Meet the Cast of Twelfth Night! Spotlight on Anna Lewein (Olivia)

At Classics on the Rocks we believe that just as whiskey doesn't need anything more than "rocks" to tame it's bite. Shakespeare doesn't need fancy concepts, modernizations, frilly costumes, or big sets to make it relatable. All you need are talented actors who trust the text and tell the story. And so, we're introducing you to our "rocks" - the brilliant actors making up the cast of Twelfth Night!

Earlier this week, we met with the lovely cross-dressing Viola (Rachel Purcell).

Today, we'd like to introduce you to our dynamic and intense Olivia - the most wonderful Anna Lewein - to give you her take on that brilliant bard and Twelfth Night.

Name: Anna Lewein ("lay-wine")

What character do you play in Twelfth Night?

Olivia

Where are you originally from?

Milwaukee, WI

When you're not onstage, what can you be found doing?

Working at NY Philharmonic

What intrigues you most about Shakespeare?

The way he uses language to capture both the essence of things as well as their complications is always astounding to me.

What character is on your Shakespeare "bucket list" to play?

Lady Macbeth. There is a lot of rage and a lot of sorrow with her. Characters that allow you to understand where they are coming from while also giving you the freedom to decide whether or not they are right are always interesting to watch. They are even more interesting to play.

Favorite Shakespearean quote:

"Mount, Eagle! To my palace crystalline!" - Zeus's exit line from Cymbeline. That play is wild. You should read it!

Twelfth Night is a classic tale of twins shipwrecked and separated in a foreign land. Both assuming the other has perished - search for a way to survive in this strange new world. In doing so, they find themselves quickly caught up in the shenanigans of a world filled with clowns, pirates, and lovers.

Twelfth Night performs July 14, 15, 21, 22 at 7pm and July 23 at 5pm at the Alchemical Theatre Laboratory. Tickets may be purchased in advance here.