The Oak Park Festival Theatre, Oak Park’s premiere Equity theatre and the oldest professional classical theatre in the Midwest, today announced the cast and production team of its Summer 2025 production, one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL. Directed by Oak Park Festival Theatre Artistic Director Peter G. Andersen, TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL runs July 5 - August 16, 2025, with previews July 1 - 3, 2025. Tickets ($40) go on sale April 1, 2025 at www.oakparkfestival.com.
Viola, separated from her twin Sebastian, dresses as a boy and works for the Duke Orsino, whom she falls in love with. Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, and sends Viola to court her for him, but Olivia falls for Viola instead. Sebastian arrives, causing a flood of mistaken identity, and marries Olivia. Viola then reveals she is a girl and marries Orsino.
The cast features Isabel Lee Roden (Viola), Kason Chesky (Sebastian), Evan Ozer (Orsino), Nathan Hile (Antonio), Noah Lash (Fabian), Madison Kiernan (Olivia), Eli Newman (Feste), Julia Rowley (Maria), Kevin Theis (Sir Toby Belch), and J. Cody Hunt (Sir Andrew Aguecheek).
Under the direction of OPFT Artistic Director Peter G. Andersen, the production team includes Devin Cameron (Lighting Designer), Evan Frank (Set Designer, Prop Designer), Taylor Pfenning (Costume Designer), Andrew Rathgeber (Fight Coordinator), Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Tessa Huber (Assistant Stage Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director).
Oak Park Festival Theatre’s paid Apprenticeship Program, now in its 15th year, provides an educational, inspirational, and career-broadening experience for post-high school and undergraduate students in theatre arts. This season’s Actor Apprentices are Liam Jeninga, Pedro Jimenez, Jensen Knudsen, Emma Lindermann, Lauren Rainey, and Imran Rizvi; its crew apprentices include Octavio De Oca (Apprentice Assistant Director), Sophia De La Torre and Krista Plogger (Apprentice 2nd Assistant Stage Managers); Dell Block (Apprentice Dramaturg), and Crew Apprentices Amira Brooks and Jules Weir.
TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL runs July 5 - August 16, 2025, with previews July 1 - 3, 2025 at Austin Gardens in downtown Oak Park, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., with Wednesday performances on July 9, July 23, and August 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets ($40 general admission; children under 12 free; Pay What You Will walk-up tickets available at any Wednesday or Thursday performance) on sale starting April 1, 2025 at www.oakparkfestival.com.
FACT SHEET:
ROMEO & JULIET
Title: TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL
Written By: William Shakespeare
Directed By: Peter G. Andersen
Cast: Isabel Lee Roden (Viola), Kason Chesky (Sebastian), Evan Ozer (Orsino), Nathan Hile (Antonio), Noah Lash (Fabian), Madison Kiernan (Olivia), Eli Newman (Feste), Julia Rowley (Maria), Kevin Theis (Sir Toby Belch), J. Cody Hunt (Sir Andrew Aguecheek)
Production Team: Devin Cameron (Lighting Designer), Evan Frank (Set Designer, Prop Designer), Taylor Pfenning (Costume Designer), Andrew Rathgeber (Fight Coordinator), Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Tessa Huber (Assistant Stage Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director)
Dates: July 5 - August 16, 2025 (previews July 1 - 3, 2025)
Press Opening: Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 7 p.m.; Wednesday performances on July 9, July 23, and August 6 at 8 p.m.
Location: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Tickets: General Admission: $40; children under 12 free. Discounts available for seniors and students. Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Pay What You Will at any Wednesday or Thursday performance (walk-ups only).
Box Office: www.oakparkfestival.com
ABOUT OAK PARK FESTIVAL THEATRE
Oak Park Festival Theatre, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is Oak Park’s premiere Equity theatre and the oldest professional outdoor classical theatre in the Midwest. Since 1975, Oak Park Festival Theatre has produced over 100 plays for thousands of theatre-lovers, and are best known for summer outdoor shows performed under a canopy of stars in the idyllic Austin Gardens park. It is the mission of OPFT to perform timeless plays in distinctive spaces and create empowering educational programming, both of which foster dialogue, strengthen relationships, and explore the depth of the human experience. For more information: www.oakparkfestival.com