A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare’s popular comedy is now a musical, performed and livestreamed May 21–30, 2021.
See also…
Book & Lyrics by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Kenny Grossman
Music by Josh Hontz
For innuendos, oaths, and bawdy jests
Parental guidance please, the Bard suggests
About This Production
Timeless comedy, fantastic entertainment, and unforgettable characters make A Midsummer Night’s Dream one of William Shakespeare’s most popular and frequently performed plays. As with 2018’s Romeo and Juliet, the Bard’s original words come to life with exciting new vision on the Spotlight stage.
Director’s Note
Busby Berkeley, Fred and Ginger, Swing Jazz, flappers, bootlegging, gambling, non-legit enterprises, and gangsters—just some of the things you can find in Sun City West on a Saturday night. It’s also the setting for our show—not Sun City West, but the 1930’s.
The late 1920’s / early 1930’s lends itself very well to the plot line in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Keep in mind that the time period is really a distant backdrop, and that the main focus is on the characters and the story. Our version takes place in Arizona at the Spotlight Globe (the Globe Theatre was where Shakespeare performed his shows).
There’s a lot of story to unpack in this show, and to be able to deliver the dialogue and characters in an easy way for young audiences to understand is the big challenge for all Shakespeare productions—and the actors in this show do it phenomenally (even when I asked Hippolyta to deliver her first two lines in Italian!).
Every young actor should perform and learn Shakespeare. I love this production of the show and the actors and crew. It’s been a blast! Now that things are starting to come back in full, I hope you will set aside some restaurant time and continue to support and watch our shows.
Enjoy!
Kenny Grossman
Director
Cast
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- Oberon/Theseus Dean Kelldorf
- Titania/Hippolyta Alexis Archer
- Puck/Egeus Emma Woolstenhulme
- Bottom Alec Pursell
- Quince Zoey Waller
- Flute Cadence Talley
- Starveling/Philostrate Evan Culbertson
- Snout Julia Murphy
- Snug Amanda McCormick
- Hermia Callista Walker
- Helena Rachel Nathan
- Lysander Zachary Snyders
- Demetrius Max Mendoza
- Mustardseed Kinlee Adams
- Peaseblossom Dagny Knoell
- Cobweb Zara Sego
- Moth Augusta Stanley
Production Team
- Director Kenny Grossman
- Assistant Director Josie Wright
- Choreography Falin Ossipinsky
- Video Production / Lighting & Sound Design Josh Hontz
- Video Direction Anthony Rozzen
- Scenic Design Bobby Sample
- Costume Design Samantha Utpadel
- Hair & Makeup Design Ali Giordano
- Properties Design Kenny Grossman & Vicki Grossman
- Projection Design Bobby Sample & Josh Hontz
- Deck Manager Allison Watson
- Sound Operator Ellie Little
- Lighting Operator Jaden Schwab
- Camera Operators Sabina Dart & Noah Lanouette
Awards & Recognitions for This Production
2020-2021 ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence
- Actor in a Major Role – Youth Play: (Won) Dean Kelldorf
- Actor in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Won) Alec Pursell
- Sound Design – Youth Play: (Won) Josh Hontz
- Best Overall Production – Youth Play (Nominated)
- Actress in a Major Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Alexis Archer
- Actress in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Rachel Nathan
- Actress in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Callista Walker
- Actress in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Emma Woolstenhulme
- Actor in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Max Mendoza
- Actor in a Supporting Role – Youth Play: (Nominated) Zachary Snyders
- Director – Youth Play: (Nominated) Kenny Grossman
- Costume Design – Youth Play: (Nominated) Samantha Utpadel
- Original Music Composition – Youth Play: (Nominated) Josh Hontz
- Media Design – Youth Play: (Nominated) Bobby Sample and Josh Hontz