VORTEX Repertory Company
The Commedia of Errors
Adapted from Shakespeare by Melissa Vogt-Patterson, Directed by Matthew Patterson
High comedy meets classical text, providing a fresh new approach to Shakespeare. This summer, Summer Youth Theatre presents Commedia of Errors, a 2010 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. This clever mash-up of Commedia dell'Arte, contemporary comedy, and Shakespeare was previously performed in New York City. Commedia is a classical theatre form from 16th-century Italy and characterized by masked types who perform with a highly physical style.
Now in it’s 21st year, this award-winning program for teenagers remains tuition-free. SYT provides students with experience in all aspects of theatre. SYT has received dozens of award nominations and won the David Mark Cohen New Play Award for Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities and B. Iden Payne Awards for The Physicists, Vitriol and Violets: Tales from the Algonquin Round Table, Machinal, The Frogs, and Moby Dick.
Commedia of Errors features a stellar, all-youth cast, including Blake Robbins, Xander Slay-Tamkin, Lyllith Newcomer, Rio Esquivel, Taylor Cruse, Taylor Kerr, Josh Braun, Hanna Patterson, Hunter Archield-Cupit, Sean Eure, Nikaela Valentina Roe Saenz, Callier Creedle, Victoria Lynn, Maria Leuzinger, Brenda Romero, and Anissa McVea.
Commedia of Errors is directed by Matthew Patterson, an actor, director, drummer and long-time VORTEX company member. As an actor, he has received several B. Iden Payne and Austin Critics’ Award nominations for VORTEX shows such as King Lear and Norm L, and a B. Iden Payne Award for his work in The Baltimore Waltz. He appeared as an adult guest artist in SYT's productions of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Conference of the Birds, and Machinal, and directed the SYT productions Animal Farm and The Good Woman of Szechuan. Mr. Patterson is a member of Actors’ Equity and holds an MFA from the University of North Carolina's Professional Actor Training Program.
Scenic design by Ann Marie Gordon, Lighting design by Jennifer Rogers, Costume design by Talena Martinez, Mask design by Melissa Vogt-Patterson, Stage Management by Adam Gunderson.
Summer Youth Theatre is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Austin through the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division, believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin's future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.
