The West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance is thrilled to have Corey Atkins as a guest director for the school's production of “Twelfth Night." Atkins is a New York City-based, director who has worked with Lincoln Center Theatre/Institute, Noor Theatre/NYTW, The Acting Company, Cleveland Play House, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Hangar Theatre, Portland Stage Company and Evan Bernardin Productions, among many others.

“We’re having a lot of fun injecting [“Twelfth Night”] with a lot of heart,” Atkins said. “It’s been a great way to leave our own troubles outside the theatre and spend a couple of hours immersed in the fun and fantasy.”

Atkins received his MFA in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Drama League Directing Fellow, a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and was a finalist for SDC’s Mike Ockrent Fellowship with Casey Nicholaw and the Gielgud Fellowship with Michael Greif.

All of the students in “Twelfth Night” were afforded the experience of working with a New York based director, right off the heels of working on projects in the city. In September, he directed a staged reading of “Purgatorium” staring Noah Galvin of “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Booksmart”, Emma Galvin of “Veep” and Molly Bernard of “Younger” to name a few notable faces. Nicole Jeannine Smith, MFA Acting major said, “Corey is amazing to work with. He has made the process so easy and there has been so much learning going on while he is in the building.”

“Twelfth Night” continues its run December 3-8 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the Creative Arts Center. Tickets for “Twelfth Night” are available on campus at the Creative Arts Center Box Office (Mon. - Fri. 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.), by calling 304-293-SHOW (7469) and online at ticketmaster.com. To inquire about group rates, email cac@mail.wvu.edu.