Oregon Coast TODAY Scott Ganyo, from left, Andrew Keating and Barbara Berge are among the 13 actors in Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” opening Friday and running through Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Newport Performing Arts Center

By Oregon Coast TODAY

The Newport Performing Arts Center will be filled with tales of mistaken identity, unrequited love and merry mischief when the Red Octopus Theatre Company presents a production of William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy “Twelfth Night,” opening Friday, Oct. 17 and running through Sunday, Nov. 2.

The play has captivated audiences for centuries and remains one of Shakespeare’s most beloved works.

Stranded on the coast of Illyria, the quick-witted Viola assumes the disguise of a page boy for Duke Orsino. She soon finds herself at the center of an explosive love triangle in which identity, passion and gender all threaten to come undone.

This new production, directed by Milo Graamans, promises a lively and entertaining experience for audiences of all ages.

“’Twelfth Night’ has many of the iconic elements of Shakespearean comedy, including vibrant characters, pranksters and fools,” Graamans said. “But it also raises serious questions about when a practical joke is taken too far.”

Graamans brings Shakespeare’s fast-paced romantic comedy to life with a unique staging and original music composed solely for this production.

“I chose ‘Twelfth Night’ because I wanted to direct a more accessible and familiar Shakespearean play, and one with ample opportunities for music,” he said. “While it is not a musical, the text contains three complete songs and fragments of several others.”

Bursting with vitality and romance, the play has produced one of Shakespeare’s most remarkable heroines, matching wits with a host of captivating characters: from the lovestruck Olivia to the puritanical Malvolio. A talented cast of local actors has been assembled to take on these roles, including Jaime Lee Hart, Sean Orton, Kate Miller, Andrew Keating, Brian Haggerty, Ram Papish, Scott Ganyo, Zoey Tingler, Barbara Berge, Cole Graber-Mitchell, Russel Sweet, Linda Haggerty and Ron Miller.

“Twelfth Night” will run through Sunday, Nov. 2, with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets range from $20 to $25 with discounts for seniors, students and Oregon Coast Council for the Arts members.

For more information, go to coastarts.com or call 541-265-2787.