The production, directed by Daniel Sullivan, features a children's chorus as the fairies, in addition to several musical scenes composed by Dan Moses Schreier. Tony winner Eugene Lee, who invoked the world of Oz for the hit, Wicked, creates the magical forest setting within Central Park.
Shakespeare's sparkling comedy follows four would-be lovers into an Athenian forest. They soon find themselves caught up in the magical world of the Fairy Kingdom. With entangled subplots and mismatched couples, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies.
The cast for A Midsummer Night's Dream is comprised of Opal Alladin (Hippolyta), Jason Antoon (Tom Snout), Chelsea Bacon (First Fairy), Ken Cheeseman (Robin Starveling), Christine Corpuz (Ensemble), Keith David (Oberon), Mireille Enos (Hermia), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Francis Flute), Herb Foster (Philostrate), Simon Garratt (Fairy), Jon Michael Hill (Puck), Erica Huang (Fairy), Ben Huber (Ensemble), Cassady Leonard (Fairy), Austin Lysy (Lysander), Lily Maketanksy (Fairy), George Morfogen (Egeus), Tim Blake Nelson (Peter Quince), Daniel Oreskes (Theseus), Martha Plimpton (Helena), Mallory Portnoy (Ensemble), Laila Robins (Titania), Jay O. Sanders (Nick Bottom), Lina Silver (Fairy), Keith Randolph Smith (Snug), Jack Tartaglia (Fairy) and Elliot Villar (Demetrius).
Completing creative duties for the production are costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, lighting designer Michael Chybowski, choreographer David Neumann and sound designer Acme Sound Partners.
Midsummer director Sullivan is the Tony-winning director of David Auburn's play Proof. His recent credits include Rabbit Hole, Julius Caesar (with Denzel Washington), Brooklyn Boy, Sight Unseen and The Retreat From Moscow. Sullivan is scheduled to direct the 2007-08 Broadway revival of The Homecoming starring Ian McShane, Raul Esparza and Michael McKean. He is also guest artistic director of Manhattan Theatre Club for the 2007-08 season. A Midsummer Night's Dream runs through Sept. 9. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 PM. Tickets are free and are available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1 PM and at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place), from 1-3 PM.
The closest entrances to the Delacorte are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 70th Street and Fifth Avenue.
For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.
The Public Theater is under the leadership of Oskar Eustis, artistic director, and Mara Manus, executive director.
