ENCORES: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' performed by Folger Theatre (2016)

Folger Public Programs is pleased to present ENCORES, a weekly online series highlighting past performances and recalling the rich history of programming on the historic Folger stage. As many arts and cultural institutions remain closed during this time, these ENCORES provide a way to connect and revisit the breadth of Folger offerings with a wider audience.

ENCORES presents

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
presented by Folger Theatre
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Aaron Posner***, Folger Theatre, 2016
Read the director’s notes for the production

Performed by

• Justina Adorno, Starveling
• Elliott Bales*, Egeus
• Desmond Bing, Demetrius
• Adam Wesley Brown*, Lysander
• Caroline Stefanie Clay*, Hippolyta/Titania
• Megan Graves, Snug/Philostrate
• Eric Hissom*, Theseus/Oberon
• Betsy Mugavero*, Hermia
• Monique Robinson*, Snout
• Richard Henry*, Peter Quince
• Dani Stoller, Francis Flute
• Holly Twyford*, Nick Bottom
• Erin Weaver*, Puck
• Kim Wong*, Helena

With

• Scenic Design by Paige Hathaway
• Costume and Sound Design by Devon Painter**
• Lighting Design by Jesse Belsky
• Sound Design and Additional Music by Sarah Pickett**
• Original Music by Andre Pluess
• Choreography by Erika Chong Shuch
• Casting by Daryl Eisenberg Casting and Teresa Wood
• Production Stage Manager, Marne Anderson*
• Assistant Stage Manager,  Elisabeth Riber*
• Resident Dramaturg, Michele Osherow

*Actors’ Equity Association
**United Scenic Artists
***Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

For more, explore related posts on The Folger Spotlight. 

Read the introduction by cast member Richard Henry:

Hello and welcome to Folger ENCORES. I’m Richard Henry, and I’m happy to be able to be with you today. The Folger has been sharing selections from their plays, music, talks, and readings with you in this ENCORES series. This week, we are celebrating the start of summer and taking a look at Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Folger Theatre. In this production, I played Peter Quince, the director of the acting company who creates the play Pyramus and Thisbe to honor Theseus and Hippolyta on their wedding day. This production was great fun, as you will hopefully see in this little selection.

To catch you up on where we are in Midsummer, we are near the end of the play. Peter Quince and his friends Francis Flute here, played by Dani Stoller, Snug, played by Megan Graves, Bottom, played by Holly Twyford, Starveling played by Justina Adorno, and the amazing Monique Robinson as Snout, come together to perform their version of Pyramus and Thisbe. I want to also give a special nod to choreographer Erika Chong Shuch, Sarah Pickett, and Andre Pluess, who do the music, and Aaron Posner who directed the show. This selection of what we usually call “the-play-within-the-play” is a rollicking musical fantasy filled with superb singing and dance, and just a few offstage mishaps.

Now, now that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I look forward to hitting the boards at the Folger stage once again. And I want to thank everyone at the Folger for allowing me to live in Shakespeare’s words in their amazing theater. Let’s all get back there soon. In the meantime, enjoy this little taste of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and be sure to join us again for these weekly episodes of ENCORES highlighting all that the Folger has to offer. Thank you.

Check back each Friday for a new “from the archives” performance, introduced by some of our favorite artists, showcasing the best of Folger Theatre, Folger Consort, O.B. Hardison Poetry, and lectures.