SUNY Potsdam presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” April 18-21

POTSDAM, N.Y. (WWTI) – SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present William Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at the Performing Arts Center Proscenium Theater, from Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, April 21.

Days and Times:

• Thursday, April 18 starting at 7:30 p.m.;
• Friday, April 19 starting at 9:30 a.m. — sold-out school performance;
• Saturday, April 20 starting at 7:30 p.m. — American Sign Language interpretation; and
• Sunday, April 21 starting at 2 p.m.

Shakespeare’s play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” transports the audience to a forest outside Athens, where mischievous fairies wreak havoc on the hapless mortals who cross their paths. Magic is employed to confuse lovers, turn fairy against fairy, and to place a donkey’s head on Bottom the Weaver.

The large cast contains majors from across campus. Junior music education major Gabby Maresco ’25, who plays Peter Quince, explained: “ This is my first Shakespeare role, and it changed the way I interpret text, which was very useful for looking at the other work I have done in theatre .” Other cast and crew members are majors in arts management, art studio, creative writing, dance, music, and theatre.

Director and Associate Professor Dr. Jay Pecora explained: “ ‘Midsummer’ is Shakespeare’s most accessible play, which is why it is so widely performed. As this is the department’s last fully produced mainstage production, the designers are pulling out all the stops and the audience can expect a visual and audio delight. Costumes were designed by senior theatre major Emily Bailey ’24, donkey head design was by senior music and art major Antoinette Parisi ’24, set design is by faculty member Todd Canedy, and light design is by staff member Tom Grabowski .”

The play will be held in the Proscenium Theater at the Performing Arts Center on the SUNY Potsdam campus. All tickets for Department of Theatre and Dance productions are free and can be picked up at the door 30 minutes before the show time.

For additional information on the production, you can contact Department of Theatre and Dance Chair Jay Pecora by email at pecorajw@potsdam.edu or by phone at 315-267-2547.

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