Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, anticipate their wedding. Egeus enters the court and implores Theseus to force his daughter Hermia to marry Demetrius. Hermia, however, loves Lysander. Theseus gives Hermia an ultimatum: marry Demetrius, enter a nunnery, or be put to death as Athenian law dictates. Hermia and Lysander, left alone, resolve to flee to the woods that night. Hermia’s friend Helena enters and laments her unrequited love for Demetrius, who only has eyes for Hermia. Meanwhile, a group of Athenian working men resolve to put on a play, in the hopes that they will be chosen to perform at Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding celebrations.

In the forest outside Athens, a fairy and Puck, a mischievous spirit, discuss the quarrel between Oberon, the Fairy King, and Titania his Queen. Oberon enters and demands custody from Titania of a changeling child in her care, but she swears never to give him up. After Titania storms off, Oberon decides to take revenge by making Titania fall in love with a beast. He orders Puck to find a magical flower, whose juice causes a person to fall in love with the next creature he or she sees. Meanwhile, Demetrius enters, looking for Hermia and spurning Helena’s advances. Overhearing their conversation, Oberon orders Puck to squeeze the love-juice in Demetrius’ eyes. Entering Titania’s bower as she sleeps, Oberon then squeezes the love-juice onto her eyes. Puck, meanwhile, sees Lysander sleeping, mistakes him for Demetrius and squeezes the flower’s juice onto his eyes. Waking, Lysander spots Helena and falls in love with her.

After Puck happens upon the rehearsal of the Athenian working men, he transforms the head of Bottom, a weaver, into that of an ass’s.  Bottom’s companions flee, and Bottom inadvertently wakens Titania, who, enchanted by the love-juice, falls in love. Elsewhere, Oberon realizes that Puck mistook Lysander for Demetrius, and orders him to correct his error by enchanting Demetrius. Puck does so, leading the four all over the forest, until, exhausted, they all lie down to sleep. Puck then squeezes the juice onto Lysander’s eyes, so that he will love Hermia again.

Titania, having entertained Bottom, falls asleep with him in her bower. Oberon enters with Puck and, waking Titania, releases her from the juice’s power. Titania agrees to give Oberon the changeling boy, and Puck removes Bottom’s ass’s head. In another part of the forest, as day approaches, Theseus and Hippolyta enter with a hunting party. Seeing the four young lovers asleep on the ground, Theseus wakes them and approves the new matches. They leave for Athens. Bottom awakens and recounts his dream. Rushing back to Athens, Bottom promises his companions that their play will be played at court that evening.

At the wedding celebration, Theseus selects the working men’s play, “Pyramus and Thisbe,” to be performed. The working men perform their play, to the great amusement of the court. After the play’s conclusion, the lovers retire to bed. Puck enters and declares that he will chase away any evil spirits. He is followed by Oberon and Titania, who bless the marriage beds. The play ends with an epilogue by Puck, addressed to the audience and asking for their applause.

Nancy Anderson*
First Fairy

Maxwell Balay
Changeling Boy

John Bambery+
Ensemble

Robert Beitzel*
Lysander

Christopher Bloch*
Robin Starveling

Tim Campbell*
Theseus/Oberon

Christiana Clark*
Helena

Robert Dorfman*
Snug

Bruce Dow*
Nick Bottom

Adam Green*
Philostrate/Puck

Jacqui Jarrold+
Ensemble

David Graham Jones*
Francis Flute

Joe Mallon+
Ensemble

Chris Myers*
Demetrius

Amelia Pedlow*
Hermia

Lawrence Redmond*
Egeus

Max Reinhardsen+
Ensemble

Rohan Saxena
Changeling Boy

Herschel Sparber*
Tom Snout

Gracie Terzian
Ensemble

Jessica Thorne
Ensemble

Sara Topham*
Hippolyta/Titania

Katherine Renee Turner
Ensemble

Ted van Griethuysen*
Peter Quince

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Ethan McSweeny
Director

Peter Pucci
Choreographer

Lee Savage
Set Designer

Jennifer Moeller
Costume Designer

Tyler Micoleau
Lighting Designer

Fitz Patton
Composer/Sound Designer

Leah J. Loukas
Wig and Makeup Designer

Nancy Anderson
Music Vocal Coach

Brad Waller
Fight Director

Binder Casting
Jay Binder, CSA/Jack Bowdan, CSA
Casting

Daniel Neville-Rehbehn
Resident Casting Director

Ellen O’Brien
Voice and Text Coach

Drew Lichtenberg
Literary Associate

Jenny Lord
Assistant Director

Joseph Smelser*
Production Stage Manager

Brandon Prendergast*
Stage Manager

Hannah R. O’Neil*
Assistant Stage Manager

★★★★★
-DC Metro Theatre Arts

“The show is a great introduction to the Bard for younger theatergoers, who will get a special kick out of the dazzling entrances devised for the actors.”
-The Washington Post

“It’s the kind of gusty storm of a performance that satisfyingly renews a very weathered play.”
-The Washington Post

“This could be an easy enough show to interpret, particularly come holiday time, when all anybody wants is magic and a sense of joy. But this thoughtful, relatively risky take on a familiar classic is well worth experiencing.”
-Washingtonian

“Ethan McSeeney’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a feast for the senses.  The Shakespeare Theatre Company has turned McSweeney loose to traffic in the magic of the theatre that weaves its potent spell in Sidney Harman Hall.”
-DC Theatre Scene

“This is a bold and delightful production of one of Shakespeare’s best comedies – not to be missed among this season’s events!”
-Maryland Theatre Guid