(CRANFORD, NJ) -- “Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.”, “If music be the food of love, play on” and “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” are just a few of the familiar lines from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

A talented cast is preparing to present one of the Bard’s finest comedies at CDC Theatre in Cranford for seven shows running from February 10-25 and is being directed by Susan Speidel. Ms., Speidel currently serves on the faculty of the Kean University Theatre Conservatory and is a lecturer for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University.   Holding a range of academic degrees, she has studied acting and directing at HB Studios in New York City and at the Globe Theater in London.   She served for 20 years as Director of Education for the Tony-Award winning Paper Mill Playhouse and has directed more than 50 plays and musicals. 

“A woman, disguised as a man, falls in love with her boss, only to be pursued by the woman her boss is determined to marry.  Confused? “, asked Ms. Speidel recently, “ You’re not alone, but Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s witty look at gender confusion, invites us to put convention aside, stretch the boundaries of “acceptable” attraction, and that, in the end, love is love is love is love.  The play is filled with relatable characters contending with mistaken identities, unrelenting desire, hilarious pranks, and unrequited love – not to mention cross-dressing, duels, and deception – all offered up with a generous dash of merriment!”

Twelfth Night combines love, confusion, mistaken identities and joyful discovery all while telling a story of fickle fortune, mourning, love and reunion. Set in the free-wheeling, mirror-ball world of the 1970s, the celebratory nature of Shakespeare’s play is heightened with a series of Top-Ten hits that enhance the production and move the action forward with a disco beat. Shipwrecked twins, gender-bending romance and a bumper crop of fools, from the wise to the ridiculous, guarantee a full-blown evening’s entertainment. 

CDC Theatre is celebrating its 104th season in Cranford, NJ at 78 Winans Ave. For best ticket selection and prices, visit cdctheatre.org for additional information.