Celebrate the Magic at Shakespeare & Company's Season Celebration

Shakespeare & Company's Midsummer Night's Celebration will be held Saturday, June 28th. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Co-Chairs Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan will present a magical and unforgettable evening celebrating the 450thbirthday of William Shakespeare and the start of Shakespeare & Company's Summer Season. Guests of Honor Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane B. Patrick will be in attendance, as well as Rick Dildine, Shakespeare & Company's newly appointed Executive Director in his first public appearance. The evening will also feature the opening night performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Simotes and set in the mysterious bayous of New Orleans during the height of the Jazz Age. Proceeds from the Midsummer Night's Celebration will benefit Shakespeare & Company's nationally recognized Education and Training programs.

"What better way to celebrate nearly four decades here in the Berkshires than a night that harkens back to the creative magic of our very first production A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Mount," says Artistic Director Tony Simotes. "I hope that you will join us in celebrating Shakespeare's 450th birthday with an enchanted evening inspired by his most lustrous and beloved comedy. The night will be filled with extraordinary jazz, mouth-watering foods, New Orleans styled delicacies and of course the opening performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Schedule: The evening begins at the Tina Packer Playhouse with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:00pm leading into a delicious buffet dinner catered by Firefly and inspired by the New Orleans setting, followed by A Midsummer Night's Dreamperformance at 7:30. Guests will enjoy desserts and a decadent 450th Birthday chocolate cake creation made by Josh Needleman of Chocolate Springs, and dancing, following the performance. Jon Suters and Friends will provide New Orleans-style jazz music during the cocktail reception and dinner, and DJ Max Lagonia will provide music later in the evening during dessert and a dance party.

Gala Tickets: Tables seating 8 guests may be reserved for $5,000 for Gold Tables or $3,000 for Silver Tables. Tickets are priced at $1,000 for Platinum Tickets, $500 for Gold Tickets, and $300 for Silver Tickets. All tickets include admission to the cocktail reception and buffet dinner, silent auction, A Midsummer Night's Dream performance, dancing, and dessert.

Co-Chairs Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan host this exciting evening showcasing the Company's deep wealth of creative talents. "I am honored and thrilled to Co-Chair this season's Celebration with Deborah Ryan and support this incredible community of artists and educators," said Co-Chair Phoebe Giddon. "I look forward to this year's Midsummer Night's Celebration being a magical and memorable night of delight, celebration and mirth, the proceeds of which will help support our wonderful and award-winning education programs and continue to realize the mission and vision of Shakespeare & Company."

Celebration Committee
Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan, Co-Chairs; Katherine Abraham, Gail Bleifer, Joan Buccino, Janet Carey, Dr. Gerald & Roberta Friedman, Ralph & Audrey Friedner, Dr. Donald Giddon, Susan & Richard Grausman, Sarah Hancock, Carole & Gordon Hyatt, Govane Lohbauer, Jane and Richard Mescon, Michael A. and Annette Miller, Kate & Joel Millonzi, Carolyn Newberger, Helga Orthofer, Tori Rhoades, Bill Ryan, Chuck & Karen Schader, Sol Schwartz in memory of Elayne P. Bernstein, Barry & Marjorie Shapiro, David Smith & Ranny Cooper, Harriet Vines, Marian Warden, and Dorothy Altman Weber & Stephen Weber.