Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre to Cast a Spell with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The PLT brings to the stage one of Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In an Athenian Court of rules and constraints, Hermia (Jessi Sheppard of Monee) is facing the threat of an arranged marriage. When she and her forbidden lover, Lysander (Michael Frale of Elk Grove Village), escape into the forest, her jilted fiancé, Demetrius (Zackary Abu-Shanab of Plainfield), follows in hot pursuit with his own admirer, Helena (Jennifer Glynn of Mt. Greenwood), chasing him wherever he goes. But the woods and its mischievous fairies have their own surprises, and the lovers soon find themselves in a world turned upside-down. Shakespeare's beloved comedy contains a play within a play and a world within a world, inviting audiences to enter a realm of magic and fantasy and leave the theatre pondering, "was it all a dream?"

Theatre Manager Jo Slowik of Joliet directs the magical cast of 20 actors, which includes Kristen Leano of Plainfield, Zeusan Balquin of New Lenox, Bradford Bingham, Kawaan Panama, Jacob Rodriguez, Conrad Sipiora and Jamie Voustros of Chicago, Christy Carlson of Lockport, Sinead Filip of Sugar Grove, Sean Gallagher of Mokena, Simon Merheb of Barlett, Michael Palermo of Westchester, Brianna Peoples of Melrose Park, Chris Pupik of Naperville, Eric Redmon of Yorkville and Tyler Senjanin of Evergreen Park.

Assisting Slowik as stage manager is Taylore Cephas of Chicago and Andrew Wainscott of Mokena as the assistant stage manager. Assistant Professor Andrew Nelsen of Joliet is designing the scenery and Celeste Mackey of Joliet is designing the costumes. Assisting Mackey with costume and hair and makeup design are Kayla Carson of Burbank, Christy Carlson of Lockport, and Sinead Filip of Sugar Grove. Designing lights is Adam-Jezl Sikorski of Burbank while Kevin Bukauski of Tinley Park is designing sound. Natalia Bednarczyk of Burbank is the properties manager, Serena Clearwater of Arlington Heights is assisting her and Dave Pomatto of Naperville is the assistant technical director. Front-of-house and technical staff is Kayla Carson of Burbank, Olivia Ferrari of Peru and Mike Nutter of LaGrange.

This play will run April 21-23 and April 27-30 and is recommended for patrons 13 years old and up. The evening performances are 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are 2:30 p.m. In addition, there is a benefit matinee performance for Regional Care Association at 4 p.m. on April 29 complete with silent auction and dessert buffet. Ticket prices are $10 for adult and $9 for students and seniors. Lewis students pay $2 with an ID. For groups of 15 or more tickets are $8. Tickets are non-refundable. For more information, patrons can check out the PLT Website at www.lewisu.edu/plt, or call the box office (815) 836-5500 Monday through Friday from 1-4:30 p.m. The theatre is located on the main campus, the Oremus Fine Arts Center on Route 53 in Romeoville.