KU Theatre

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by William Shakespeare
Performed in the Original Pronunciation

  • Directed by Paul Meier
  • Scenic and Lighting Design by Del Unruh
  • Costume Design by Dennis Christilles
  • Make Up Design by Phillip Schroeder & Tammy Keiser
  • Sound Design by Erin Tomkins
  • Dialect Coaching by David Crystal & Paul Meier

 

The course of true love never did run smooth", speaks Lysander in the first act of Shakespeare's beloved fantasy, articulating its central theme clearly. Relationships abound in and around the moonlit forest, and all of them are out of balance. This classic tale of young lovers, fairies, and a group of hapless theatre folk known as the "rude mechanicals" will be given a novel twist with the assistance of David Crystal, one of the world's leading linguists. The performance will be given in Original Pronunciation (OP), allowing audiences to hear Shakespeare's language as it was actually spoken in his day. This will be the first full-length OP production of a Shakespearean work in North America. Directed by KU theatre professor Paul Meier, an expert in dialects and accents, this production provides an exciting laboratory for linguistic and artistic research.

Character

Cast Member

Theseus Matt Gieschen
Hippolyta Claire Vowels
Lysander Austin Robinson
Demetrius Ben Sullivan
Hermia Hannah JoBeth Roark
Helena Lynsey Becher
Egeus Festus Shaughnessy
Philostrate Troy Clifford Dargin
Oberon John Staniunas
Titania Leslie Bennett
Fairy Jennifer Walker
Peaseblossom Mary McNulty
Cobweb Hailey Lapin
Moth Sara Kennedy
Mustardseed Margaret Hanzlick
Puck J.T. Nagle
Peter Quince Garrett Lawson
Nick Bottom Scott Cox
Francis Flute Ryan Lueders
Tom Snout Charlie Stock
Snug James Teller
Robin Starveling Sam Voelker

For videos about A Midsummer Night's Dream, visit http://www.youtube.com/embed/dQvD2Hj-Odc and http://www.youtube.com/embed/dWe1b9mjjkM

Click to access Paul Meier's Original Pronunciation tutorial: http://www.paulmeier.com/OP.pdf

Click to view a short video about OP from Paul Meier: http://paulmeier.com/Dream_promo062310.wmv

Performances

  • Thursday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Friday, November 12, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Saturday, November 13, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Sunday, November 14, 2:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Wednesday, November 17, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Thursday, November 18 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Friday, November 19, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Saturday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. | Stage Too!
  • Sunday, November 21, 2:30 p.m. | Stage Too!

Ticket Prices

  • Public: $18
  • Senior Citizens & KU Faculty/Staff: $17
  • All Students: $10

Costume Design by Dennis Christilles

Rehearsal Photos by Rana Esfandiary

Dress Rehearsal Photos by Phillip Schroeder


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