Name: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Start: 2023-08-10T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-08-12T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Roosevelt University

Organization

Conductor

Michael Pecak

Stage director

Josh Miller

Assistant Stage Director

Samantha Fox

Chicago Summer Opera

Repetiteur

Shih-Han Su

Singer

Countertenor

Elijah English

Oberon

Sergio Savala

Soprano

Cassandra Dixon

Tytania

Ericka Barloon

Casey Morris

Helena

Tess Levine

Mezzo-soprano

Juliet Telford

Hermia

Michaela Larsen

Bethany Brewer

Hippolyta

Elyse Coty

Child vocalist

Laura Gibert

Cobweb

Juney Li

Mustardseed

Emily Gregonis

Ruth Peart

Moth

Chloe Thomas-Green

Kayla Fisher

Peaseblossom

Xinyue Mao

Tenor

Spencer VanDellen

Lysander

Jeremy Do

André Ferguson

Snout

Jacob King

Baritone

Caleb Haselhuhn

Demetrius

Caden Webb

Bass

Zachary Mendenhall

Quince

Kevin Wheatle

Starveling

Carlo Miguel Bunyi

Snug

Emma Dunster

Madeline Ringo Stauble

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Chicago

United States

Roosevelt University

Ganz Hall

A Midsummer Night's Dream Britten

Public

Approved

In the woods at twilight, the fairies alight. They’re joined by “that shrewd and knavish sprite” Puck, who is servant to Oberon, king of the fairies. Oberon and his queen Tytania, who enjoy making one another jealous, are arguing. Oberon enlists Puck to help enchant Tytania so that, after her sleep, she will fall in love with the first person she sees.

The fairies are not alone in the forest, though; two lovers, Lysander and Hermia, have escaped Athens since Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius instead. Demetrius pursues them, as he’s also in love with Hermia. Meanwhile, Helena, who is in love with Demetrius, pursues him only to be devastated by his cruel rejection.

Overhearing Demetrius, Oberon asks Puck to enchant Demetrius with the same spell as Tytania; this way, he reasons, Demetrius will return Helena’s love and all will be well. Also in the woods? An amateur theater troupe led by the comical Nick Bottom. They intend to perform a dramatic rendition of the Pyramis and Thisbe myth, despite some disagreements over casting.

Puck’s love potion plans may seem straightforward, but in the forest realm of the fairies, nothing is. When mix-ups inevitably occur, chaos ensues and our characters are made asses of (in one way or another). However, as in any comedy, order is restored. A triple wedding and an opera-within-an-opera conclude the chaotic and magical tale (but not without a send-off from Puck).

Britten’s take on Shakespeare’s comedy sets all the action in enchanted forest itself, fully immersing the audience in a magical world. His orchestration draws stylistic distinctions between the human and fairy characters and, during the performance of Nick Bottom’s theater troupe, even indulges in parody of the last century of vocal composition.

English

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