Midsummer/Jersey is Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream set in modern time at the Jersey Shore. The play weaves four stories together - the Governor planning his wedding, two sets of high school crushes running away together through the forest (beach in our production!), a group of salon workers preparing a production of Romeo and Juliet for the Governor's wedding reception, and a jealous fairy king seeking revenge on his queen. All of these plots come together as the mischievous fairies use magic to mess with the mortals.

  

 

 

Congratulations to our Cast and Crew!

 

 

Name	Role
Acquista, Cody	Oberon
Acquista, Natalie	Mia
Bailey, Isabella	Patti Quince
Brooks, Jaston	Robin (Puck)
Burley, Dylan	Phillip/Oberon's Fairy Crew
Bushart, Kelsie	Peaseblossom
Casler, Grace	Sunshine
Cepulo, Ben	Nicky Bottom
Collom, Phillip	Rufis/Oberon's Fairy Crew
Comella, Jack	Governor/Oberon's Fairy Crew
Dano, Bria	Justine/Moonbeam
Figueroa, Isabelle	Franci Flute
Garrett, Cherylanne	Helene
Hermanet, Ryan	Principal Platt/Oberon's Fairy Crew
Jordan, Carson	Denis
Keene, Ashton	Robert Sudds
Miller, McKinley	Hippolyta/Mote
Morris, Paris	Janet Snug
Rothpearl, Nadia	Terri Thumbs
Sepulveda, Alex	Oberon's Fairy Crew
Stallworth, Anisha	Titania
Szarek, Deborah	Cobweb
Vermeulen, Kylar	Lyle
Whiting, Emma	Student/Sunflower
Aldrich, Blake	Crew
Falevino, Liberty	Assistant Stage Manager/Graphic Designer
George, Rachel	Spotlight
Mac Taggart, Lauren	Hair
Malach, Joseph	Sound Designer
Mays, Lance	Sound Operator
Nezelek, Abigail	Crew
Precourt, Preston	Lightboard Operator
Williams, Kayla	Stage Manager

WHO'S WHO?!

The Humans

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Theseus and Hippolyta are planning to marry tomorrow. Their wedding plan is in progress. Philostrate is organizing a play competition to serve as entertainment at their reception. Egeus is complaining to Theseus about his daughter’s defiance. His daughter Hermia wants to marry someone but is promised to another

 

In Midsummer/Jersey, the Duke is the Governor of New Jersey and is also planning a wedding to Hippolyta. Phyllis Trait is the wedding planner and suggests a play competition. Justine and Rufus are Mia’s parents. Similar problem as Shakespeare...she wants to marry someone but isn’t 18. Her parents disapprove.

 

Shakespeare	Description	Jersey	Description
Theseus	Duke of Athens engaged to Hippolyta	Governor Athens	Governor of New Jersey
Hippolyta	Queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus	Hippolyta	Fiance to the Governor
Egeus	Hermia’s father	Justine	Mia’s mother
Philostrate	Duke’s secretary, Wedding planner	Phillip Trait	Governor’s secretary, Wedding planner
		Patrick Platt	Principal in the opening scene
		Rufus	Mia’s father

 

*Additional students are in the opening scene/prologue with several lines/asking questions in presentation with Mia and Lyle (aka Cookie and The Understatement)

 

The Lovers

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream Hermia’s in love with Lysander but her father forbids them to be together...plus, she’s engaged to Demetrius! Demetrius used to be engaged to Helena…but then fell for her best friend Hermia! Hermia’s father has arranged for her to marry Demetrius. Lysander convinces Hermia to run away to the forest. She does. Demetrius follows. And Helena follows him. Once in the forest, Puck, one of the fairies, interfere with the lovers causing all kinds of mayhem.

 

In Midsummer/Jersey, Mia’s in love with Lyle but was dating Denis when she met him (in a hot tub).

 

Shakespeare	Description	Jersey	Description
Lysander	Initially in love with Hermia but forbid to marry her so runs off into the forest	Lyle	Also plays “The Understatement” at the beginning of the play
Demetrius	Initially in love with Hermia, Hermia’s father arranges for her to marry him.	Denis	Thinks he’s in love with Mia but ends up in love with Helene
Hermia	In love with Lysander but her father disapproves. Best friends with Helena	Mia	Also plays “Cookie” at the beginning of the play. Hermia is typically small and fiesty.
Helena	In love with Demetrius. They were engaged but then he met Hermia and fell for her.	Helene	Helene is Mia’s best friend (think JWow) although she lacks some self esteem

 

The Mechanicals (Fools/Clowns/Salon Team)

 

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Quince organizes this group of tradesmen to perform a play at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. He directs the group rehearsing “Pyramus and Thisbe”. They rehearse in the woods (why not?!). Nick Bottom is conceited and believes he can and should play ALL the roles. Each character has their own quirks.

 

In Midsummer/Jersey all of the characters work together at Patti Quince’s salon and they are rehearsing “Romeo and Juliet” for the wedding, which they perform in the finale of the play. Each have their own quirks and character traits.

 

Shakespeare	Description	Jersey	Description
Peter Quince	Leader of the troupe, a carpenter who is attempting to produce a play for Theseus’ marriage.	Patti Quince	Salon owner, leader of the group that directs the play within a play
Nick Bottom	Overconfident weaver who wants to play ALL the parts in the performance	Nikki Bottom	Hair stylist, wants to play ALL the roles, ends up as Romeo
Francis Flute	Forced to play the female role in the play within a play. He is a bellows-mender	Franci Flute	Tanning specialist, ends up as Juliet
Robin Starveling	A tailor who ends up playing “the moon”	Robert Sudds	Shampoo person, plays “the balcony”
Tom Snout	A tinker who ends up playing “the wall”	Terri Thumbs	Massage therapist, plays “the moon” and the Friar
Snug	A shy joiner who plays “the lion” (a role invented in the play within a play)	Janet Snug	Manicurist, plays the lion

 

The Fairies

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon and Titania are in a fight when we first meet them. Oberon is jealous of the time Titania has been spending with “the changeling” boy instead of him. Oberon enlists the help of Puck to get back at Titania. Meanwhile Titania and her band of fairies are readying the forest for a party. Puck interferes with the Lovers and the Mechanicals. He messes up the Lovers so they aren’t sure who they are in love with. And he gives Bottom a donkey head and makes Titania fall in love with him.

 

In Midsummer/Jersey, it’s pretty much the same. Oberon and Titania are in a fight. Oberon gets Puck to play a trick on Titania (giving Bottom a donkey head and making her fall in love with him). Puck also creates mayhem between the lovers.

 

Shakespeare	Description	Jersey	Description
Oberon	King of the fairies	Oberon	King of the fairies
Titania	Queen of the fairies	Titania	Queen of the fairies
Robin Goodfellow “Puck”	A knavish sprite who loves causing trouble	Robin “Puck”	A knavish sprite who loves causing trouble
Peaseblossom	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies	Peaseblossom	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
Mustardseed	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies	Mustardseed	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
Cobweb	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies	Cobweb	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
Mote (yes, mote not moth)	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies	Mote	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
		Moonbeam	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
		Sunflower	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
		Sunshine	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies
		Turtle	Part of Titania’s lair of fairies

 

  

Any questions? Please contact Emily Howard emilyRhoward@gmail.com or (315) 857-3265