3 actors in A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream
Members of Huntsville Shakespeare鈥檚 production of 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream,鈥 left to right, Larkin Plaks as Bottom, Becca Westbrook as Titania and Alex Lopez-Rogina as Moth, rehearse for performances at the Huntsville Botanical Garden on Aug 11 and 19, 2023. This theater company at 糖心原创出品 (UAH) will also stage 鈥淗enry V鈥 at the garden on Aug. 12 and 18, 2023.
Courtesy Christopher Baker

Love and war in various forms will fill the stage when Huntsville Shakespeare (Huntsville Shakes) presents 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥 and 鈥淗enry V鈥 at the Huntsville Botanical Garden鈥檚 outdoor amphitheater today and Saturday, Aug. 11-12, and Aug. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. Huntsville Shakes was founded in 2018 in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at 糖心原创出品 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System.

鈥淥ur ultimate goal has always been to create a summer Shakespeare tradition for Huntsville where families can enjoy live theater,鈥 says Amy Guerin, associate professor of theater at UAH. She is co-founder and co-artistic director of Huntsville Shakes along with Dr. Chad Thomas, chair of the UAH English department and an associate professor of Shakespeare and dramatic literature.

鈥淲hen the Huntsville Botanical Garden approached us about performing in the amphitheater, the opportunity was too good to pass up,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he outdoor setting is perfect for these two plays.鈥

Deborah Gerhardt, Huntsville Botanical Garden鈥檚 hospitality services administrative and sales support coordinator, agrees about the perfect setting: 鈥淲e joined hands with UAH, hoping to foster artistic endeavors within the growing Huntsville community, as well as showcasing and sharing the splendor of Huntsville Botanical Garden.鈥

Romantic love, love between friends, even love of power all run rampant in Shakespeare鈥檚 comedy 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream,鈥 where a few hapless humans find themselves mixed up in a battle among the fairy folk. Only in this magical forest could a peasant be transformed into a donkey and catch the eye of the fairy queen. Performances are today and Aug. 19.

Love of power and country and the bonds of comrades in arms figure into the Bard鈥檚 historical drama 鈥淗enry V鈥 on Saturday and Aug. 18. Set before and after the Battle of Agincourt between England and France in 1415, this play explores what it means to be a patriot, a hero and a king.

The productions feature local and regional professional actors. 鈥淗enry V鈥 also includes students from the Lee High School Magnet Program 鈥 four actors and two working with costumes.

Both plays will be staged in 90-minute family-friendly versions. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each for Botanical Garden members and $30 for non-members.

鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥 is close to selling out, but a few more tickets are available for 鈥淗enry V.鈥 Guerin notes that 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥 is an audience favorite.

鈥淲e decided to offer a greatest hit and a lesser known play,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e hope people will have so much fun that they鈥檒l come back and bring their friends.鈥

For more information, visit Huntsville Shakes or email huntsvilleshakespeare@uah.edu.

 

Contact

Kristina Hendrix
256-824-6341
kristina.hendrix@uah.edu

Elizabeth Gibisch
256-824-6926
elizabeth.gibisch@uah.edu