REVIEW: UTEP students shine in ‘Shakespeare-inspired’ show

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) – El Paso is known for its rich cultural diversity. Food, traditions, you name it — but there’s something else that makes the Sun City like no other, local talent.

Playmakers is a University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) organization that help produce student-based productions in the Theatre and Dance Department.

The main goal of the organization is to raise scholarship funds for incoming Theatre and Dance students at UTEP, according to UTEP’s website.

This season, the organization worked on a rendition of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare with a very interesting twist.

A Mabel Production, “Midsummer Nights in Neon Lights,” is presented as a late 1960s era casino/showgirl fantasy.

The show runs from June 21-30 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the June Sadowski Kruszewski Studio Theatre inside the Fox Fine Arts building at UTEP. Tickets are $10 at the door and only cash is accepted.

KTSM had the opportunity to attend Friday’s show and to say the show is a fun, aesthetically pleasing experience is an understatement.

From the fascinating characters to the joyful music and visuals, the elements complement each other to make everything work.

What makes this show so special is the effort put into it by local talent — local artists that are not only on stage, but behind the scenes making the show possible.

If you too don’t want to miss this experience, you still have the opportunity to attend the show’s last weekend at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 30.

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