A Midsummer Night's Dream

Dreams Do Come True in the Bayou

Tennessee Shakespeare Company in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance Unleashes the Fairie Kingdom Magic of A Midsummer Night's Dream on the U of M Mainstage June 4-21.

Sponsored by FedEx

Tennessee Shakespeare Company (TSC), the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance presents a magical, family-friendly, Louisiana bayou-inspired production of A Midsummer Night's Dream on the U of M's Mainstage from June 4-21.

The southern-infused production will feature the company's largest cast in its seven seasons and will explore the expansiveness and technical capabilities of the U of M Mainstage. The team of professional designers consists of present U of M faculty and alumni, and the cast features talented U of M actors interning alongside performers of Actors' Equity Association assembled from around the nation.

The production's title sponsor is FedEx, making possible Free Will Kids Night every Thursday night (up to four children 17 years and younger admitted free when accompanied by a paying, attending guardian) and the new addition this season of Family Morning Matinees for all ages every Wednesday morning at 10:30 am ($10 tickets for an abbreviated version of the show).

Additional funding is generously provided by Owen and Margaret Tabor, First Horizon Foundation, Xfinity, and Independent Bank.

Directed by TSC's Stephanie Shine (Romeo and Juliet, A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Southern Yuletide), A Midsummer Night's Dream places Duke Theseus' court in World War II America and the peaceful though mischievous fairie kingdom in the spanish-moss strewn bayous of turn-of-the-19th century Louisiana. Big Band, Swing, Cajun, and Creole music will be played live on stage by the hard-working, busking men of the French Quarter.

Since the 17th century, Shakespeare's most magical comedy has been one of his most-produced on English-speaking stages. Likely written around 1595, chronologically joining the script with Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labor's Lost, and The Merchant of Venice – A Midsummer Night's Dream is unusual when compared to the rest of Shakespeare's canon. It has no readily identifiable main source. Shakespeare was inspired by the writings of Plutarch, Chaucer, Ovid, as well as folklore, but his magical play of chaos is likely his very own creation. Uniquely, he orchestrates four main themes, all entirely different, without relegating any to secondary status.

Shakespeare's symphony of a narrative telescopes in a finite period of time. He weaves together the waking and sleeping worlds; loving and violent worlds; the spirit and mortal worlds; day and night; male and female; jealousy and compassion in a musical romp that is Shakespeare's first deep consideration of the relationship between art and humanity.

The world of the Court, where Duke Theseus has violently triumphed over and won Queen Hippolyta, begins to spin off its seasonal axis as the nighttime spirit world ruled by Oberon and Titania tilts in a petty feud. Racing into the dark woods amid these shifts are four young lovers ruled by their hearts and Bottom's group of musical hard-working men rehearsing ambitiously their self-scribed play. Fairie Robin Goodfellow (Puck) is the link between all the worlds, wreaking havoc through magic transformation of the heart and head (that of a donkey).

Out of the discord comes concord and a seeing of the world with "parted eye." An evening of genuine playmaking and love transforms into marriage and celebration, which begets blessings bestowed on all the worlds, all humanity, all spirituality.

"Our production explores both the collision and the communion of different groups of beings," says director Shine, while in rehearsal at the U of M mainstage. "The worlds within the play are vastly different, and yet common ground is forged when all are found in the same mystical forest.

"Throughout literature, trials by wilderness offer the possibility to emerge a changed being; and our play radiates with the same transformation for characters escaping into the night woods to question their desires. I can think of no more mystical, magical, and mysterious place in America than the bayous of southern Louisiana with its sultry mists, gymnastic cypress trees, and prehistoric creatures. The surrounding human cultures within nearby New Orleans celebrate and retain their origins through ritual, language, custom, food, and music unique to the region. What we know of Louisiana and New Orleans lends an exotic reality to this fantastical play, letting its powers of transformation root more deeply."

About the Partnership between TSC and the U of M

"Two years ago," says Holly Lau, Chairwoman of U of M's Department of Theatre & Dance," Dan McCleary and Stephanie Shine met with me and offered to conduct an audition and cast students in their production of Romeo and Juliet. What a positive experience that was! Meanwhile, I mentioned our theatre lay dormant in the summer. Dan immediately began 'dreaming' up this deeper partnership.

"TSC and U of M are sharing strengths, resources, and vision; and it enhances both organizations. I am thrilled that our students share the stage with TSC professional artists, that gifted alums have come back from afar, and that our faculty designers are adding their creative magic. The halls are not silent this summer – they are alive with verse and song. It is sublime!"

The company

A Midsummer Night's Dream features a professional, Equity ensemble from around the country and Memphis.

Returning to TSC are Rachel Brun* as Helena, Shaleen Cholera as the Indian boy, Dave Demke* as Egeus, Caley Milliken* as Hermia, Charisse Norment as Peaseblossom, Jerry Rogers as Snug, Joey Shaw as Peter Quince, and Phil Darius Wallace* as Theseus/Oberon.

New to the company are Jon Castro (Memphis) as Lysander, Noah Duffy (Seattle) as Puck, Jason Eschhofen (Memphis) as Flute, David Hammons (Memphis) as Starveling, Adam Hogue (Memphis) as Snout, Roman Kalei (Memphis) as Demetrius, Kaitlyn Maurer (Memphis) as Mustardseed, Emily McCormick (Memphis) as Cobweb, G. Valmont Thomas* (Seattle) as Bottom, and Stephanie Weeks* (New York) as Hipployta/Titania.

The design team includes, from the University of Memphis, Janice Benning Lacek (costumes), Brian Ruggaber (scenic and properties), Ben Fichthorn (lighting), and Paul Revaz (technical director). The music arranger/director is Joey Shaw, and TSC's First Folio script and analysis is provided by Canada's Neil Freeman. The stage manager is Rachel Dooley-Harris*, with Shaleen Cholera and Megan Gardner.

Performance Schedule at the University of Memphis' Mainstage (Theatre Building on Central Ave.)

Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 pm - Preview; Free Will Kids' Night
Friday, June 5 at 7:00 pm - Preview
Saturday, June 6 at 7:00 pm - Opening; Post-show party
Sunday, June 7 at 3:00 pm
Wednesday, June 10 at 10:30 AM - Family Morning Matinee
Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 pm - Free Will Kids Night
Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 13 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 pm
Wednesday, June 17 at 10:30 AM - Family Morning Matinee
Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 pm - Free Will Kids Night
Friday, June 19 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 20 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, June 21 at 3:00 pm - Closing

Ticket Information

All performances are general admission (first come/first seated) and will be played on the indoor Mainstage at the University of Memphis' Theatre Building, located on campus at 3745 Central Avenue.

All tickets are $33 and are on sale now.

Three Thursday night performances (June 4, 11, 18) are Free Will Kids' Nights: Children 17 years and younger are admitted FREE when accompanied by a paying/attending guardian.

All Seniors and college students receive discounts with valid I.D.

NEW: Family Morning Matinees with a running time of less than two hours on June 10 and June 17 at 10:30 am, are available for $10 per person (no other discounts may apply).

Purchase tickets in person Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at TSC's office located at 3092 Village Shops Drive in Germantown, or by calling 901-759-0604, or by going on-line to www.tnshakespeare.org. The TSC Box Office inside the U of M Theatre Building will begin selling tickets one hour prior to each performance on-site. Free parking. No refunds. Cast and schedule are subject to change.

--
Please Join Us for a Summer of Plays and Musicals:

Showplace Memphis: Musical Works in Progress
"Readings" of exciting musicals in development
sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Steve Spiegel, President
in partnership with the University of Memphis' Dept. of Theatre & Dance
on the U of M Mainstage in the Theatre Building
Only $15/$10 for Students/Seniors
Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical
May 23 at 7pm
America's favorite girl singer comes to exhilarating life with her signature songs.
Midsummer Night
June 27 at 7pm
Shakespeare at a rock festival? Live music, glow sticks,and power chords!
The Oliver Experiment
August 15 at 7pm
What if your entire life were a Broadway musical -- and you had no clue?