A new American musical created for Public Works, a “radically inclusive initiative” of the Public Theater in NYC that believes “culture belongs to everyone.” Kwei-Armah (British/Ghanaian artistic director, Young Vic, London) and Taub (American singer, composer, musician—credits include Ragtime, Hadestown, Great Comet, and Twelfth Night, the Musical) conceived this 100-minute musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy with musical styles ranging from New Orleans Jazz to Motown Soul to Broadway showtunes to 80s Pop to create as inclusive a world as possible. Rights to the show became available in June, and GDS will debut it outside NYC. First cast recording became available September 19. Our Illyria is N. Orleans, Boubon St, the 1950s. The war is over, people are traveling, partying, and falling in love. Nevertheless, the sea still washes up adventurers and strangers. Mistaken identities abound; pranksters make merry; boundaries melt away. Kwei-Armah and Taub have “extended the original play’s consideration of the ambiguities of identity to address an age in which divisions between sexes and classes paradoxically feel both more porous and unbridgeable than ever.” The show includes live instrumentalists, singers and dancers. Appropriate for children of all ages!

Director: Laura Rosberg
Technical Director:  Christal Boyd
Music Director:  Brad Linde
Choreographer:  Maria Watson
Vocal Coach:  Reenie Codelka