What happens when you put the magic and romance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream into a night at the hottest gay nightclub in town? Nothing short of hilarity, glitter and true fabulosity will ensue! Come join Slipstream Theatre Initiative, as we celebrate Pride Month with the Bard's classic, set in the only place where fairies become bartenders, elvish monarchs turn into drag queens, a shot boy named Puck serves elderflower cocktails, and the butt of the joke is everyone's favorite Bottom! Follow two sets of hapless lovers as they enter Wood's- the only gay bar around Athens, Ohio. If that wasn't enough, the cast is all-male as male! Watch as they all learn more about self-identity, the fickleness of love, and the power of dance to emerge, unscathed and truer to themselves the next day. Featuring a new adaptation of the script, Slipstream looks to blur the lines between magic and social expectations as we sashay the night away!
The cast features Ryan Ernst as Oberon and Patrick Flanagan as Titania, the nightclub owner and his popular in-house drag queen husband, respectively. Maxim Vinogradov and Ian Turnwald become the frat-boy mechanicals, Bottom and Quince. As the lovers, Bailey Boudreau plays the short Hermia, Steve Xander Carson takes on the whiny (and oddly tall) Helena, Artun Kircali plays the lovesick Lysander, and Brenton Herwat tackles the wronged Demetrius. Finally, as everyone's favorite shot boy, Miles Bond rounds out the cast in the role of Puck. The production and adaptation is directed by Luna Alexander, with technical design and execution by Ryan Ernst. Tiaja Sabrie assistant directs and Meghan Lynch serves as the lighting designer, Bailey Boudreau serves as costume designer, while Erin Suchara and Bailey Boudreau round out the design team as choreographers.
The script is newly adapted to incorporate lip syncing battles, the magic and music of the 80's, and a tight 90 minute run time. The production runs June 18th through July 10th. June 18th through July 3rd performances are Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays and Mondays (excluding July 4th) at 7:00 pm. For the last weekend, July 7th through July 10th, shows move to Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 and Sunday at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $12 in advance only and available via www.slipstreamti.com or by emailing InsideTheSlipstream@gmail.com . Slipstream Theatre Initiative is located at 460 Hilton in Ferndale.
When: Saturdays (6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9), Sundays (6/19, 6/26, 7/3, 7/10), Mondays (6/20, 6/27), Thursday (7/7) and Friday (7/8)
Press Dates: Saturday 6/18, Sunday 6/19, and Monday 6/20
Time: Thursday: 8:00 PM Friday: 8:00 PM Saturdays: 8:00 PM Sundays: 7:00 PM Mondays: 7:00 PM
How much: $12, in advance only
Where: 460 Hilton Road, Ferndale MI 48220
Contact: 313.986.9156
Pictures courtesy of Trever Bennett Photography
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