Shakespeare Napa Valley Presents Twelfth Night

Shakespeare Napa Valley (SNV) will present Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies set in the fantastical world of the Wild Wild West, free of charge in beautiful Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Napa, July 20 - 29, 2012.

Directed by SNV Founder and Artistic Director, Jennifer King, Twelfth Night stars award-winning actor, Tim Kniffin, as the beleaguered social climber, Malvolio. Kniffin starred as Benedick in last summer’s smash SNV production of Much Ado About Nothing and as Marc in the acclaimed Napa Valley Conservatory Theater production of ART at Napa Valley College. Twelfth Night also includes North Bay favorites Tim Setzer as Feste, Chad Yarish as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Dodds Delzell as Sir Toby Belch and Taylor Bartolucci as Viola.

“We have assembled a terrific cast and team of designers to set Twelfth Night in a Wild Wild West world,” said King. Tim Dugan (Much Ado About Nothing, A Streetcar Named Desire, Art, The White Barn, 6th Street Playhouse) returns as set designer; Teresa Shea, known for her burning man creations, will serve as costume designer; and music director, Mark Osten, is composing an original score for the production which will be performed live.

Napa Valley College (NVC) announced in April that additional, unexpected state budget cuts necessitated the elimination of most summer courses for 2012. These cuts jeopardized the continuation of SNV since it was produced from a summer performance course. The community came together to fight for the program. Lissa Gibbs, executive director of the NVC Foundation, joined King to launch a two-week fundraising campaign that raised $20,000 in ten days and ensured the show would go on. 

“I was thrilled by the outpouring of support,” said King. “It is amazing that after only two years downtown, Napa rallied to make sure Shakespeare stays alive in Veterans Park.”

Still a vital part of Napa Valley College, Shakespeare Napa Valley has evolved from an academic to a co-curricular program, modeled after Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Colorado Shakespeare and other festivals around the country that are attached to colleges.

Twelfth Night plays July 20 - 22 and 26 - 29. All performances are at 7 p.m. There are no reservations accepted for the performances and seating is first-come, first-served. Audience members are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Veterans Memorial Park is located at 800 Main Street in Downtown Napa. For more information, please contact Sheri Lee Miller 707-256-7500 or go to www.shakespearenapavalley.org. For more information about Downtown Napa, contact Lindsay Martin at 916-774-9611 or lmartin@augustineideas.com.

About the Twelfth Night Production Team

Founder and Artistic Director: Jennifer King; Music Director: Mark Osten; Stage Manager: Jennifer Ruygt;

Set Designer: Tim Dugan; Costume Designer: Teresa Shea; Lighting Designer: April George.

Questions: 707-256-7500 or shakespearenapavalley.org. You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ShakespeareNV.