Date: Friday, November 6, 2009 - 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Joe Calarco, Director and long-time professor of theatre at Wayne State University, brings Shakespeare's classic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream to life on the Hilberry Stage. Calarco emphasizes the Irish and Scottish mythology of the Fairy world depicted in the play. A common theme found among the Celtic nations describes a race of diminutive people who had been driven into hiding by invading humans. They came to be seen as another race, or possibly spirits. In the Hilberry's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, you will meet these fairies and watch what happens when they once again intersect with the human world. According to Calarco, "The play is the practice of how people are put together. When Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream, a father determined who his daughter married. It was a very paternalistic society. The play says that's not how to do it. People have to find their own way.their own love in the world."
A Midsummer Night's Dream was written in a highly creative period in Shakespeare's career, when he was moving away from the shallow plots that characterized his earlier drama and discovering his more mature style. Most critics believe the play was written for and performed at an aristocratic wedding, with Queen Elizabeth I in attendance. Scholars estimate the play was written in 1595 or 1596 (when Shakespeare was 31 or 32 years old).
The cast includes
Brian P. Sage (Theseus), Lorelei Sturm (Hippolyta/Peaseblossom), Safiya Johnson (Mistress Philostrata), Dave Toomey (Egeus/Oberon), Carollette Phillips (Hermia), Peter C. Prouty (Demetrius), Rob Pantano (Lysander), Samantha Rosentrater (Helena), Erman Jones (Quince), Alan Ball* (Bottom), Jordan Whalen (Flute),
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Andrew Papa (Snug), Christopher R Ellis (Starveling), Jason Cabral (Snout), Justin Vanden Heuvel (Puck), Sara Hymes (1st Fairy/Mustardseed), Christina Flynn (Titania), Katie Lietz Flannery (Cobweb), and Annabelle Young (Moth).
The creative team includes
Michael Peters (Production Stage Manager), Nira Pullin (Choreographer), Melinda Pacha (Scenic and Properties Designer), Christa Koerner (Costume Designer), Jason Pratt (Lighting Designer), Jeffrey Strange (Technical Director), and Jonathan Weaver (Sound Designer).
Group discounts and corporate packages are available. For ticket information, please call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne State University Box Office at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Cass Avenue and Hancock. Performance information and tickets may also be obtained by visiting the Theatre's websites at www.theatre.wayne.edu and www.wsushows.com.
About the Hilberry Theatre Company
The Hilberry Company is unique in that it is the nation's only graduate theatre company staffed by young up-and-coming professionals and runs on a rotating repertory schedule. There are about 40 graduate students selected in national competition to receive fellowships to work in this theatre and study for advanced degrees. The company performs an annual season of six plays, including high school matinees for nearly 10,000 students. Through the years four Hilberry productions have been selected to appear at the American College Theatre Festival.
*Appears by special permission of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
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Season sponsored by CBS Outdoor, Between the Lines, Encore Michigan and the Times Herald newspapers.
Photo #1: Left to right: Alan Ball as Bottom and Christina Flynn as Titania.
Photo #2: Left to right: Alan Ball as Bottom and Christina Flynn as Titania.
Photo credits: Kelly O'Connor
A Midsummer Night's Dream performance breakdown:
November 6, 2009 - January 29, 2010
Wednesday 2 p.m.: Nov. 11
Thursday 8 p.m.: Nov. 12, 19, Jan. 21
Friday 8 p.m.: Nov. 6, 13, 20, Jan. 29
Saturday 2 p.m.: Nov. 7, 21,
Saturday 8 p.m.: Nov. 7, 14, 21, Dec. 12
Special Tuesday morning student matinee dates available including affordable Engage with the Stage workshop packages. Please call for details.