Ron Orbach, Elizabeth Ledo, Tim Kazurinsky Are Midsummer Dreamers for Chicago Shakes

By Kenneth Jones
03 Jan 2012

Ron Orbach
Ron Orbach

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's company of A Midsummer Night's Dream — including Ron Orbach, Tracy Michelle Arnold,
Timothy Edward Kane, Elizabeth Ledo and Tim Kazurinsky — gathers for its first rehearsal under the direction of Gary Griffin on Jan. 3. The Shakespeare fantasy begins performances Feb. 7 in the Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier.

Orbach (Broadway's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, the national tour of Chicago) will play Nick Bottom, former "Saturday Night Live" actor Kazurinsky is Peter Quince, Arnold is Hippolyta/Titania, Kane is Theseus/Oberon, Ledo is Puck.

Performances will play the Tony Award-honored regional theatre to April 8.

CST associate artistic director Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) takes a cue from "a new age of self discovery," according to CST notes. "Sigmund Freud has introduced the Interpretation of Dreams — and Shakespeare's forest becomes a playground of the subconscious."The production is set post-World War I, 1919-20. The forest is a dreamscape actualized by projection designer Mike Tutaj.

Additional actors returning to Chicago Shakespeare for A Midsummer Night's Dream are Richard Manera as Snug, Michael Aaron Lindner as Snout, Matt Schwader as Demetrius, Rod Thomas as Starveling, Andrew Truschinski as Lysander and Kurt Ehrmann as Egeus. Making their CST debuts are Laura Huizenga as Helena, Christina Nieves as Hermia, Sean Parris as Philostrate, Levenix Riddle as Flute and ensemble member Evan Michalic.

The creative team for A Midsummer Night's Dream includes scenic designer Daniel Ostling, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, lighting designer Philip S. Rosenberg, sound designers Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn, wig and makeup designer Melissa Veal and properties master Chelsea Meyers.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at (312) 595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com.