Powerhouse Theatre Closes A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM 8/31

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble will presentWilliam Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream on the Powerhouse Theatre's redwood deck from July 8 - 31. As a way of showing appreciation for the ongoing support of the Santa Monicacommunity, all performances will be offered at no cost to the public.

Audience members will beinvited to bring a picnic dinner or purchase food and drinks at the theatre. This raucous andmagical comedy is helmed by veteran Shakespeare director Jonathan Redding and features thetalents of Blake Anthony, Kyle Cadman, Melissa Collins, Corwin Evans, Joshua Green, MadelineHarris, Tom Hinman, Mike Kindle, Emmalinda MacLean, Chase McKenna, Nathaniel Meek, BrianRuppenkamp and Dee Sudik.

Immediately following the July 9 performance the audience is invited to join the company for the Opening Night Reception on the deck of the Powerhouse.This production is the first offering in the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble's annual Shakespeareon the Deck series. Each year, a different production will be presented at no charge in this uniquely intimate outdoor space.

The goal is to create a new tradition of outdoor summer theatrein Santa Monica while engaging underserved audiences by removing financial barriers to their attendance and challenging their expectations of what the theatre going experience can be."Since I've started producing at the Powerhouse five years ago, I've been wanting to put a showon the deck." says Tom Burmester, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble "I can'tthink of anything better on a summer night than kicking back with a drink and watching a terrific production of one of the greatest comedies ever written. It's our way of giving back to thecommunity that has consistently and enthusiastically supported our work."

"Midsummer is, to me, a play that concerns itself with the unconscious- with dreams, anddreamers; with the origins of art, and love, and imagination." says Jonathan Redding, director "This will be a Dream born of the swirling sights, sounds, and characters of our beautifulcommunity: a Dream where Faery Queens do Yoga on the beach, and coffeehouse baristas andcafe cashiers rehearse plays late into the night."

Jonathan Redding is an actor, director, and Ensemble Corps member who is celebrating his ninthanniversary of directing Shakespeare by returning to the text with which he began: A Midsummer Night's Dream. His directorial credits include Macbeth (Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (Theatre Without a Net!), Romeo and Juliet (/guerilla Theatre), andOthello (/guerilla Theatre).

Jonathan earned his BFA in Theatre from West Virginia University.The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble is dedicated to staging theatre works of high artistic integrity whileendeavoring to remain broadly accessible and genuinely entertaining. The ensemble holds fast in its commitment to strike a balance between providing a venue for emerging artists and veteran artists;between the works of new playwrights, and revisiting timely and important classics.

The Powerhouse Theatre is housed, appropriately enough, in the Powerhouse, a historical buildingoriginally erected in 1910 for the Southern California Edison Electrical Plant for the city of Santa Monica.Committed to nurturing innovative new work, the Powerhouse has introduced Los Angeles audiences tocritically-acclaimed world premieres such as the multiple award-winning The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World; the scathingly funny The Family Room by Aron Coleite; Golden Prospects: A Los Angeles Melodrama by Colin Campbell; and A Series of Comedic Lectures with John Lehr. Tom Burmester, founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble andManaging Artistic Director of the Powerhouse Theatre, has produced many productions for the stageincluding Wounded and Survived by Tom Burmester, Kindred by Daniel Keleher, I Gelosi and TheHeretic Mysteries by David Bridel, Monkey Madness by Daisuke Tsuji, Quixotic and Adeline's Play by Kit Steinkellner and The Water Engine by David Mamet. Tom earned his MFA in Directing from theUniversity of California, Los Angeles.

Tickets are FREE with a reservation.

Reservations can be completed by visiting www.latensemble.com or www.powerhousetheatre.com.

The Powerhouse Theatre is located at 3116 2nd Street in south Santa Monica, just off Main Streetbetween Rose and Marine. Guests in wheelchairs should call in advance to make arrangements.

For information and tickets, the public should visit www.latensemble.com.

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