A Midsummer Night’s Dream
by William Shakespeare
The Queens Players
September 26th – October 12th
Directed by Illana Stein
About the Conceit
Director Illana Stein’s vision of the dichotomy between the monochromatic mortal world of Athens and the black-light drenched, twilight infused circus-realm of the fairies will bring audiences right “into the tent” so to speak. True love will be tested, two worlds will collide, and mischief will be made!
Fresh from their critically acclaimed, sold out productions of Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Euripides’ The Bacchae, and Macbeth, The Queens Players returns for our debut performance in the newly redesigned Little Theatre with a magical, Night Circus reimagining of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Director Illana Stein’s vision of the dichotomy between the monochromatic mortal world of Athens and the black-light drenched, twilight infused circus-realm of the fairies will bring audiences right “into the tent” so to speak. True love will be tested, two worlds will collide, and mischief will be made!
“Whenever I think of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I immediately think about a line from one of Puck’s last speeches “I am sent with broom before, to sweep the dust behind the door.” I imagine Puck with a broom cleaning up the mess, erasing all of the visions, and leaving us to wonder what did we just witness? Our wildest dream? A Nightmare? A mixture of the two? It also reminds me that theatre is ephemeral, fleeting, and magical. One second it is there and a second later, poof it is gone. I wanted to further explore this idea and take audiences on an invited, exhilarating journey to the unfamiliar, their own private ‘Night Circus’. A world controlled by the faeries. Within the tent each night, a story unfolds of mayhem, disguise, fantasy, and love. A world of extremes. Our lovers escape sharp Athenian rule and find themselves running away to the circus. This play is not at all fun and games because once you are lured into the tent, there is no easy way out. After all, there is a ringmaster leading this adventure. What lurks beneath the tent? Accept our invitation and step into the world of the unknown.”
-Illana Stein
Featuring: Charles Baker, Sheree V. Campbell, Jeff Dickamore, Jonathan Emerson, Kathleen Fletcher, Aurora Florence, Zack Friedman, Evan Greene, Megan Greener, Ryan Krause, Robin Rightmeyer, SabinaFriedman-Seitz, Kate Siepert*, Blaine Smith*, Jason Spina, Marcus Watson, Jaz Zepatos
*These actors appear courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an approved Actors’ Equity Performance.
Director: Illana Stein
Produced By Richard Mazda for The Queens Players
Producers: Alberto Bonilla & Jonathan Emerson
Production Stage Manager: Rosie Kolbo
Costume Designer: Isabelle Fields
Lighting Designer: Michael Cole
Scenic Designer: Kathryn Lieber
Composer and Original Sound Design: Will Stackpole
Properties Designer: Anna Grace Carter
Makeup Designer: Emily Lambert
Dramaturg: Charles Baker
Assistant Director/Choreographer: Emily Jackson
Postcard Design by Internationally renowned artist Luba Lukova
