The Diamond Bar High School Theatre Arts Department will stage “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on October 17, 18, 24, and 25. All shows are at 7 p.m.
“The concept for the show is the love-peace movement of the late 1960’s,” said drama teacher Beatrice Casagran.
Shakespeare’s original play takes place in Athens and the woods outside it. The Diamond Bar High production is set in New York City and Woodstock in 1969.
In the groovy opening scene, Duke Theseus and his fiancé Hippolyta are checking out their hip wedding reception venue at Club Athens. Out at Woodstock, where the teenage protagonists flee, the Midsummer fairies are hippies who perform magic using flower power.
Students in the school’s Theatre Performing Arts Academy have designed this updated version of the 16th century classic. The class pitched their design ideas and are learning how to practically apply them under the guidance of Ms. Casagran and DBHS graduate and Technical Director Jacob Kaitz. “They are taking their ideas from conceptual drawings and pictures through construction,” Casagran added.
The Theatre Arts Performance Academy is a new program that is providing students with high-level individualized learning and leadership opportunities.
Students have worked as a company in all aspects of the Midsummer production from acting, to stagecraft, design, publicity, box office, house management, and concessions.
“My favorite part of working on this show has been learning how to read Shakespeare and make the language come alive. Acting Shakespeare is so different from reading it in English class. You have to understand everything you say, all the references, and pronunciation, and the subtext. We’ve learned how to read the meter and make it understandable,” says Senior, Emily Beard, a member of the Theatre Performing Arts
Academy and Thespian President who also designed several scenic elements for the show.
This fall play will also incorporate live music played by Band students and movement choreographed by Dance students.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.seatyourself.biz/dbhsdrama or at the door. Presale tickets are $11 Adults, $9 Students. Tickets purchased at the door are $13 Adults, $11 Students.
The Diamond Bar High School Theatre is located at 21400 E. Pathfinder Road in Diamond Bar.