Nights with Shakespeare
Twelfth Night, or What You Will
NWS returns this Spring with Twelfth Night or What You Will beginning Tuesday, March 4, 4th at 6:30 pm.
- April 15th
- April 22nd
- April 29th
"Twelfth Night, or What You Will" is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season.
The play centers on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (disguised as a page named 'Cesario') falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her, thinking she is a man.
The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of the occasion,with plot elements drawn from Barnabe Rich's short story "Of Apollonius and Silla", based on a story by Matteo Bandello. The first documented public performance was on 2 February 1602, at Candlemas, the formal end of Christmastide in the year's calendar. The play was not published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio. –Wikipedia
"Twelfth Night" – March 4, 2025 Opening Night
Script Download
For a PDF copy of the script for "Twelfth Night or What You Will" click below.
About Nights with Shakespeare
Leo Schaff
Leo Schaff is an actor, singer, songwriter, and poet, with a great passion for Shakespeare. Named “New Yorker of the Week” by Time-Warner Cable TV’s NY1 for his extraordinary contribution to the community through his Shakespeare classes, Leo is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and is a member of The Shakespeare Society of New York. Studied with Stella Adler, classically trained at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, performed at The Actors Studio and The Public Theater, toured the country in the plays of Shakespeare, and has appeared in film and TV (Law & Order).
As a songwriter, his work has been heard from Carnegie Hall to C.B.G.B.’s to the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where his co-written composition “Give Us Hope” – a children’s choir classic – was performed at President Obama’s First Inauguration. Guitar in hand, his one-man song/spoken-word creations, Found, and Won, played to sold-out audiences at New York’s Emerging Artists Theater Festival. He currently teaches Shakespeare at the 92d St. Y, and looks forward to sharing his sense of Shakespearean wonder and bottomless study with one and all.
Leo & Bob
June 20, 2017 Opening Night
Nights With Shakespeare is generously underwritten and presented FREE to the public by R.D. Scinto, Inc., one of the state’s largest real estate developers, at his corporate Auditorium located in the Shelton Corporate Park at 3 Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut.
Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Seating is limited and is available on a ‘first-come’ basis.
Each participant receives one FREE copy of the play.
Portraits of Shakespeare in various styles. Scroll for more.
Poster Designer: Joe Pedoto
Nights with Shakespeare posters 2017-2023
Art Direction: Bob Smith.......Designer: Joe Pedoto
Framed posters from the 2010-2015 series are on permanent display in Corporate One.
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