone at ISC for giving them the opportunity to check Twelfth Night off their Shakespeare bucket list! Instagram & Twitter: @sagebnewman

Dani Palmer (Olivia) is a recent graduate of Boston University’s College of Fine Arts as of 2020. University credits include Paulina in A Winter’s Tale, Miss Sippi in …And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi, and Mercy in The Tragic Ecstacy of Girlhood at the Boston Playwrights Theater. This Jamaican-American was born and raised in the Bronx, NY and is hoping to continue pursuing her goals in her first post-grad performance. She is grateful for her family, friends and mentors that have supported her throughout this eventful journey.

Kat Quiñones (Viola) is so excited to be a part of this production and see the return of theatre! She received her BFA in Performance from Hofstra University in 2020 and is currently studying under James O’Connor. Her past theatre credits included Fefu in Fefu and her Friends (2019), Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida (2020), and Frances in the virtual play Unboxing (2021) that premiered at Cincy Fringe Festival. Their film credits include Stacey in Never Blink (2021) and an upcoming role in The Warning (2021). Kat is an avid story teller and is currently in production of a DnD podcast. Kat is so grateful to this cast and her friends and family who supported her along the way!

Jack Saleeby (Orsino) is a queer storyteller based in New York City. As an actor, he has performed across the United States and China in touring and regional productions including The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Newsies (Finch), Peter Pan (Curly), Head Over Heels, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As a creator, he has worked on various projects in development including Queen Anne (chor./George), Stalling (Jude, original cast) and Starting Up! (Scott).  His original works have been produced throughout New York City, most notably Wolfpack at the Irondale Center in Brooklyn and Bright and Brave: A New Musical at Dixon Place. Jack is thrilled to be a part of Irvington Shakespeare Co.’s inaugural production and would like to thank his teachers, friends, family, for their continued love and support. For more information, visit www.jacksaleeby.com

Kamran Saliani (Malvolio) is an actor and lifelong resident of Irvington. His connection to theater began on the stages of the IHS Drama Club. His passion for performing led him to pursue theatre as a profession. After training, studying and performing throughout the New York metropolitan area for the past few years, he realized the wonderful opportunity here in his hometown. Why not help bring high quality professional theater to the village that helped shape him into the person and theater artist he is today? Kamran’s performed in over 60 productions, ranging from film, to theater, to improv. He’s performed theatrically with the Showdogs Theater Collective, Box.Theater Company, Inwood Shakespeare Festival, Hudson Guild Theater and more. His film work includes collaborations with Columbia University, where he has been cast and performed in over twenty films. Kamran received his B.F.A in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.