For Immediate Release: For more information or for interviews please contact:
Sheila Snow Proctor at [email protected] or 980­245­8286
CHICKSPEARE announces their roaring, romantic rendition of…
William Shakespeare’s
Twelfth Night
The Roaring ‘20s provide a jazz­infused setting for Shakespeare's
beloved romantic comedy.
December 12th ­ December 21st
(Charlotte, NC, November 4, 2013)... In Co­Production with Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, this holiday
season Chickspeare: Charlotte’s All­Female Shakespeare Co. will present a rollicking rendition of
William Shakespeare's romantic comedy Twelfth Night opening at Actor’s Theatre December 12th and
running through December 21st.
Joanna Gerdy, Chickspeare Artistic Director, finds the Roaring 20’s a perfect pairing for Chickspeare.
For the first time, women were voting, competing in the Olympics, the Equal Rights Amendment was
introduced, and the first female Governor was elected. Twelfth Night’s story elements complement an era in
which women became more independent, dressed in a more masculine fashion, and worked outside the
home, much like the play’s adventurous Viola. A Prohibition­era Speakeasy, blaring jazz and flowing with
bootleg liquor, becomes the perfect backdrop for Shakespeare's drunken rascal Sir Toby Belch and other
outrageous characters to make mischief. “Duke Orsino’s home is his club, so we’re transforming the theatre
into a space that makes audiences guests at his never ending party… truly a fun, relaxed night out on the
town this holiday season!”
Twelfth Night opens Thursday, December 12th at 7:30 p.m. with a catered reception immediately
following the show. Evening performances on Thursday and Friday nights begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday
performances begin at 8pm. A Sunday matinee is scheduled on Dec 15th at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.00.
Special group rates are also available for groups of 10 or more. The theatre is located at 650 E Stonewall St,
Charlotte, NC 28202. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Tickets will go on sale November 12th, 2013. To
purchase tickets call Actor’s Theatre Box Office at 704­342­2251, or go to www.atcharlotte.org.
Chickspeare is an all­female Shakespeare company that began performing in the now defunct Johnson
Brewery on Central Avenue in 1998 and continued to produce shows there until the brewery sold its space in
2002. Chickspeare produced shows in different Charlotte spaces, garnering several awards and accolades,
until 2006. In 2012, the Chicks began performing shows at NoDa Brewing Co. to sold out audiences, and
in keeping with their Craft Beer origins, there will be a special NoDa Brewing Co. holiday infused brew just
for Twelfth Night audiences.
About Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte The mission of Actor's Theatre of Charlotte is to present, in an
intimate environment, bold and innovative new works by contemporary playwrights who share our respect for
language and humanity. Our philosophy and goal continues to be the presentation of regional
premieres of thought provoking, challenging and entertaining contemporary plays. Actor's
Theatre is the only professional theatre in the region that dedicates its entire programming
to new works that are daring, offbeat and, yes, sometimes controversial. Through the years
we have remained steadfast to this original mission and philosophy and hopefully will
continue to be your entertainment source for these exciting new plays for years to come.
Actor's Theatre of Charlotte is supported in part by a Basic Operating Grant from the Arts &
Science Council of Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Inc., a General Support Grant from the North
Carolina Arts Council, and an Operating Grant from the Shubert Foundation.