Everyone has heard of Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy written hundreds of years ago that is still constantly analyzed, appreciated, and shared with others throughout the world. But unlike Shakespeare’s other classic tragedies such as Hamlet and Macbeth, Shakespeare also wrote a famous comedy: A Midsummer’s Night Dream. 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a tale concerning several love triangles. The play is filled with humor and poetic irony.

It all starts with two men, Lysander and Demetrius, who are both in love with a woman named Hermia, who does not want anything to do with Demetrius. Another woman named Helena loves Demetrius, while he, of course, does not have any feelings for her. With miscommunication and misconception, Lysander then begins to fall in love with Helena, who is not interested. After some convincing and even more miscommunication, both the men end up falling in love with Helena, leaving no men to love Hermia. All of this comes to a resolution with a marriage to the King and Queen of Athens.

Susan Manst, the theater teacher at Air Academy High School and director of the play, has decided to tackle A Midsummer Night’s Dream from a more modern perspective this year.

“I decided to do this show because it has been at least a decade since we produced a Shakespearean play at Air Academy High School,” Manst explained.

Roughly 100 students had auditioned for the play.

According to senior Austin Kloss, playing Peter Quince (lead), “All we had to do for our audition was perform a monologue in front of Ms. Manst and everyone else auditioning one day after school.”

Manst to create two casts for the show. This means there are leads for underclassmen (Silver cast) and for upperclassmen (Blue cast).

Because not many people are familiar with Shakesperian language nowadays, it can be very nerve-racking and adds a lot of pressure to the actors and actresses.

“I am excited to perform, but Shakesperian language can be intimidating,” admitted Kloss.

“I am excited for so many actors to be involved and for the creative set we designed,” Manst exclaimed. “We are currently memorized and blocked and will be adding in costumes and makeup in the next following weeks.”

There are many reasons why someone would want to be involved in the theatre. Some people may want nothing to do with being in front of a crowd full of people, while others cannot get enough of it.

“I am involved in theatre because I want to gain experience in order to take part in a possible acting career,” Kloss said.

The cast is very excited to perform and share everything they have. Every day after school, they are practicing from 3:00-6:00, and they still want more.

Along with an energetic and excited cast, there is an even more bubbly group of student directors who could not be more eager to help out with the production. These people are student directors, who will watch over the cast, act as extra eyes for Manst and have a large say in the direction of the production.

Senior Molly Guiberson, one of the student directors, said, “It has been weird to have any responsibility over the cast because they’re my friends and people I have worked [with on] shows before. They do take my notes really well and listen mostly when I tell them what we are supposed to be doing, but I think it’s because they are Mrs. Manst’s instructions and I am just passing them on.”

“I want to continue being involved in the performing arts, but not with theater,” Guiberson elaborates, “I love theater and I am sad to see my last few shows come up…I don’t think I’ll continue doing it past high school.”

This show is very family-friendly and anyone is welcome to come by and see it. Tickets are available at the door and family and other students can come and enjoy the show between November 13 and November 16. The silver cast will be performing on the 13th and 15th, and the blue cast will perform on the 14th and 16th.