Cast Announced for Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night

Pictured: Cast and creative team for Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night. Photo: Liss Couch-Edwards

Hartford, CT, July 11, 2018 - Hartford Stage, in conjunction with the Greater Hartford Arts Council's Neighborhood Studios, has announced the cast for Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night. Performances will be at Hartford Stage on Friday, August 3, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, August 4, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night includes Samantha Acosta, 16, of Hartford, as Olivia; Isaiah Artis, 16, of East Hartford, as Antonio; Auna Foster, 17, of Hartford, as Maria; Jerry Hamilton, 17, of Hartford, as Malvolio; Ve’Shawn Henry, 16, of East Hartford, as Curio/2nd Officer; Glendale Jones, 14, of Windsor, as Sebastian; Emily Langin, 15, of West Simsbury, as Feste/Clown; Cyana Lindsay, 14, of Windsor, as Fabian; Aaliyah Norton, 15, of West Hartford, as Gentlewoman; Pattianne Olsen, 16, of East Hartland, as Gentlewoman; Alana Morgan, 19, of Hartford, as Viola; Diego Pichay, 18, of South Windsor, as Toby Belch; Danexi Perez, 16, of Hartford, as Captain/First Officer; Jessie Robie, 15, of Windsor, as Gentlewoman; Giovanni Simmons, 17, of East Hartford, as Duke Orsino; Shantall Teran, 16, of Hartford, as Gentlewoman; Randy Torres, 17, of Hartford as Valentine/Priest; and Jamieson Vick, 15, of East Granby, as Sir Andrew.

One of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Twelfth Night is an intoxicating blend of love, confusion, mistaken identities, and joyful discovery. The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare will recreate a modern hip-hop telling of this timeless tale, infusing Shakespeare’s original text with contemporary music and dance.

"We thought Twelfth Night the obvious choice to celebrate our 12th year of Breakdancing Shakespeare; and, with such a talented diverse cast, it is already shaping up to be something extraordinary," said Nina Pinchin, Associate Director of Education at Hartford Stage and director of Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night.

The script for Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night is adapted by Scott Bartelson, Hartford Stage Management Associate. Pinchin will helm the production, assisted by former Breakdancing Shakespeare cast members Brandon Couloute as choreographer and Gina Salvatore as stage manager.

General admission tickets for Breakdancing Shakespeare: Twelfth Night are $10 and can be purchased by calling through the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151 or online at http://www.hartfordstage.org/education/bds.