PVHS Theater Puts On Fall Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Shakespeare’s response to the wild success of Romeo and Juliet. Where Romeo and Juliet took love deadly-serious, while Midsummer makes a joke out of love, mocking the seriousness of the tragic genre with comedy. With a cast of magical, forest creatures to add to the chaos of love, A Midsummer Night’s Dream asks the audience to celebrate the power of love with laughter and beauty rather than heartbreak and sadness.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream speaks of four Athenian lovers running away to the forest only to have Puck, the King’s goblin fairy, make both boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest chasing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reunite and marry. Along with six other actors putting on a play for the duke and queen of the Amazons.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was an outstanding play to watch. Colby Kennedy, who played Nick Bottom in the main cast, says, “It is a place to express your creativity and to meet new people.” Chora Gilstrap says along with portraying the role of Puck, “My favorite part about theater is all of the friends that you make; it’s really just a big family.” Another participant of the play, River Wilkins, who played Titania, says, “It is my second family.”

Some Midsummer actors had two roles. Kelsey Scilligo, for example, played the part of Helena in the main cast and Lysander in the understudy cast. Another actor, Atticus Rider, played Demetrius in the main cast, and Tom Snout/Wall in the understudy cast. Also, there were others who played the same character for both plays, such as Landon Blaire as Robin Starveling, and almost all the actors of the fairies.

One of the main characters in the understudy cast, Hermia, played by Abigail Harrell, describes in regard to the show and theater, “Everyone is so nice and it is such a good environment. I really liked acting for all of the different emotions of Hermia.” Tylee Davis, who played the fairy Peaseblossom states, “I would love to see where theater takes me.”

It’s not just the actors and actresses that make a great play. It is also attributed to the people behind the scenes, such as costume producers, make-up and hair stylists, and of course stage crew. There are also the amazing and talented people who have put time and energy into making terrific sets. Serenity Vang, who did makeup and hair, explains, “I’ve been doing makeup since I was a kid and practice makes perfect.” She was also quick to inform everyone that she sanitizes all make-up equipment before and after usage.

A big thank you to all of the cast members, backstage crew, and of course two-year theater teacher, Janette Allen, for making a spectacular play of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Allen remarks, “[The play] came together just as I had dreamed.” With the success of this production, make sure to look out for the next PVHS theater production, the musical Grease, which will be performed in the spring.

Backstage News:
– “I Want it That Way” was sung by more than one of the cast members before the show!
– “10 Things I Hate About You” was playing in the background during mic checks!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Main Cast:

Theseus, Duke of Athens—Landon Parks

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons—Kiley Gubbels

Egeus—Rowdy Yuhnke

Helena—Kelsey Sciligo

Hermia—Ocibel McConnel

Lysander—Hunter Cartwright

Demetrius—Atticus Rider

Nick Bottom—Colby Kennedy

Peter Quince/Prologue—Athena Agbuya

Francis Flute/Thisbe—Dylan Gells

Tom Snout/Wall—Ashley Eaton

Snug/Lion—Piper Nichols

Robin Starveling—Landon Blaire

Oberon—Snow Harkey

Titania—Eva Albrecht

Puck:Robin Goodfellow—Chora Gilstrap

Lead Fairy—Marisa Schmaljohann

Peaseblossom—Tylee Davis

Cobweb—Shilo Berg

Moth—Lance Burgess

Musturdseed—Embri Victorian

Fairy—Chloe Schultz

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Understudy Cast:

Theseus, Duke of Athens—Colin Fin

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons—Ashley Eaton

Egeus—Kenzie Posada

Helena—Praise Mgbam

Hermia—Abigail (Abbey) Harrell

Lysander—Kelsey Sciligo

Demetrius—Noah Fry

Nick Bottom—Mackenzie Brashears

Peter Quince/Prologue—Ghost Napier-Bordsen

Francis Flute/Thisbe—Rylee Gates

Tom Snout/Wall—Atticus Rider

Snug/Lion—Kate Borders

Robin Starveling—Landon Blaire

Oberon—Jean Joaquin-Sarmiento

Titania—River Wilkins

Puck:Robin Goodfellow—Miles Bocks

Lead Fairy—Katelyn West

Peaseblossom—Tylee Davis

Cobweb—Shilo Berg

Moth—Lance Burgess

Musturdseed—Embri Victorian

Fairy—Chloe Schultz

Stage Crew Main Cast:

Managers

Angelique Trueblood

Hayden Clements-Garrett

Mazen Abdelghany

Geo Medina

Ely Meyer

Spotlight

Josh Bull

Green Show Stage Crew

Kerian McQuain

Braden Mossett

Jameson Ruddy

Franklin Frost

Green Show Ushers

Lydia Watts

Marlee Zeppi

Light Technician

Sydney Azparren

Hannah Khan

Fog Machine & Water Lights

Joel Langley

Props Table

Wyatt Coppens

Makeup & Hair

Jenna Norberry

Tali Morales

Bethany McNeilly

Serenity Vang

Costume

Brianna Morris

Ava Kuykendall

Jade Tibbet

Front of the House Manager

Montana Burkett

Ticket Usher

Maddie Gale

Door Ushers

Haley Atwood

Trinity Pruett

Program Ushers

Nicole Doris

Bella Ellis

Concessions

Amelia Mitchell

Christopher Burke

Anthony Kelly

Sebastian Stephens

Mikayla Wiedeman

Ruby Ramirez Montelongo

Foyer Mural

Vive Staton

Stage Crew Understudy Cast

Managers

Angelique Trueblood

Hayden Clements-Garrett

Mazen Abdelghany

Geo Medina

Ely Meyer

Josh Bull(spotlight)

Light Technician

Sydney Azparren

Hannah Khan

Shadowing, Fog Machine & Water Lights

Conner Wing

Props Table

Maryanne Acetta

Makeup & Hair

Sabrina Stone

Daniela Santos-Beas

Danica Elliott

Gillian Clement

Rin Hammond

Alex Glee

Costume

Kelsey Yang

Violet Noble

Elle Laparan

Front of the House Manager

Montana Burkett

Ticket Ushers

Tye Garcia

Aiden Stevens

Door Ushers

Tessa Garcia

Lillian Tinsley

Program Ushers

William Ward

Rowdy Yuhnke

Ethan Frankovich

Concessions

Kamilah Gonzales

Alex Leal

Aubree Kavathas

Mary Seegrist

Gallery Usher

Briana Alvarez-Chavez