A lifelong tomboy, Anne Jacobs has always considered herself “one of the dudes.”Ironically, in her first stage role with Point Park University Jacobs has to, literally, be a man. This even means learning the “swag” of a man’s walk.”The way [guys] move from their upper body and walk from their pelvis is so overdone,” Jacobs said, who is a sophomore musical theater major.Jacobs will lead the cast of “Illyria,” the musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” presented by The Conservatory Theater Company from Nov. 11 to 20. This is the first time “Illyria” will be shown on a stage in Pittsburgh. To contrast “Illyria,” Shakespeare’s original “Twelfth Night” will be presented on the same stage in December.According to various cast members, twins Viola, (Jacobs) and Sebastian (Jaron Frand) journey out together to sea. A violent storm separates them, and each thinks the other is dead. In an effort to save herself, Viola dresses up as her brother and wanders into the country of Illyria, a “quaint world where nothing can go wrong.”In Illyria, which senior musical theater major Frand (Sebastian) said “resembles the word delirium for a reason,” Viola finds herself in a fool’s world and takes a job working for the Duke Orsino, (Ryan Novakovich.) According to Frand, “madness ensues when a love triangle happens,” and when the real Sebastian ends up in Illyria, very much alive, the knots are untied.As a modern, musical adaptation to Shakespeare’s original comedy “Twelfth Night,” “Illyria” has the same basis of plot with Viola and Sebastian, but with a 21st century twist to the text and music. The music has a more modern feel, with sharper beats and less classical orchestra. Frand describes the text as contemporary but at the same time being lush and poetic, like Shakespeare’s original language.”You hear a lot of words like ‘alas’ and ‘thou’ in Illyria,” Frand said.As a newer musical, “Illyria” lacks a lot of references as a basis for the cast to learn their parts from. Because of this, the cast has had more creative liberties to customize their parts, from the way they talk with their hands to the way they walk. Jacobs and the rest of the cast have enjoyed creating their parts from scratch and bringing them to life.”We’re basically originating the show,” Jacobs said. “We can do whatever we want with the part, and we don’t have to be scared that we’re doing something wrong.”For Jacobs’ part as a man, she had to study the way Frand walked and talked. In the show, because she is shorter than Frand and has a higher voice, the audience will know that she is not the original Sebastian. However, only the audience and Jacobs on stage will know the difference. While she has mastered the male walk, which she describes as “shouldery,” Jacobs still has yet to meet the challenge of having her fellow cast members treat her as a man.”The other characters still see you as a girl…so they’re more tender to you,” she said.Along with Jacobs, a whole group of female cast members, as servants in the court of Duke Orsino, will be “gender bending” as men. Along with gender bending and confusion over who is who in the show, the sets for “Illyria” are meant to make the audience feel just the slightest bit uncomfortable, like when the picture frame is just crooked enough to cause uneasiness.The set design of “Illyria,” along with the avant-garde costumes, which have cool blues and dark colors that remind audiences of the beach and open sea, lend for an “extremely stylized” show, according to senior musical theater major Eric Hoffmann, who plays the role of Sir Toby. “It has a nice, in-your-face feel to it,” Hoffman said.The “in-your-face” sets and costumes contribute to the overall message of the play. Frand wants the audience to look back on themselves and question whether they too are fools.”People get so stuck in their ways that they lose sight of things,” said Frand. “They’re stubborn and acting ridiculous until something changes, until someone changes their perspective.”By the end of “Illyria,” the madness is sorted out and “as in natural Shakespearean form, there’s a jig and a dance,” Hoffmann said.”Illyria,” while a comedy, does not lack heart that is required of any good show. It has the “rolling on the floor” laughter moments, but according to Jacobs, “it’s very bittersweet” because, as she describes it, “Illyria” is about Viola in a purgatory because she cannot finally rest without her brother.”[Illyria] is sweet and touching,” Frand said. “Audiences can expect a show with a lot of heart and a lot of passion.””Illyria” will open on Nov. 11 and run through Nov. 20 with a preview on Nov. 10. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse at (412)-392-8000 or ordered online at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com