A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Plays MCCC's Kelsey Theatre, 6/29-7/8

Shakespeare '70, Mercer County's classical repertory company, kicks off Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre 2012 Summer Festival with one of Shakespeare's most light-hearted and enduring plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Performances are Fridays, June 29 and July 6 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, June 30 and July 7 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, July 1 and 8 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on June 29.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" features three plots connected by the wedding celebration of Duke Theseus of Athens and Hippolyta, the Amazon queen. Set against the backdrop of a romantic moonlit forest, the narrative follows the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, who are unknowingly controlled and manipulated by the mischievous fairies that inhabit the woods. Full of passion, love, calamity and confusion, "Midsummer" remains highly popular more than four centuries after it was written, with countless adaptations for stage and screen.
Cast members include Jim Bloss of Marlton as Theseus; Hannah Adamy of Lawrenceville as Hippolyta; John Anastasio of Ewing as Egeus; Heather Duncan of Aberdeen as Hermia; Andrew Timmes of Colonia and Dan Keyser of Mahwah as Demetrius (alternating performances); Nigel Rogers of Horsham, PA, as Lysander; Maddie Patrick of Raritan as Helena; Michael Krahel of Hillsborough as Peter Quince; Dale Simon of Flemington as Nick Bottom; Tom Orr of Ewing as Francis Flute; Vegas Lancaster of Cherry Hill as Tom Snout; Dan Loverro of Sparta as Robin Starveling; John Eldis of Absecon as Snug; Patrick Albanesius of Raritan as Puck; Gina Yanuzzi of Hainesport as Peaseblossom; C. Jameson Bradley of Quakertown, PA, as Oberon, King of the Fairies; Janet Quartarone of Flemington as Titania, Queen of the Fairies; Bess Myers of Ewing as Cobweb; Gini Graydon of Cranbury as Moth; Reagan Frankhouser of New Hope, PA, as Mustardseed ; and Jess Noll of Lawrenceville as Philomene.

Directing the show is Dr. John Erath, with Assistant Director Janet Quartarone, Technical Director Dale Simon, Stage Manager Lili Daniel, Light and Sound Designer Robert Rutt, and Dramaturg Dr. Patrick Maley.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $12 for students and children. For tickets, call the Kelsey Theatre box office at 609-570-3333, or visit www.kelseytheatre.net. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking available next to the theater.

Also part of Kelsey Theatre's Summer 2012 Series are: "Bye Bye Birdie," presented by the Yardley Players (July 13-22), "Eat a Peach," a musical tribute to The Allman Brothers presented by the Reock And Roll Revue (July 28-29); "The Wizard of Oz" Sing-Along (Aug. 3-5); the 2nd Annual Kelsey Theatre Awards Ceremony (Aug. 11); and "Nunsense," presented by Shore Repertory Company (Aug. 17-26). Patrons who purchase tickets for all six shows will receive 40 percent off ticket prices. For more information or to purchase a discounted series package, visit www.kelseytheatre.net.