Last summer in Central Park, the Prospect Theatre Company presented its production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This year, artistic director Cara Reichel and resident writer Peter Mills connect to produce their musical version of the Bard classic, now titled Illyria, April 12-28 at the Hudson Guild Theatre. With book, music, and lyrics by Mills (who was awarded a 2002 Jonathan Larson grant), the Off-Off-Broadway adaptation is directed by co-adapter Reichel. The cast features returning members of the 2001 Twelfth Night staging including Ames Adamson as Malvolio, Kate MacKenzie as Olivia, Kate Bradner as Viola and Leon Land Gersing as Sir Toby.

The other cast members include Courter Simmons, Rich Affannato, Jason Mills, Sarah Corey, Arik Luck and Matthew Boaten.

The creative team includes Scott Aronow (sets), Adam Gabel (lights) and David Kaley (costumes). Daniel Feyer serves as musical director while Christina Gelsone choreographs.

Reichel and Mills collaborated previously on two other original musicals The Taxi Cabaret and The Flood. Samples of their latest work Illyria can be heard on the Prospect Theatre Company website at www.prospecttheater.org.

For tickets to Illyria at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th Street, call (212) 206-1515 or click on www.smarttix.com.

— by Ernio Hernandez