SU Theatre Presents 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Oct. 12-15, 19-22
SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University’s Bobbi Biron Theater Program gives a gender-bending twist to Shakespeare’s labyrinth of fantasy and guileful subterfuge in its season-opening production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The ever-popular play is presented Thursdays-Sundays, October 12-15 and 19-22, in the Black Box Theatre of Fulton Hall. Curtain is 8 p.m., 2 p.m. Sundays.
The comedy marks the SU directorial debut of Dr. Matt Saltzberg, new faculty in the Music, Theatre and Dance Department.
His version of the classic upends gender roles, eschewing traditional staging “in favor of a radical queer, counterculture aesthetic in order to critique the heteronormativity and misogyny rampant in the text,” he said, noting that the production contains mature themes, risqué costuming and sexual situations.
The production features an original score by New York composer Daniel Mertzlufft.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, former queen of the Amazons. Along the way, forest fairies — including King Oberon, Queen Titania and the impish Puck (AKA Robin Goodfellow) — control and manipulate a foursome of Athenian lovers and a sextet of amateur actors (“mechanicals”).
Widely considered one of Shakespeare’s seminal works, the play frequently has been adapted for stage, screen and other media.
Saltzberg’s production proposes “that sexuality and gender are fluid and exist on a spectrum.”
The cast includes Marshall Bailey, Michael Beverley, Lisa Compo, Jeremiah Copeland, Veahna “Vee”Gardineer, Patrick Gover, Calbe Graham, Elizabeth Jensen, Maggie Jones, Henry Loomis, Brandon Maher, Michael Mitchell, Michael Mott, Jacob Nail, Alli Payne, Maurice Savage, Brooke Sposato, Emily Stanton, Brett Stiles, Jake Thereault and Chareese Vandyke.
Jones also doubles as music director and electric guitarist, with several other cast members also playing instruments. Scenic design is by John Raley. Costume design is by Max Levitt. Lighting design is by Ryan Bailey. Bailey Kirk stage manages.
Sponsored by the Music, Theatre and Dance Department, admission is $12; $9 for seniors age 60-plus and SU faculty, staff and alumni; $5 for non-SU students; $3 for SU students with Gull Card. The production is recommended for mature audiences.
Advance tickets are available online at www.salisbury.edu/performingarts, via phone at 410-543-6228 or in person at the SU Box Office, Fulton Hall Room 100. Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
For more information call 410-548-5588 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.