The English playwright’s masterpieces have been translated into many languages, but the arrangements of UCF’s Flying Horse Big Band with vocals coordinated by the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre reinforces that music is the universal language.

“Shakespeare Swings!” will give the bard’s time-tested lyrics and sonnets a new sound at 8 p.m. April 11 as part of UCF’s free April 10-15 arts festival. The weeklong event of artistic presentations by university students, faculty members and partners will showcase studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography and film in one venue for the first time.

The Flying Horse Big Band, formerly the UCF Jazz Ensemble I, is composed of students from the university’s jazz studies program under director Jeff Rupert. Rupert, whose range of talents includes saxophonist, composer, record producer and recording artist, said it was a great opportunity to bring together the mash-up with the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.  

“Our collaborative production of jazz-music-meets-Shakespeare came together naturally because many composers and musicals already embody Shakespeare and/or are inspired by Shakespeare’s works,” Rupert said.  “In our performance of ‘Such Sweet Thunder’ for UCF Celebrates the Arts, as it relates to the famed balcony scene of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ the tenor saxophone will represent Romeo and the alto saxophone will represent Juliet.”

When UCF announced the arts festival, community partners were asked to help develop some collaborative ideas.

“I had been dreaming of doing some sort of Shakespeare cabaret production to showcase the love songs of Shakespeare,” said Jim Helsinger, artistic director at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, which has been a UCF partner for 26 years. Helsinger credits Jeff Moore, chair of the UCF Music Department, with suggesting a Shakespeare program with the UCF jazz studies program. 

The world-premiere revue will hit a high note with a variety of original compositions, swing music and Broadway standards.

“With much of Shakespeare we have the lyrics but not the music so our performance will have new interpretations, such as for ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘The Wind and The Rain’ from ‘Twelfth Night,’” said Helsinger.

Rupert said developing the program was a fun project for the jazz students.

“The band even helped to come up with the title of ‘Shakespeare Swings!,’”  he said.

The singers for the show will be local performers Michael Andrew and Andrea Canny, with guest artist Sisaundra Lewis, a fan favorite on the sixth season of NBC’s “The Voice.”

“Shakespeare Swings!” is one of several musical collaborations planned for UCF and select partners during UCF Celebrates the Arts. Some other partnerships include UCF Choirs providing vocals for the Orlando Repertory Theatre’s production of “Civil War Voices,” which uses diaries and letters to tell the true stories of people who lived through the war, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsal for “Tosca” with an instructional class for voice students.

All events to UCF Celebrates the Arts 2015 are free, but tickets are required for many of the programs, including the performance of “Shakespeare Swings!”  The April 10-15 festival will feature studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography and film at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando.  Visit  for more information, tickets and updated scheduling.

“The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II,” adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, is being presented by Theatre UCF and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater through March 9 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Orlando’s Loch Haven Park.

The epic, two-part production, featuring a cast of 27 actors playing more than 150 characters, was written by David Edgar and is co-directed by Jim Helsinger and Christopher Niess.

The story tells of  Nicholas Nickleby, whose father died and left his family penniless. Nicholas embarks on a series of adventurous encounters with humanity’s worst and best—greedy fools, corrupt lechers, cheery innocents, and selfless benefactors.

“’The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby’ is a living example of how great the power of theater can be,” Helsinger said. “This show is one of the most incredible theatrical events I have ever seen, and I’m excited to bring that magic — that majesty— to Florida.”

The play features John P. Keller in the title role. Starring in this season’s “Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker,” Keller first appeared at Orlando Shakes in the theater’s 2012 repertory productions of “Othello” (Roderigo) and “Sense and Sensibility” (Edward). Alison McLemore makes her Orlando Shakes’ debut as Kate Nickleby.

For dates, times and tickets ($17-$40): call 407-447-1700, click on or go to 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando.

Ambitious theatergoers are invited to see both “Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II” on the same day. Select marathon dates include February 1, 15, and  22 and March 1, 8, and  9 (Part I at 2 p.m. and Part II at 7:30 p.m.). Dinner packages are available for either a Victorian dinner at White Wolf Cafe or a Panera Bread boxed meal at the theater between shows.

Audience members are invited to celebrate with the cast, crew, designers, and Orlando Shakes staff at the opening night party, which begins after the show (about 10:30 p.m.) Jan. 24 (Part I) and Jan. 31 (Part II).

“The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II” is sponsored by UCF Office of the President, College of Arts & Humanities, and Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s special 25th anniversary donors.  

The play centers around a pretentious San Francisco theatre collective that travels to Harwood, Texas, to retell the story of the small town’s recent zombie invasion. The collective is presenting a play and each member of the collective comically re-enacts the experience through the eyes of several townspeople. The play-within-a-play has five UCF students acting the 25 roles at a very fast pace.

“This play gives students a chance to practice playing multiple roles and personalities that quickly change from one character to the next,” said director Jim Helsinger. “This is difficult to do and an acquired skill.”

BFA Musical Theatre student Jeffrey Peacock plays five characters in the show. He uses several methods to keep them distinct: each character has his own identity, they all speak differently and carry themselves differently. “The physical props and costumes help me keep the roles straight—one wears a bowtie, another has glasses, someone wears a lab coat
,” said Peacock. “The hardest thing has been finding the character and not the caricature for each role.”

In addition to the student roles, audience members might want to keep their eyes open for surprise guest appearances by community members and university officials.

Unlike many of the other plays on the Theatre UCF season schedule, Zombie Town isn’t asking theatre-goers to examine deeper issues. It’s a comedy, pure and simple.

Helsinger encourages community members to attend. “When the zombie apocalypse comes, will YOU be ready? See this play and know what to do! Zombie Town is a really funny play with wonderful roles for college students. It’s going to be a blast for students and community members to come see.” The show may not be appropriate for children, however.

To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Standard tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are available.

Production at a glance:

Zombie Town: A Documentary Play

By Tim Bauer

Directed by Jim Helsinger

Nov. 15, 16, 17, 29, 30, Dec. 1, at 8 pm

Nov. 18, Dec. 1, 2, at 2 pm

Black Box Theatre

Price: Standard $20, Senior $18, Student $10; Group discounts available

Address: 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando FL 32816

Box Office Phone: (407) 823-1500

Box Office Hours: Monday through Friday:  noon to 6 p.m. and 2 hours before performances

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For more information about Theatre UCF, visit .