Shakespeare On The Sound Opens A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM 6/16

Shakespeare on the Sound, Connecticut's premier outdoor summer theater company presenting free Shakespeare in the park, will deliver Artistic Director Joanna Settle's inaugural production, A Midsummer Night's Dream, this season. A daring new version of the play, Settle's Midsummer will be composed by 2008 Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter Stew, choreographed by David Neumann, and will feature set design by Andrew Lieberman, sound design by Obadiah Eaves, and costume design by Ilona Somogyi. This bold new interpretation of the text incorporates multiple languages in the fairy world, lawn seating in a deep, three-quarter thrust that brings the audience all around the action, and an original score by Stew that includes seven new songs.

Currently in its 14th Season, Shakespeare on the Sound will present Settle's site-specific production at two beautiful locations on the Long Island Sound as follows: June 16-28 in Pinkey Park, Rowayton; and July 4 - 12 in Baldwin Park, Greenwich. The landscape of these parks will provide direct inspiration for the design of the production.

This production of A Midsummer Night's Dream had a four-day script development workshop hosted by The Public Theater in January with Settle working in collaboration with acclaimed text experts Barry Edelstein and Morgan Jenness, and a multicultural cast, many of whom will repeat their roles this summer.

Shakespeare on the Sound has established itself as one of the most popular summer theater companies on the east coast, drawing large audiences to each performance in the under-the-stars waterfront settings of its venues.

Audiences are invited to arrive early and picnic in the park before the performance. There is no admission fee, but a donation of $20 ($10 for students and seniors) is suggested. In Rowayton, parking is limited and early arrival is suggested. In Greenwich, the production is less than a five minute walk from the Greenwich Metro-North stop. Ample parking is available.

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed Tuesdays - Sundays at 7:30 p.m. For rail and road directions, visit www.shakespeareonthesound.org.

Complete casting for A Midsummer Night's Dream and other Shakespeare on the Sound summer news will be announced shortly.