Speakeysie News Desk — August 7, 2021

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Directed by Laura Cole
$15 General Admission Preview Thursday August 5, 2021

$20 General Admission Preview Friday August 6, 2021

Runs August 7-September 5, 20201

Sunday September performance at 2:30pm only (Limited lunch menu available at 1:15pm)

A fairy King and Queen come across four runaway lovers and a gaggle of amateur actors trying to rehearse a play in the forest. The magical royal couple meddles with their mortal lives, culminating in a comical cluster of confusion. But don’t worry, we’ll get to the Bottom of it.

Cast

Puck/ Philostrate- Shante de Loach

Oberon/ Hippolyta- Rachel Frawley

Titania/ Theseus- Gabi Anderson

Demetrius/ Moth- Mary Ruth Ralston

Helena/ Peaseblossom- Cameryn Richardson

Lysander/ Cobweb- Sarah Beth Hester

Hermia/ Mustardseed- Kirsten Chervenak

Bottom/ Hippolyta Courtier- Jasmine Renee Ellis

Flute/ Hippolyta Courtier- Kelly Criss

Peter Quince/ Egeus- Jaclyn Hofmann Faircloth

Snout/ Pomegranate/ Theseus Courtier- Destiny Freeman

Snug/ Brian/Theseus Courtier- T’Shauna Henry

Starveling/ Fairy- Loren Bray

Synopsis

-from The Pocket Companion to Shakespeare’s Plays by J.C. Trewin

While Theseus, Duke of Athens, and the Amazon Queen Hippolyta, who he has defeated in battle, are contemplating their marriage, Theseus has to judge a matrimonial dispute. Egeus wishes his daughter Hermia to wed Demetrius when her heart is set upon Lysander. Though warned of the consequences if she disobeys, Hermia resolves to elope and on the next night to meet Lysander in a wood close to Athens. They tell Helena who is herself in love with Demetrius and who promptly reveals the plan to him.

In the wood the goblin Puck and one of the Fairy Queen’s train talk of the quarrel between Oberon and Titania over the changeling boy she has adopted and he desires for a henchman. She refuses to yield, whereupon Oberon orders Puck to fetch a flower whose juice, squeezed on Titania’s sleeping eyelids, will cause her on awakening to love the first live creature that she sees. Helena has followed Demetrius to the wood; Oberon, invisible and sympathetic, orders Puck to squeeze the flower on the lids of the “Athenian youth”, while he himself anoints Titania. But Puck, mistaking, chooses Lysander, who when he wakes immediately pursues Helena.

Puck mischievously gives an ass’s head to Bottom, the weaver, one of the group of “mechanicals” rehearsing a play for the wedding of Theseus. Titania, waking falls in love with Bottom. Presently confusion is worse than ever because Demetrius (who has now been anointed) and Lysander fight over Helena, to Hermia’s distress. The only thing to do is to get the lovers to sleep and to restore Lysander’s sight before he wakes.

Oberon releases Titania; Puck removes the ass’s head, and one quarrel is settled as Fairy King and Queen leave before dawn. Theseus and Hippolyta, hunting early, rouse the lovers who, back as they were, are assured by Theseus that they shall be wedded that day. Bottom, baffled by his apparent dream, goes off to find his fellows.

They perform, in all sincerity, their interlude of Pyramus and Thisby before the amused court audience. Midnight sounds. When all have retired the fairies return to give their blessing to house and lovers, and Puck says the final word.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR REOPENING*

First thing to note is we open happily and with the awareness that things can change. We will continue to adapt and update our protocols and procedures in response to the coronavirus pandemic to keep everyone safe. We’re looking at you, Delta Variant.  Please check here often for the latest information.

While in Georgia, the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse cannot require that all audiences be vaccinated….but we think it’s a good idea if they are. In fact we would love it if you were. If you are not vaccinated, stay home and stay safe! These plays are 450 years old and you will most assuredly have another chance to see them at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse!

Our staff, actors, crew and volunteers will be fully vaccinated.

We will not require patrons to wear masks unless a mask mandate is put back into place. We welcome mask-wearing, and we encourage mask wearing, but it will not be required at this time. If you’re wearing a Tavern mask, maybe we will clap or do something special.

Seating in each section will be limited to 40 seats each performance.

Our bar and kitchen will be open with the same offerings as pre-pandemic. QR codes will be available for our menus.

We prefer credit cards for all payments. Please avoid using cash if possible. Don’t even think about bitcoin. Save it for your trip to space.

Hand sanitizer will be available at various stations in the building.

We have installed a REME HALO ultra-violet air filtering system. mmm…breathe in that clean clean particle-free air y’all! Btw…if you’re sick, stay home and get well!

Since our performers have to be vaccinated to be on our stage, they won’t be wearing masks! Full-faces out! And hey, if your face is out, we hope it’s vaccinated! So handsome!

The front row will now be 10ft from the front of the stage. If you intend to go Elizabethan and throw tomatoes at the stage, you’ll have to up your game, bro.

* Any person entering the premises waives all civil liability against this premises owner and operator for any injuries caused by the inherent risk associated with contracting COVID-19 (including any variants) at public gatherings, except for gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm, by the individual or entity of the premises.

please don’t throw tomatoes at the actors.

Social Media Links:

Twitter @shakespearetav

Facebook.com/ShakespeareTavern

Instagram: Shakespearetavernplayhouse

YouTube: ShakespeareTav

Performance days & times:
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:30 PM.
Closing Sunday performance at 2:30pm only. 

Ticket Prices:

Seating areas: Main Floor Seats, Box Seats (on floor) and Balcony Seats

Regular Adult Ticket Prices range from $24-$45 depending on the day of the show, ticket availability and the seating area.

Discount Ticket Options:

$15 for Thursday Previews (See calendar for specific dates)

$20 for Friday Previews (See calendar for specific dates)

NEW STUDENT TICKET PRICES! 

Student ticket prices: 

$15 General Admission Tickets on Thursdays, $20 in all sections on Fridays and Sundays  (No student discounts on Saturdays)

Educator prices: $5 off per adult price level per night (Not valid on Saturday nights.)  

Military Discount: $3 off adult ticket price

Senior Discount: $3 off adult ticket price

Group Discount (Parties of 10 or more): $3 off adult ticket price

Purchase Tickets Online for most performances at www.shakespearetavern.com 

For information on: 

Education Programs and Workshops: Laura Cole, Director of Education and Training at 404-874-5299, x 58 or laura@shakespearetavern.com

Volunteer Opportunities: Rich Snow, Volunteer Coordinator at 

404-874-5299, x 59 or Rich@shakespearetavern.com

Accessibility and The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse: The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse is handicapped accessible. Please let the box office know if you have any special needs that we should be aware of in order to make your Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse experience the very best we can. Our handicapped entrance ramp/parking is located directly behind our building. Once you turn onto Renaissance Parkway from Peachtree Street, you will turn right onto Courtland Street. The Tavern’s back entrance will be immediately on your right once you clear the building on the corner and the traffic poles. The turn comes up quickly, so please drive slowly. Handicapped parking is directly in front of the ramp, behind our building, and anywhere spaces are available.                               

Location: The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse is located at 499 Peachtree Street NE, just four blocks south of The Fox Theater and directly across the street from Emory University Hospital Midtown.

Land Rights: We acknowledge that the location of The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse is  on the traditional tribal lands of the Muscogee Creek, colonially referred to as Atlanta.

Parking: We recommend parking in the Emory University Hospital Midtown Parking Deck located directly across the street from the front doors of The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse on Peachtree Street. Regular parking price is $5.                       

Food and Beverage Service: The Tavern opens one hour and fifteen minutes before the performance for food and beverage service. Chef for a Night Catering provides a British-pub-style menu for dinner. The Tavern has  beer, wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks, bottle beer and draft beers on tap.

Seating and Box Office: Seating is done on a “first come, first served” basis within each designated section (Main Floor, Box Seats, Balcony). Table seating is limited however all seats can accommodate food and beverages. For tickets or more information, call or email The Tavern Box Office at 404.874.5299 x 0 or boxoffice@shakespearetavern.com or buy tickets online at www.shakespearetavern.com

The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse is a registered 501 ( C ) 3 non-profit organization and is a member of The Actor’s Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers.