Tickets Go On Sale 7/6 For North Carolina Shakespeare Festival's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Beginning July 6, 2009, tickets are on sale for The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival's production of Shakespeare's, A Midsummer Night's Dream. The production is being made possible, in part, by special grant support from High Point based, New Breed Corporation.

Plans for The Festival's 33rd MainStage season originally included staging Shakespeare's Macbeth in rolling repertory with A Midsummer Night's Dream. Due to current widespread economic concerns, the second production was cancelled. "This was a difficult decision for us," says Pedro Silva, NCSF's Managing and Artistic Director. "However, our priority must be to weather this unprecedented economic downturn." The Festival plans to reschedule Macbeth for its 2010 season paired with a comedy yet to be selected.

The Festival has produced Dream four times between 1979 and 2003. "Each production, according to Silva, "has been a huge success. This may well be Shakespeare's most popular play. It has something for everyone - young and old ."

Dream's appeal lies in the way it moves among diverse, fascinating worlds. Duke Theseus plans to wed warrior-bride, Hippolyta. Parent, Egeus, complains to the Duke that his daughter, Hermia, will not wed the man he has chosen for her. King and Queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titania, feud over who will have dominion over an orphan child, and accuse one another of being in love with the Duke and his fiancée. Hermia and friend, Helena, and their true loves get lost in the forest as they wrangle through their feelings for one another. The fairie, Puck, bungles master Oberon's orders, further confuses the lovers and casts a magic spell on the fairie Queen that involves a rustic, Bottom, who's head Puck turns into that of an ass. Need one say more?

Dream's energy is infectious. Its humor is earthy and recognizable. Its language is beautifully poetic and easily accessible. Its central theme of love is multi-faceted and familiar, confirming what we know all too well, that ‘the course of true love never did run smooth.'

Reprising his portrayal of the mischievous spirit, Puck, is Karl Baumann, who played the role for NCSF in 2003. Karl works regularly with Cirque de Soleil in Las Vegas. Hugh O'Gorman will join Baumann, reprising his double-casting as Duke Theseus and Faerie King, Oberon. O'Gorman heads the acting program at Cal State Long Beach and performs in television whenever his schedule allows. John Woodson returns to play Bottom the Weaver, a role he first played at The Festival 30 years ago. Woodson's professional acting career has been extensive, stretching over two decades, and most recently featuring an extended contract at The Cleveland Playhouse. Stuart Brooks, NCSF co-founder, makes a surprise appearance at NCSF after an absence of thirty years; he will play the rustic, Snout, and when not on stage, will assist NCSF's administrative staff with the challenge of fundraising.

One of the special features of this NCSF season will be $10 Preview tickets made possible by sponsorship support from 88.5 WFDD Public Radio. Other features include High Point Enterprise Community Night on September 24, honoring High Point's Sesquicentennial with all tickets at only $14 each, and a special 4-for-3 offer that allows patrons through September 19 to purchase four regular priced tickets to a single Dream performance for the price of three tickets, the free ticket being the lowest priced ticket. "In these economic times, we urge all our patrons - and especially newcomers - to take advantage of these value ticket offers," says Silva.

Continuing this season are ForeWords info-blasts, 20-minute pre-show talks in the High Point Theatre's Main Gallery that provide patrons with a concise overview of the play and the production. ForeWords begin promptly 45 minutes before curtain of each public performance.
Dream performs September 19 - October 4 at The High Point Theatre, 220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point, NC 27260. Tickets are priced from $10 - $31 and are now on sale at The High Point Theatre Box Office. Box Office hours are 12:00 - 5:00, M-F. Visit or call at 336-887-3001, or via email at: www.highpointtheatre.com. Tickets are also available at the door one hour before curtain for seating to that performance only.

Group tickets including The Festival's popular SchoolFest 10:00 matinees, are on sale via NCSF's Administrative Office. Home School Groups of 2 or more also receive group rates. Call M-F, 9:00 - Noon, at 336-841-2273, x226, or via email at: sales@ncshakes.org. For more information about Dream and The Festival visit NCSF's website at: www.ncshakes.org.

 

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