Yes, it is that time again. Summer. A season of heat, love, and, of course, classical theatre. Join The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as we celebrate our 10th season on our Outdoor Stage with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a comedy by William Shakespeare. Previews started on Wednesday, and our festive opening night is Saturday; performances will continue through July 31. Grab a picnic blanket (and maybe a handheld fan) and enjoy this summertime classic in New Jersey’s only outdoor amphitheatre.
No other Shakespearean comedy offers such a mix of magic, humor, and music as A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A story that has been retold and presented in many different ways and forms throughout the centuries (you know you’ve heard it), Midsummer tells the tale of young lovers’ humorously unfortunate circumstances. However, mystical fairies emerge from the woods to cleverly intervene and lead the mortals down an entertaining path. Fun for all ages, this Dream will, perhaps, awaken the kid in all of us.
While you may have seen many performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this rendition on the Outdoor Stage will be an experience in itself. Directed by Cameron Watson, our production will be a magical evening filled with “star-crossed lovers”, hysterical rude mechanicals, and a most mischievous fairy, Puck. A Midsummer Night’s Dream features Nitya Vidyasagar (a regular on the T.V. series “Sesame Street”), who plays both the royal queens, Titania and Hippolyta. Playing one of the Bard’s most notorious pranksters, Puck, is Seamus Mulcahy. Next is Josh Carpenter who will appear as both Duke Theseus and the almighty fairy king, Oberon. Our young and amusingly confused lovers will be played by Emily Kunkel, Rebecca Mozo, Brian Cade, and Jack Moran. The tragically comedic actor, Nick Bottom, will be portrayed by Robert Clohessy. Also, rounding out our cast are Zach Fineblum, James Russell, Connor Carew, and Stewart Schneck. Complete with a beautiful set like no other, this will be a spectacle for the eye to behold.
Our Outdoor Stage was inspired by the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, Greece. Located at St. Elizabeth’s College in Madison, NJ, this amphitheatre made of grass and stone is one of the few of its kind in the United States. Since its launch in 2002, this space has entertained more than 40,000 adults and children with other outstanding performances including The Taming of the Shrew, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Servant of Two Masters and many others.
Closing this weekend on June 26 is our Main Stage production of The Misanthrope by Jean-Baptiste Moliere. Don’t miss your last chance to see this classic that was critically acclaimed by The New York Times to be “as fresh as a college boy’s Facebook post.”
