A Midsummer Night's Dream - July 19 - July 28, 2024
Livonia Community Theatre
Director's Note
“Reason and love keep little company nowadays.”
Ever since the inaugural Livonia Shakespeare in the Park presentation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in 2022, I’ve felt the whole concept of adapting age-old stories for EVERYONE, and presenting them in a public park, for free, might be the very definition of punk rock. This notion only grows stronger as time hurries on. The whole idea is a bit rebellious, isn’t it? Bringing high-level theatrical storytelling into the middle of a city park, where all can watch, for free? There’s no box office? No ticketing? No service charge? No dress code? You can pack a picnic and no one is going to confiscate your picnic basket? When so much storytelling is monetized these days, Shakespeare in the park is PUNK ROCK.
Our cast is divided into four main groups: the mortal Lovers are doing what young lovers do, causing one of them to observe “the course of true love never did run smooth.” They are discovering that love has as much to do with magic and mistakes as it does reality. The Fairies, who live in the woods, are growing ever more disillusioned with the mortal world. They stage a punk rock pageant to celebrate Summer’s shortest night and create mischief upon any mortal entering their territory after sunset, amidst their Fairy King and Queen locking horns. The Royals are doing their best to uphold order amidst all this madness and magic. And the Mechanicals are just doing their best: lifting up their community with community theatre, and supporting one another as friends.
I’m so proud of our cast and crew! Everyone that helped bring this production to life has devoted countless hours and boundless energies toward these performances. They’ve all given their best, and I can’t wait for you to witness their hard work. And the sponsoring organizations that combine to make this happen deserve a round of applause as well: Livonia Community Theatre, the Hardies Family Trust, and the City of Livonia’s Parks Department and Arts Commission.
Summer is a time of magic, and we should lean into it. The nights are so short that it can seem like one day spills into the next, making dreams easier to confuse with reality. The whole world takes on a different hue in the Summer. We have precious little of it left until the leaves fall and the woods turn into skeletons of their Summer selves. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Summer, and I hope you enjoy our play!
-Joe Johnston
2023-2024
Livonia Community Theatre Board of Directors
Terie Spencer- President Rebecca Borsodi - Secretary
Wanda Seymour - Treasurer
Members-at-Large
Brian Haverkake Joe Johnston Kelly Boczek-Petrie Michelle Nixon
Livonia Community Theatre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer a quality theater experience that will entertain, enrich, and educate people of all ages. Find out more by visiting our website:
Page 6 of 30
