ANNOUNCEMENT

It is my GREAT pleasure to officially announce Jon-Michael Reese as the Senior who will be playing Antonio.

I am so excited he will be able to work with us all, and I hope you all will join me in giving him a warm welcome.

... and what's even better, he has some thoughts to share:

"Very very excited to work on this with you guys.

Antonio is an interesting character. Full of manly grace, he's excitable, strong, willing, heroic, and quick. A little too quick - which is his problem. He jumps into situations far too quickly with all of his heart, which leads him into trouble.

We could take the Sebastian/Antonio relationship in many different directions, and I would love to talk to you and Ross about how we should handle it.

A) Antonio could be "straight up" gay (har har har) - and head over heels in love with Sebastian. Not that I ever intend to play him in a stereotypical "gay" fashion, but just in terms of thinking of him as someone who is comfortable with his sexuality.

B) Antonio is not necessarily gay - or doesn't know what he is, or it's a nonissue, but he is oddly struck by Sebastian and for the first time is seeking a man for his love, affection, and companionship.

C) Antonio is a really loyal, good natured guy, who really just wants to see this kid Sebastian through his hard times. Just a good healthy dose of some Pinapple Express "bro love" going on.

There is also a question of what's happened before our first scene together. When I first read through it, I had thoughts of their first scene being post coital - perhaps not as explicit as that, but that there is an element of something has happened that is a bit odd, or out of the blue for Sebastian, and he needs to get away, primarily to find his sister, but also to escape whatever is going on between him and Antonio.

Not to make this the "poor gay Antonio whos love goes unrequited from jerk Sebastian" version of Twelfth Night. It should never get so melodramatic as that, but these are just some random thoughts I had when reading it.

Bottom line is, he truly does love Sebastian, for reasons yet to be put into concrete.

I think there is an underlying sense of adventure in Antonio. He without hesitation both rescues Sebastian, and then follows him into his enemy's territory to make sure he is doing well.

Antonio is a red character. Different shades depending on the scene, he can be a deeper, soothing red to calm Sebastian, he can a bold brighter red when he comes to save Cesario whom we mistakes for Sebastian, or a fiery-orangish red when he's laying in to Cesario, or Orsino in the end.

I think of him as of now, as a young tiger cub. Very eager to pounce, but not always thinking through his decisions, or showing as much patience as the older tigers do. Vivacious, bold, quick, but vulnerable.

Sorry for rambling. Let me know what you think of these ideas. These are just my first repsonses to reading the play, so if they're inconsistent, incoherent, or just plain wrong; forgive me.

JMR"

No, no no Jon-Michael... nothing here is "plain wrong" at all... It all sounds very right...