SOC Presents A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Now thru 7/19

Garden Grove's leading source for Shakespeare is back this summer, starting off its 2014 season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, today, June 21-July 19 in The Festival Amphitheater. Directed by Susan Angelo, A Midsummer Night's Dream follows fools and faeries through a romantic romp in which a magical potion forces lovers to fall in love with the wrong person. Set in beautiful Polynesia during the 1700s, SOC's rendition of the popular Shakespearian comedy includes the appearance of Garden Grove's Award-Winning Polynesian Dance Group, Hitia O Te Ra.

This world famous dance troupe of nearly 60 strong musicians and dancers, young and old, is led by Alex Tekurio and is made up of Hawaiians, Tahitians, Samoans, Maoris, Filipinos and Micronesians. Hitia O Te Ra, which is Tahitian for "Land of the Rising Sun", is known not only for the thundering power of its war dances and the romantic beauty of its island love stories, but also for its cultural accuracy in the retelling of ancient myths from The Pacific Rim. Like a night on the islands, Hitia O Te Ra will transport you with its beauty, grace, and powerful imagery. Don't miss this breathtaking combonation of SOC and Hitia O Te Ra.

The cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream includes Jeremy Schaeg, EJ Arriola, Morgan Lauff, Mikki Pagdonsolan, Patricia Fa'asua, Bryan Taylor, Dmitri Tzoytzoyrakos, Miguel Perez, Amanda Zarr, Evelyn Carol Case, Katie Devoe?Peterson, Laura Zenoni, Isabelle Grimm, Hayley Jackson, Nicholas Thurkettle, Tom Bradac, Stephen Novick, Gene Godwin, Jesse Pudles, Louis Jack, Zachary Weed, Darren Nash, Connor McCloskey, Luke Castor, Jeff Budner, Sandy Ninh, Anh Nyguyen, and Christopher Badillo, as well as Hitia O Te Ra members Kapua Miyahira-Chow, Miranda Thompson, Avery Conrad, Jazaleia Feterika, Kaitlyn Slack, Makayla Davidow, Manu Tanielu, Natalia Martinez and Solomona Tafua.

Director Susan Angelo has previously directed The Royal Family, My Name Is Rachel Corrie, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Theatricum Botanicum where she is also the education director. Other recent directing credits include A Winter's Tale and Twelfth Night at The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival and Summer and Smoke at California Lutheran University. As a resident actress at both Theatricum Botanicum and A Noise Within, she has performed most of Shakespeare's leading ladies as well as other classical roles. She has also performed at New York's Signature Theatre, The Blue Heron and The Workshop Theatre as well as regionally at The Pittsburgh Public, Indiana Rep, Syracuse Stage, American Players Theatre, William Inge Theatre and The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. Recent films include Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise and Compound Fracture with Tyler Mane and Muse Watson. Television credits include Bones, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Heroes, Medium, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, to name a few.

Established actor and SOC veteran, John Walcutt now leads Shakespeare/Summerfest Orange County as its new Artistic Director. The 2014 season marks major changes to SOC including an expanded diverse season, guest productions and an educational program. "Our new mandate is 'One big family under the stars' as we spend this summer building bridges," said John Walcutt. "These bridges stretch from the storied history of SOC's past with Tom Bradac, the city of Garden Grove and our loyal subscribers. As well as into new frontiers like the Garden Grove School District, the library system, Orange County High School of The Performing Arts, the Vietnamese-American Community, the Pacific Rim Community of Garden Grove, our Hispanic Community, Korean and Chinese Americans, and, yes, even Hollywood! All are welcomed and invited to our beautiful park venue. Something remarkable is happening at The Garden Grove Amphitheater."

Season tickets may be purchased online at the Shakespeare/Summerfest Orange County website: http://www.shakespeareoc.org or by calling (714) 590-1575. Individual tickets are $25 for each production and $15 for preview performances. Special discounted tickets and group rates are available. The Festival Amphitheater is located in Euclid Park: 12762 Main St. Garden Grove, CA 92840.

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