Casady Fall 2017 Play Preview: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The beginning of the school year marks a new cycle in Casady’s Performing Arts department. New faces, contemporary takes, and a lively cast make for a promising year in Casady Theatre. The department chose to bring a lively cornerstone of western theater, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to campus. A Shakespearean classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream goes against the often melancholic tone now associated with Shakespeare’s greatest works.  Set in a limbo between Ancient Greece and the early Renaissance, A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. The adventures of four young Athenian lovers come to the forefront of the play along with a group of six amateur/incompetent Athenian actors, known as the mechanicals, controlled by fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. Drifting between the concepts of lawful order (Athens) and chaotic romance (the enchanted forest), A Midsummer Night’s Dream marks a turning point in theater as Shakespeare departed from his earlier works and from other playwrights of the English Renaissance.  This play will highlight the new faces of Casady Theatre whilst bringing about some old favorites; seniors Will Bennett (‘18), acting the role of Theseus, and Nika Gorski (‘18), acting the role of Helena, seized pivotal parts in their first ever Casady production. Returning leads Jackson Davis (‘18) and Kaili Nguyen (‘19) promise to bring the usual Casady excellence to the stage, under the directing of Mr. Andi Dema.This lighthearted, quick show filled with wit promises to entertain all audiences. The finished product will hit the stage Saturday, November 4th and Sunday, November 5th.  Get your tickets!