Take one of the Bard’s most famous comedies, add some jazz and the result is Twelfth Night, closing out the 16th season of the African-American Shakespeare Company.
Set in foggy streets and smoke-filled clubs of San Franciscoduring the 1940’s, the show will on stage at the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco from April 1 through May. Show times are 8 p.m.on Saturday and 3 p.m.on Sunday.
Artistic Director L. Peter Callender restyled what he calls his favorite Shakespeare comedy into a film noir version. Film noir is one of my favorite genres of movie-making as well, it recalls the hey-day of San Francisco and the hot and sultry sounds of the jazz music of the 1940s,” he said. “African-American Shakespeare Company’s re-imagining of this Shakespeare classic resets the story in my favorite city, San Francisco, and features a wonderful, young, diverse cast to bring everything to new life. The original music by the incomparable Marcus Shelby takes this production to another level. I’m sure this story of love and love lost, mischief and malcontents will quickly become an audience favorite.”
Bay Area jazz musician and composer Marcus Shelby wrote the original score. The cast includes Renée Wilson, Rebecca Frank, Matt Jones, Rómulo Torres, Armando McClain, Michael Kelly, Martin Grizzell, Charles Branklyn, Lauren Spencer, J. Darryl Williams, and Chris Dewey. Percival Arcibal, Erik Banks, and Leslie Ivy round out the cast.
Tickets are $15 to $35. For more information, call 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.African-AmericanShakes.org
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