Twelfth Night: 1941 (A Special Benefit Evening)

TWELFTH NIGHT: 1941
A Special Benefit Staged Reading Performance
One Night Only — Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff, NY

London, January 5th, 1941. 

England is at war, and the city is in the midst of the Blitz. Last night, an incendiary bomb fell on a small theater in Northeast London, setting fire to the stage curtains and causing widespread damage, forcing the actors to relocate their show, a shortened version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, to the local pub.

Inspired by incredible true events about a group of actors who kept theater alive during some of London's darkest days,  Twelfth Night: 1941 is Shakespeare's beloved comedy set as a play within a play.

Join us for this special one-night only benefit staged reading performance. Proceeds from this special one-night-only staged reading at Morton Memorial Library will support the full New York City production coming this December.

Directed by Ellyn Heald

Written by William Shakespeare & Ellyn Heald

Music by Will Healy

Produced by Living Room Productions NYC

Producers: Laura Carswell, Ellyn Heald, Martin Kemp, Kaileela Hobby

Special Thanks: Satellite Collective; Morton Memorial Library; Rhinecliff Hotel

Staged Reading Cast:

Neal Bledsoe - Ronald/Malvolio

Zoe Laiz - Betty/Olivia

Jessica Baglow - Katherine/Viola

Chad Pierre Vann - Nigel/Orsino

Matthew Nikitow - James/Sebastian

John Maddaloni - Charlie/Sir Toby

Armand Lane - George/Sir Andrew/Priest

Drew Springer-Miller - Ann/Maria

Lake Wilburn - John/Feste

Montana Lampert Hoover - Lee/Antonio/Sea Captain

Su Thomas Hendrickson - Stage Directions

We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions: ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION; SAG-AFTRA through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear in this program.

Creative Team

Ellyn Heald - Director, Writer (Founder, Artistic Director, Living Room Productions)

Laura Carswell - Producer (Co-founder, Associate Director, Producer, Living Room Productions)

Will Healy - Composer 

Alissa Mills - Stage Manager

Kaileela Hobby - Associate Producer (Company Member, Associate Producer, Living Room Productions)

Martin Kemp - Associate Producer