The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center campus with a rollicking summer production of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with live music and directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artist Kenn Sabberton - beginning July 9, through July 28 only. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is presented by SCLA in conjunction with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!
The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles is well known and loved for its unique and engaging Los Angeles-focused interpretations of Shakespeare's plays. This year's production draws its inspiration from the late 1950's and early 1960's cultural revolution in Los Angeles. It will feature a returning military warrior's spectacular wedding and the adventures of four young lovers and a group of six amateur actors, controlled and manipulated by a trendsetting sprite that utilizes live music of the era to underscore the exploits inspired by the god of love. The West LA VA's idyllic Japanese Garden is particularly well suited to the play which Shakespeare set in a forest and for which the Japanese Garden is ideal. The play, a broad comic and crowd-pleasing comedy, is one of Shakespeare's most popular works. The VA location speaks to many long-time themes of the Shakespeare Center - including presenting Shakespeare in a relevant way through settings that speak to present-day Angelenos, working with veterans with its Veteran Summer Employment program, and using theatre as a tool for personal and community transformation. Shakespeare Center creates great art that does great things.Photo Credit: Michael Lamont
Oberon (Paul Perri) anoints Titania's (Tracey A. Leigh) eyes with flower essence
The Athenian tradesmen (Marcella Letz Pope, DeSean Terry, Jenna Johnson, Michael Manuel, Brian Joseph, Jason Frank) rehearse their play
Oberon (Paul Perri) gives Puck (Wyatt Fenner) the anti-dote flower
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