Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Sarah E. Curtis

TIME

A week before the wedding.

 SETTING

A city and its surrounding forest. 

DATES

October 16 - 18 & 23 - 24 @ 8pm, Saturday 10/18 and Sunday 10/19 @ 2pm. The Elizabeth Evans Baker Theater in Kantner Hall, 19 South College Street, Athens, OH 45701.

There will be one 15-minute intermission.

TICKETS

Arts For Ohio provides FREE Student Rush tickets with an OU ID for each performance at the venue provided tickets are not sold out.

SYNOPSIS

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, four young lovers, Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius, flee into a magical forest on the eve of Duke Theseus's wedding, where they become entangled in the mischief of fairies led by Puck and King Oberon. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors rehearsing a play for the wedding also stumble into the enchanted woods, setting the stage for a night of mistaken identities, magical mishaps, and a hilarious donkey transformation of the actor Bottom.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, Vibrancy Theater and The School of Theater, acknowledge that, from the time of Ohio University’s founding in 1804, it has occupied the traditional homelands of the Shawnee people, as well as the Wahzhazhe (who are also known as the Osage), who lived in Southeast Ohio before them. As the first federally legislated public university in the United States of America, Ohio University was an integral part of the U.S.’s westward expansion and empire building. 

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

-William Shakespeare

With every production, VibrancyTheater challenges the dominant narrative. Our commitment to explicit Anti-Racist practices demands art that activates and transforms.

We believe that every story, even a classic like A Midsummer Night's Dream, can be reimagined and enriched by diverse voices and perspectives. As a  BIPOC-led theater organization, we're excited to bring our unique lens to Shakespeare's world of love, magic, and transformation. This production explores the collision between imposed order and untamed desire. Fourlovers, a band of mischievous fairies, and a blue-collar theater troupe are thrown together in a forest of infinite possibilities. Boundaries blur, loyalties shift, and the heart's true desires are revealed. More than just a whimsical tale, this show is a celebration of identity and transformation. We hope to inspire fresh reflections on the timeless themes of love, belonging, and the ways in which old stories can evolve to reflect the complexities of our shared human experience.

Vibrancy Special Thanks:

We would like to give a special thanks to Ohio University, SOT Faculty and staff, Sarah Curtis, Molly Donahue, the cast and crew of A Midsummer Night's Dream, for helping create this wonderful and magical world.

Executive Leadership

Leilani Stillwagon: Artistic Director

Annaka Guerrero: Co-Executive Producer

Laila Christian: Co-Executive Producer

Bella Martin: Co-Coordinator of Community Outreach and Engagement

Talitha Thomas: Co-Coordinator of Community Outreach & Engagement

Crystal Odiri: Leadership Liason

Erica Ahmed: Social Media Coordinator

Vibrancy Theater Founders

Founding Faculty Mentor: Charles Smith, Distinguished Professor of Playwriting

Co-founding Artistic Directors: Janai Lashon and Keshawn Mellon

Co-founding Executive Directors: Roberto Di Donato and Ri Moodie

Founding Scribe: Daniela Chaparro 

Co-founding Community Outreach Coordinators: Rhys Carr and Taylor Roberts

Co-founding Social Media Consultants: Kaleb Jackson and Laurettia Weakly

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

FIRE NOTICE

Illuminated signs above each door indicate
emergency exits. Please check for the nearest
exit. In the event of an emergency, you will be
notified by theater personnel and assisted in
the evacuation of the building.

SEATING POLICY 

Everyone must have a ticket. Sorry, no
children in arms or on laps. Patrons who
leave the theater during the performance
will be reseated at the discretion of house
management. Those who become disruptive
will be asked to leave the theater.

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

The Elizabeth Evans Baker Theater is
fully accessible to those with mobility issues.
When booking tickets, please let our Box
Office know if you require a ticket that will
accommodate a wheelchair. Please call Ledger
Free, Director of Audience Services, at 917-
733-0081 if you need any assistance during
your visit. We are here to help you!