Meet the cast of "Twelfth Night": Daniel Gray

Daniel Gray (photo by Caroline V. Sturtz

Daniel is no stranger to Shakespeare. Last year he stole several scenes in TLT's Much Ado About Nothing. This year he returns as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, the drunken and mischievous uncle to the much sought after Lady Olivia. Sir Toby and his friends set about playing a prank on the controlling and self-important Malvolio, and their antics put the comedy in this romantic comedy.

Meet Daniel Gray

Tell us a little about who you are when you're not on stage.

I work for Hewlett-Packard as an electronic data specialist supporting Florida Medicaid's fiscal system. Outside of work, I'm an avid gamer and movie buff and do some freelance writing from time to time.

How did you first get involved in theatre?

When I was three, I used to listen to Disney records and then act out the stories for my family.  I've always been somewhat of a ham, I guess, but I'd inevitably clam up around strangers.  It wasn't until I got to junior high that I was able to overcome that, joining the Thespians and performing in little one act plays.  In 9th grade, I performed in a school production of Grease and I was hooked

What do you love most about acting?

The act of collaboration is inspiring.  Creating not only characters, but interpretations and presentations of stories and putting your own spin on them. The best moments for me are when I am able to discover something new in a character or a scene with another actor. That link - that moment - creates a strong bond that simply cannot be quantified.

What has been the most challenging aspect of this show for you?

Finding a balance! Toby is a drunk, but he is also a noble. He's a schemer, but he's also the fun-loving life of the party. The physical aspect of the character also caught me off guard. There's drunken singing, dancing and sword-fighting to go with the comedy.  I'm often sore after rehearsals, but its a good pain.

What would you say to encourage someone to try acting.

Go for it!  Read up on the audition process, ask questions, but don't ever be discouraged. It's a completely different experience than the every day, and you might just discover something about yourself.

There are only three performance of Twelfth Night left! Get your tickets now!

Meet the Cast of "Twelfth Night": Emma Blanton

In Twelfth Night, Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are victims of a shipwreck. It lands her on the island of Illyria--a somewhat magical place where people seem to spend most of their time falling in and out of love. Viola disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and enters into the service of the Duke Orsino, setting in motion a complicated tangle of love interests and disinterests.

Emma Blanton (photo by Caroline V. Sturtz)

Emma Blanton plays Viola, and we want to welcome her to the TLT stage!

Tell us a little about who you are when you’re not on stage.

Well, for one, I generally wear women’s clothing. Aside from the obvious, I am very active and I’m always looking for new things to try. Some of my hobbies include scuba diving, fencing, martial arts, kayaking, and most recently, surfing. When I’m at home, I focus on my creative side – writing, drawing, reading, singing. The whole bit. I just want to experience everything God has given to us while I’m here. I think the quote by Diane Ackerman best describes my approach to life. “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I’ve just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”

How did you first get involved in theatre?

I think my first experience of theatre was through my church when I was 8 years old. I played the riveting role of Gillian in Fish Tales. But I love putting on a performance, and thankfully my parents nurtured that passion. 11 years later, I’m still sticking to it.

What do you love most about acting?

I love the challenge of it. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to character analysis, so I enjoy nothing more than breaking apart a character and finding out what makes them tick. After I find the motivation behind the dialogue, I love tackling the issue of portraying those emotions and the subtext in my body language and speech. By doing that, I can mold a character, like Viola, into something completely my own. That’s the beauty of acting, I think. That no matter how many different shows you go to, even with the same cast, every performance is different. It’s a totally unique experience.

What has been the most challenging aspect of this show for you?

I’d have to say the language. I’m very familiar with Shakespeare’s text, but there’s a huge difference between reading his works and performing it. My goal throughout the show has been trying to find ways to make the words make sense to the audience. While the process is ultimately the same in any play, you have to pay special attention to the rhythm and which words you emphasize, or the lines may be lost to the audience.

What would you say to encourage someone to try acting?

Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t a theatre major, or you haven’t been on the stage since you were in diapers. Just because you’ve never done a show before doesn’t mean you can’t get a role, or that it won’t be fun. One of the marvelous things about theatre, especially community theatre, is that you can be a math major and still perform. You don’t have to make acting your career to enjoy it and be involved. One of the actors in this show has never performed before in his life, but he still has done an amazing job in this production. By the end of the show, I can promise your fellow cast members will be like family. If you want a support group who encourages you and wants you to succeed, no matter if it’s passing Accounting or learning your lines, theatre is the place to find them. I can also say that there is nothing quite as rewarding as seeing a show go from the audition stage to the final product. When you walk off that stage after the last performance, whether you’re a member of the ensemble or a lead, you will feel pride not only for yourself, but for the people you’ve worked with. So I would encourage everyone to try acting, even if it’s for one show. It’s an experience you can take with you for the rest of your life.

Emma Blanton and Milan Alley in Twelfth Night.
(Photo by Caroline V. Sturtz)

Twelfth Night opens TONIGHT, January 17th and runs through January 27th. Tickets are on sale at the TLT Box Office today from 12-4. Just call 850-224-8474 or you can purchase tickets online at any time just by clicking here!

Meet the Director: Kevin Carr

Meet the Director: Kevin Carr

Kevin Carr. (photo by Caroline V. Sturtz)

Director Kevin Carr is no stranger to Shakespeare. Last year he stepped in, literally last minute, to help direct TLT's Much Ado About Nothing. His background with Shakespeare and classical shows is extensive, and we're happy to have him on board for Twelfth Night.

First, tell us a little about yourself and what you do when you're not involved in theater?

I moved to Tallahassee several years ago to pursue my PhD in Renaissance Drama at Florida State. These days, when I am not in the theater, I am either in the classroom teaching or desperately trying to finish my dissertation. I am also working hard to bring back the outdoor Southern Shakespeare Festival here in Tallahassee.

How did you first get started in theater? What drew you to it?

I grew up in Boston (which has a lot of great theater companies) but my parents never brought me to the theater. I was very lucky to go to high school that had an outstanding arts education program. That was how I got hooked! My English teachers brought us to see productions at a professional theater company several times a year. I started acting and directing shows at the same time. I love the collaborative aspect of it. There are so many people involved in a production. The sets, the lights, the costumes, the sound, and the acting all come together to create something really magical.

What specifically drew you to direct Shakespeare and Twelfth Night?

Well, I've seen the play, I've acted in the play, and I've taught the play, but I've never directed it. I've always wanted to create a carnival celebration full of color, warmth, and silliness. I've always loved the setting of Illyria, and felt like it would be a pretty cool place to hang out! Our production really captured the beauty of this place where everyone is constantly falling in and out of love!

I always remind my students that Shakespeare was meant to be enjoyed in the theater, not in the classroom!! Shakespeare's extraordinary language was written to be heard, not to be read. We just don't have any dramatic writer today who can match the intensity and beauty of Renaissance verse and prose. Shakespeare’s language is such a challenge for actors and directors. That’s why I love it!

What was the last show you directed and where?

Over the past year, I co-directed the TLT production of Much Ado About Nothing, and a production of Doctor Faustus at the Warehouse. Last year was very busy, and this year will be even busier!

What would you say is your biggest challenge on this show?

It is really challenging to work with actors who have never performed Shakespeare before. Shakespeare's language is so demanding for actors. But this is a fantastic and enthusiastic cast, and they were up for the challenge.

What is your vision for this production? What do you hope audiences take away from the experience?

I want the production to be an escape for the audience. Among other things, this is a silly comedy about love and the pursuit of love. In tragedies like Romeo and Juliet, we feel the pain of love; in comedies like Twelfth Night, we laugh at it.

Why should people come to see Twelfth Night?

Beautiful set. Beautiful costumes. Beautiful music. Beautiful words… (and beautiful actors!!). What more could you ask for?!!

Twelfth Night opens January 17th and runs through January 27. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 8 pm and Sunday matinees are at 2 pm. Purchase your tickets by calling the Box Office at 850-224-8474 or clicking here!