Online Program for TWELFTH NIGHT

• Fest — NIKOLAAS VAN KLEY
• Viola — V  "JASON" COUCH
• Duke Orsino — AUSTIN RAYMOND
• Lady Olivia — SAMANTHA JOHNSON 
• Sebastian — RILEY NICHOLS 
• Malvolio — JAMIE COUCH 
• Sir Toby Belch — TODD PHILLIPS
• Maria — LISA REID
• Sir Andrew — CRISTÓBAN MORONES
• Fabian — RIVER DELCAMBRE
• Antonio — KEVIN HELMER
• Valentine / Curio / Officer — ADAN MORONES
• Captain / Priest — ARTI ROBERTS
• Servants — JESSICA SHELKEY, KIRSTEN BAKER, FAITH KOLOSCI, RONI LIAS, AMY MAURER

ACT ONE:

• Scene I: 
• Scene II: 

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO:

• Scene III: 
• Scene IV: 
• Scene V:

The title of Twelfth Night, one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, refers to the festive season following Christmas. We recognize this season when we sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and it was traditionally a time of revelry and of overturning social norms. A "Lord of Misrule" presided over the festivities in the manner of a fool or jester. Servants and masters switched places, pranks were pulled, and disguise and cross-dressing completed the celebration. 

Twelfth Night, or What you Will, was likely written and performed in 1601 or 1602 for a private party in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The play immediately gained acclaim from public performances. In successive centuries, Twelfth Night and its songs remained popular. 

Today, Twelfth Night is a staple of both professional and amateur theatre worldwide. Film, television, musical theatre, and other artistic media continue its enduring appeal.

• Director — ROZ COUCH
• Assistant Director — CANDYCE WAGNON
• Stage Manager — TARI DEAN
• Assistant Stage Manager — CHRISTEN SMITH
• Musical Director — DAVY THOMAS
• Combat Choreography — JAMIE COUCH
• Opening Choreography — KATIE PARR
• Costume Coordinator — NANCY SMITH
• Light Board Operator — BRIAN OSWALD
• Sound Operation/Preshow Music — STEVE CHANDLER
• Props — GINA JONES
• Costumes — NANCY SMITH, CAST & CREW
• Armorer — BILL SMALL
• Set Painting — LISA REID, TODD PHILLIPS
• Set Construction — CAST & CREW
• Company Display — LISA NORMAN
• Preshow Announcement — NORM MARKWORTH
• Lamp-Liter — CADENCE GLAZENER
• Photography — CLAY BOSTIAN, CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
• House Manager — JUDY MOORE
• Concession Manager — MIKE MOORE
• Publicity — KATHERINE PARRISH WHITBECK
• Website — BILL KING
• Mailouts — MELISSA DeVINE
• Cabinet in Lobby — ROZ COUCH
• Programs — KLINES / WRAP-IT-UP

In 2019, Lamp-Lite Player Pat Harris had a vision to bring Shakespeare to the Lamp-Lite stage with Much Ado about Nothing. Though initially met with skepticism, her idea blossomed into an adaptation that included much of Shakespeare's language with the addition of modern music. That production was scheduled to open late March of 2020. Just like the plague sometimes closed Shakespeare's plays 400 years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic put Lamp-Lite's Much Ado on hiatus for over a year. 

When the Lamp-Lite players finally reconvened in 2022, Much Ado about Nothing proved itself to be a big hit with East Texas audiences. I was privileged to play Beatrice opposite my husband as Benedick, and the overwhelming reception convinced me to lobby for more Shakespeare on our stage. Frankly, I never shut up about it!

Our 12th Night adapts Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, for a modern audience as well, while preserving most of Shakespeare's original songs and language. At first, the "Bardoloter" in me cringed at every line I cut. Then, two things happened in my mind. First, I began to keep an imaginary Shakespeare in my mind who would ask, "Why include a 400-year-old joke that no one understands? How is that delightful for your audience?" Second, and most importantly, I remembered to have faith in the talented actors and the receptive audiences we have at Lamp-Lite. In the end, the Lamp-Lite Players bring to you the delights of 12th Night – the romance, the mischief, the reunion of family – and like the players of Shakespeare's time, we "strive to please you every day!"

— Roz Couch, Director

CADENCE GLAZENER is 10 years old and is making her second appearance as Lamp-Liter, having first been seen in the 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing, where she found her home away from home at Lamp-Lite. She has also enjoyed her past roles on the Lamp-Lite stage in Schoolhouse Rock LIVE!, The Sound of Music, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Hello Dolly and Oliver! 

Cadence enjoys singing, acting, playing piano with SFA Music Prep, and dancing with Gobel School of Dance. She enjoys time spent with her family, and she loves being the big sister to her two little brothers, Jackson and Benjamin! Cadence is excited to bring the lights up for yet another Shakespeare comedy, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

HISTORY OF THE LAMP-LITER

Throughout Lamp-Lite’s first fifty seasons, a child aged 5-10 years has brought the LIGHTS UP on each production of the Regular Lamp-Lite Theatre Season. On OPENING NIGHT, the Lamp-Liter walks onto the stage, waves their wand, and brings the lights up on the stage to begin the first performance of the production. In our 51st Season we continue this HISTORIC TRADITION at Lamp-Lite Theatre.

MICHAEL MOORE is a self-taught artist who makes interesting pieces of art from wood. Michael has a complete woodworking shop with a full range of power tools near his home in Nacogdoches, but the heart of his shop is his scroll saw. 

With a powerful scroll saw and tiny blades, Michael creates a complete range of hand crafted, finely cut art. His fine art pieces require hours of meticulous, precision cutting on the scroll saw to create intricate works of art from simple pieces of wood. As you view each piece of art, please keep in mind that each ‘space’ is an individual cutout in the wood and requires a blade change. 

The scroll saw blade is held in place by clamps as it moves up and down at 4000 RPM. Each cut is made by guiding the piece of wood around a stationary saw blade using only steady hands, clear eyes and many years of cutting experience. No lasers or other computer-controlled devices are used in the creation of this art.

NIKOLAAS VAN KLEY (Feste) has been involved with the Lamp-Lite Theatre since he was six years old, performing in many musicals as well as dramas. His latest Lamp-Lite endeavor was the role of Bill Sikes in Oliver!. Outside of the theater, Nikolaas works as a mathematics tutor in the Academic Assistance Resource Center at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he is also currently pursuing a major in Physics. 

When Nikolaas is not working, studying, or getting ready for a performance, he enjoys collecting and restoring antique telephones, radios, typewriters, and various antique calculating devices.

V “JASON” COUCH (Viola) Having debuted as an actor in 2006 with Lamp-Lite’s A Christmas Carol, as well as earning a minor in Theatre. V is a lifetime Nac Rat and has participated in local theatre for almost twenty years. Lamp-Lite audiences might recognize them from The Lion in Winter, in which they played King Philip II of France, and Black Comedy, in which they played Clea. 

Other notable roles in their dramatic repertoire include Winston Smith in CHHS's 1984, Chip Tolentino in SFA's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Seymour Krelborn in Angelina Community Theatre's 2023 production of Little Shop of Horrors. They are grateful beyond words for the opportunity to be a part of the 12th Night family here at Lamp-Lite.

AUSTIN RAYMOND (Duke Orsino) is 23 years old and just recently found company with Lamp-Lite. Before 12th Night, he has been a part of a handful of productions such as the Grimm Brothers Spectaculathon, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, Servant of Two Masters, Lord of the Flies and many more. 

He has been doing theatre his whole life and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s a glorious passion, and he is so proud to be part of this artform. 

SAMANTHA JOHNSON (Lady Olivia) is thrilled to be back in East Texas telling stories with old and new friends. In DFW, she’s been seen in Main Stage Irving’s Enchanted April as Lotty Wilton, Prost Stage Productions’ Revival of Children of the Night as Helena, and in Plague Mask Players’ inaugural live production as Duke Senior in As You Like It. 

Other favorite shows and roles include Jessica in Women Playing Hamlet, Morgan in Godspell, Florence Unger in The Odd Couple (Female Version) and Sister Hubert in Nunsense. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support, and this amazing cast and crew for a fantastic experience.

RILEY NICHOLS (Sebastian) was born in Longview, Texas. He started doing theatre in sixth grade and has loved it ever since. He has worked on many shows filling different roles but his favorite role will always be acting. He graduated from Longview High School, and went to Kilgore College. Now he is at SFA hoping to fulfill his dream.

JAMIE COUCH (Malvolio) studied acting as a student at Kilgore College under Raymond Caldwell and Kathy Barber. He has performed in dozens of productions, including working at The Texas Shakespeare Festival. Lamp-Lite audiences may remember James from his performances as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and King Henry in The Lion in Winter. When not treading the boards, he can be found teaching Composition and Mythology at SFA.

TODD PHILLIPS (Sir Toby Belch) is a native of Nacogdoches a graduate of NHS and of SFA, where he earned a BFA in theater. At Lamp-Lite he has been seen in, Born Yesterday, All the Kings Men, Fiddler on the Roof, Brigadoon, Mary Mary, The Glass Menagerie, The One Act Play that Goes Wrong, Hiding Addison, The Lion in Winter, Hello Dolly, Oliver!, and now 12th Night.

LISA REID (Maria) was last seen as Mrs. Boyle in The Mouse Trap. She has been a part of Lamp-Lite for close to 15 years now, either on stage or painting scenery. Lisa enjoys the works of Shakespeare very much and says she is excited to be a part of this production!

CRISTÓBAN MORONES (Sir Andrew) has been an acting regular at Lamp-Lite since 2024. Joining alongside cast favorites in such shows as Yes, We Deliver, Too, The Lion in Winter, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Black Comedy, The Mouse Trap and Oliver! He thanks his family and friends for their encouragement to continue performing.

RIVER DELCAMBRE (Fabian) last performance was Oliver! the Musical. River has been doing theatre since high school, and his first play at Lamp-Lite Theatre was Matilda as Michael. River is a college student at Angelina College. He lives with his family, brother, and his dogs, Elroy and Tiboy. River loves working out, making videos, hanging out with friends, and reading comics.

KEVIN HELMER (Antonio) has been involved in theater for many years, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Theater Performance from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Through the years he has been an instructor in theater arts and speech and performed in and directed numerous productions, many with the Lubbock Community Theatre. Favorite past roles include John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, El Gallo in The Fantastiks, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Sidney Bruhl in Deathtrap. 

As a director, his past favorites include Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful and Harold Pinter’s The Room. Kevin is currently the Technology Director for Garrison ISD and lives with his wife Becky, a science teacher at Garrison ISD, in Garrison, Texas.

ADAN MORONES (Valentine/Curio) is studying Computer Science at Stephen F. Austin. His first appearance in a Lamp-Lite production was in Yes, We Deliver, Too. He returned to the stage in Oliver!, and then starred in a comedy scene from M & K at the Lamp-Lite gala. He enjoys the whole journey, from auditions to performance day.

ARTI ROBERTS (Captain/Priest) has been in all sorts of theatre productions, ranging from one-act play to acting in local theaters. He started out acting in one-act play, where he played a zombie in 10 Ways To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse in 2018, with his most recent role being a nun in The Sound Of Music in 2024. When he’s not on stage, Arti enjoys sewing, making music, dancing, and researching anything that may catch his attention. Ultimately, Arti dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist and an actor, and hopes to write and produce plays and movies as he grows.

KIRSTEN BAKER (Servant) is excited to join her third Lamp-Lite production. She returned to the stage as Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap after a ten-year hiatus. Originally from Jones Creek, Texas, she moved to Nacogdoches in 2015, earning her degrees in Environmental Science at SFA. She works as a data analyst and lives with her husband and cats.

FAITH KOLOSCI (Servant) moved to Nacogdoches five years ago from Waco, Texas. She has always loved theatre and is excited to take part in her first Shakespeare show. This is her third show at Lamp-Lite, her last playing Nancy and Bet in Oliver!

RONI LIAS (Servant) spent eight years as sound designer for the Texas Shakespeare Festival and guest designer at LSU and SFA, working on a total of over 30 productions. After a lengthy hiatus, she is thrilled to be returning to the theatre making her on-stage debut at Lamp-Lite in 12th Night.

AMY MAURER (Servant) has been in many Lamp-Lite productions over the years, the last one being The Little Foxes, way back in 2019. She is excited to be back on the Lamp-Lite stage, getting to meet and work with a whole new “cast of characters”. 

Amy retired from SFA in 2024 after 18 years in the Financial Reporting office, but you can’t keep a good woman down. She is now working in the Finance Department for the City of Nacogdoches. She would like to thank Roz for casting her in this production and looks forward to many more in the future.

JESSICA SHELKEY (Servant) has loved acting ever since she stepped on stage in middle school. After college, she found her way to the Lamp-Lite, with her big break as Carol Melket in Black Comedy. Jessica is thrilled to call the Lamp-Lite stage her home away from home and looks forward to many more performances to come.

ROZ COUCH (Director), an SFASU Theatre Alum and 20-year Lamp-Lite veteran, has been involved in scores of productions as an actor, musician, technician, and director. 

At Lamp-Lite, she directed Black Comedy (2025) and The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong (2024), and she is directing the upcoming production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Roz has also worked as a children's director for Nacogdoches Arts Collaborative's NAC Theatre Camp for the last two summers. 

An avid Shakespeare-lover, Roz starred as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at Lamp-Lite in 2022, opposite her husband, Jamie Couch (Malvolio). Roz and Jamie met in the 1990s at an audition at SFASU, where they were cast as a married couple the day they met. They've been married in real life for 26 years and continue the family tradition with V. Couch (Viola).

CANDYCE WAGNON (Assistant Director) “The world is a stage and we are merely players”. Although she has seen the theatre from many angles, for the first time she sees it from the assistant director’s perspective. To work under the talent of Roz Couch, has allowed for a wonderful experience of learning and laughter. Her cheeks have hurt from day one, and only more as the characters developed and the show came together.

TARI DEAN (Stage Manager) is delighted to help bring Shakespeare back to the Lamp-Lite stage under the direction of Roz Couch. Tari has been involved with Lamp-Lite since 2018 helping to create the magic on over 20 productions. When she is not working on set, she is spending time with her precious grandsons or in her garden.

CHRISTEN SMITH (Assistant Stage Manager) first appeared on the Lamp-Lite stage as an Orphan in the 2001 production of Annie. She has enjoyed co-directing Lamp-Lite’s production of A Christmas Carol at Millard's Crossing’s Old-Fashioned Christmas the past two years, and she recently had the opportunity to stage manage Lamp-Lite’s summer musical, Oliver! 

Outside of the theatre, Christen enjoys time spent with her family and three children, Cadence, Jackson, and Benjamin.

DAVY THOMAS (Music Director/Piano) is excited to be returning for his 37th production at Lamp-Lite.

NANCY SMITH (Costume Coordinator) has volunteered her costuming skills in several past productions including The Lion in Winter, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Sound of Music, Hello, Dolly!, and Oliver! She enjoys working with costumes and helping backstage. 

Nancy has also constructed costumes for Ballet Brazos annual Nutcracker performance for the last 14 years. Not to mention a lifetime of sewing costumes for her oldest daughter, a former Lamp-Liter!

GINA JONES (Props) has been lurking around backstage at Lamp-Lite since moving to Nacogdoches eight years ago. Props are her favorite playthings, and she puts her heart into everything she builds.

BRIAN OSWALD (Light Board Operator) returns to the light booth to provide the lights for this production. He thinks he might be getting this down as this is his 95th production he has lit. His paying job is as a Forestry professor at SFA.

STEVE CHANDLER (Sound Coordinator/Operator) fell into the role of sound coordinator in 1990. In 1997, he took a 25-year hiatus to teach in NYC until retirement. He then returned to Nacogdoches and to Lamp-Lite.

Though usually in the sound booth, Steve has been on stage in productions of Frankenstein, The Lucky Spot, Finding Christmas and A Christmas Carol. When not at the theater, he is busy restoring his home, which once belonged to his grandparents.

JUDY MOORE (House Manager) has been involved at Lamp-Lite for over ten years. She has been involved with acting, props, publicity, backstage, concessions and managing the house. She is a 1982 graduate of SFA and moved back to Nacogdoches in 2014 where her sister, Jackie Vose, reintroduced her to theatre life.

KATHERINE PARRISH WHITBECK (Publicity) serves on the Lamp-Lite Players' Board as Publicity Chairperson. She directed the 2024 production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and was last seen onstage as Dr. Dana Whatley in Hiding Addison. 

Since 1986, Katherine has acted, sung, danced, directed, choreographed, taken photos, written press releases, and coordinated school visits for Lamp-Lite. She has also replaced toilet paper in the restrooms and washed dishes. One of her favorite roles is Catherine in The Foreigner.

NORM MARKWORTH (Pre-Show Announcer) is an Emeritus Professor of Astronomy, having served SFA for 42 years before retiring in 2020. He has been the “Voice of the Lamp-Lite Theatre” for many years, and now he has over 35 plays on his résumé. 

Norm has been married to Mary for over 48 years.

 You Can't Take It With You, a romantic comedy by Moss Hart and George F. Kaufman, will be performed on the weekends of November 7 & 14. The play will be directed by Kevin Helmer, and auditions were held in mid-August.

When Alice falls for her boss, Tony, a handsome scion of Wall Street, she fears that their two families—so unlike in manner, politics, and finances—will never come together. Upon their engagement, plans are made to carefully introduce the two families. 

But when her fiancé and his parents accidentally show up a day early, the collision between the quirky Sycamores and the stolid Kirbys sets off a whirlwind of hilarious absurdities and improbabilities.

TICKETS will be available for purchase online beginning on September 22, 2025.

OPENING NIGHT will be on Friday, November 7, 2025.

For a synopsis of the upcoming plays this season, click on the button below.