Event

On a Midsummer's Night

Award-winning composer/lyricist Debbie Lan's new pop opera adapted from Shakespeare's classic comedy premieres on July 28th and 29th in Ulster County, NY. An excerpt of the show in December 2016 brought the audience to its feet. With 60 musical pieces, On a Midsummer's Night transforms William Shakespeare's poetic language into music and song, making this beloved time-honored story even more accessible to a wider and more diverse audience.

On a Midsummer's Night began in June 2012 with nine songs inspired by Shakespeare's play that Debbie wrote for a collaboration with fellow-teaching artist and director Allyson Uzzle for a 6th grade drama class. The goal was to make Shakespeare more accessible and fun, and allow students to sing rather than speak the words. Adding additional songs for another class, Debbie realized that singing Shakespeare's words instead of reciting them helped the students understand, learn and retain the material. And they were having fun learning Shakespeare!

Debbie presented a bare bones version of the first half of the pop opera, with an adult cast, to an enthusiastic audience in December 2016. This was made possible by a grant from Arts-Mid Hudson and the Artists New Work Forum Series facilitated by the Historic Rosendale Theater. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many audience members saying that they could really understand Shakespeare for the first time!Now Debbie, director Ally Uzzle and a talented cast and crew are staging the completed show for 3 performances on July 28th and 29th at the Rosendale Theater.

With Carrie Wykoff, Doug Motel, Casey Richards, Tim Bruck, Sarah Urech, Matteo Undici, Gil Sweeney, Mikal Kalus, Andrea Maddox, Quay Smith, Brian Mathews and Margaret Stanne.

Director: Allyson Uzzle
Stage Manager: Carol Bialy
Producers: Betsy Blair, Cara Lee, Donna Perry
Publicity/PR: Diane DeChillo