Soulpepper Presents A Midsummer Night's Dream, Previews 2/17

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced that the company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, part of the Soulpepper Family Series, will preview on February 17, 2011 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

In one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream, it's love in a forest complicated by meddling fairies, a hapless troupe of amateur actors, the Athenian court and love itself.

Rick Roberts, an accomplished playwright, actor and director (4:48 Psychosis, Fish/Wife, Kite) makes his Soulpepper directorial debut with A Midsummer Night's DreaM. Roberts will direct an outstanding cast that includes Trish Lindström as Titania & Hippolyta, Gregory Prest as Puck, Abena Malika as Hermia, Brendan Wall as Demetrius, Mike Ross as Lysander, Karen Rae as Helena, Oliver Dennis as Bottom, Founding members William Webster as Snug and Michael Hanrahan as Quince, Derek Boyes as Starveling, Michael Simpson as Flute, John Jarvis as Snout, Ins Choi as Oberon & Theseus, Jason Patrick Rothery as Philostrate, Tatjana Cornij as First Fairy as well as Ken Mackenzie and Douglas John Alan. The set and costume design is by Ken Mackenzie, the lighting design by Lorenzo Savoini and music direction by Mike Ross.

A Midsummer Night's Dream previews February 17, 2011 and opens February 23, 2011 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 55 Mill Street, Building 49, in the Distillery Historic District. Tickets range from $28 - $60 (plus HST) and are available by calling the Young Centre box office at 416.866.8666 or by visiting soulpepper.ca. $22 tickets are available for 21-30 year-olds at www.stageplay.ca. StagePlay is sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group.

2011 Soulpepper Lead Sponsors are: Sun Life Financial, Scotiabank Group and TELUS. Soulpepper gratefully acknowledges annual operating support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council.

Soulpepper Theatre Company is an artist-founded, classical repertory theatre company with a three-tiered mandate: to present the world's greatest stories in vital Canadian interpretations; to train a new generation of theatre artists; and to inspire and enrich youth through mentorship and access programs.