UPDATED Thursday, Oct. 29th: Due to inclement weather and unforeseen circumstances, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" set for Friday, Nov. 6th is canceled. The Westover Theatre Department is in the works of creating a digital version of the production to be shared with community members soon. Thank you for your support! Any questions, please email, Director of Drama, Marla Truini at [email protected].
Because of current pandemic conditions, the play will be performed in a “hybrid” production, so students who cannot be in person for the performance will videotape their parts, which will be projected into the scenes. As A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a magical comedy, the video elements of the production will only add to the magic.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream begins in Athens, where a young maiden, Hermia, is fighting to marry the man she loves, Lysander. However, Hermia’s father wants her to wed a different man, Demetrius, whom her childhood friend, Helena, is in love with. Lysander and Hermia escape to the woods, hoping to leave Athens and get married. The lovers are pursued by Demetrius, who wants Hermia for himself, and Helena, who is desperate for Demetrius’s attention. Meanwhile, a group of working-class Athenians gather in the woods to rehearse a play that they plan to perform for the duke at his upcoming wedding. But in the woods, there is mischief in the form of fairies. Hijinks ensue as the lovers and the craftsmen both get tangled up in the magical world of Titania and Oberon, the argumentative fairy rulers, and their trusty servant Puck.
Cast members include Maddie Abate ’21 as Hermia; Katy Wolff ’21 as Helena; Wava Chan ’21 as Demetrius; Shayla O’Donnell ’23 as Lysander; Lexi Mays ’23 as Nick Bottom; Joyce Yang ’21 as Oberon; JaMara Jean ’22 as Titania; Jillian Brown ’22 as Puck; Beldine Atieno Wasonga ’22 as Theseus/Francis Flute; Lily Hong ’23 as Hippolyta; Amy Cheng ’24 as Peter Quince; Victoria Song ’24 as Tom Snout/Fairy; Annie Xie ’23 as Robin Starveling; Hannah O’Brien ’24 as Philostrate/Snug; Vickie Sun ’24 as First Fairy, and Marla Truini as Egeus. Members of Westover’s Dance Ensemble will perform as the Fairy Court: Sophia Nappi ’22, Emma Dobrovich ’22, Phoenix Bernardin ’21, Ellie Bialik ’22, and Tate Dunbar ’22.
The technical crew includes Natalie Brown ’21, Reeya Desai ’22, Ruth Nolen ’22, Aida Blue ’22, Jade-Noelle Samuelsen ’22, Alex Frilling ’23, Corinne Kadri ’22, Kaiyana Winter ’23, Thea West ’23, Brooke Silverstein ’23, and Sophia Kwak ’24.
This production is under the direction of Marla Truini, with Ian Diedrich as Technical Director, and Kaiyana Winter ’23 and Sophia Kwak ’24 as the Stage Managers. Meghan Buchanan is Choreographer and Lauren Tian is Musical Director. Alumna Audra Coulombe ’05 is the Video Coordinator and Editor.
Westover parents, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend. Please call 203.577.4535 to make a reservation. Masks, social distancing, and contact-tracing information will be required. Please bring your own chair or blanket, and be sure to dress warmly.
