As I entered the Norris Family Theater to conduct interviews with some members of the cast on Wednesday evening, I was greeted by a world transformed. Joan Saunders, who leads costume design while managing numerous other aspects of production, and her husband George were carefully adjusting the positioning of the live cuttings from trees that frame each side of the stage platform and Arts Department Chair, Kate Jones, was applying meticulous paint touch-ups. Overhead, aerial silks cascaded from above, while the ethereal sound effects echoed throughout the space.The magic of Shakespeare's forest has come to life at Proctor. It was tech week for Proctor's spring performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which opens this Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM.
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Under the direction of Charley Stern ’09, the cast and crew have worked diligently throughout the accelerated schedule of the spring term to step into their roles, learn their lines, assist with set and costume design, and refine all of the elements that bring this production to life. In his director's note, Charley shares: "What makes this production especially meaningful is that it was the students who asked for it. I couldn't quite believe it when they proposed Shakespeare! But they were keen on this play and all that it brings: they wanted the fairies, the lovers, the magic, and the madness." He adds, "This show has a special place in my heart. A Midsummer Night's Dream was the first play I remember truly falling in love with. I was nine years old, sitting under the stars in Regent's Park in London with my parents, watching the magic unfold on stage." Charley goes on to explain that the play has followed him throughout his life, even having played the role of Bottom in an off-Broadway production in New York City.
This enthusiasm is evident in conversation with the cast. Several performers gathered to discuss their journey with Shakespeare. Hazel ’26, who plays Hermia, describes her character with evident joy: "She is a feisty woman. She's in love with the right guy. He's in love with her. And then magic happens." Her eyes light up as she adds, "She's so free-spirited and so brave and so outspoken. I just love her." Ozzy ’26, who plays the mischievous Puck (aka Robin Goodfellow), shares a similar excitement: "My character loves the chaos, and it's so much fun. I absolutely love playing them." This marks a departure from previous roles, as they explain, "I've been able to play angry characters, condescending characters, saddened characters, but never someone who is just genuinely so excited by chaos."
For many in the cast, this production is their first experience with Shakespeare, yet they have found the language surprisingly accessible – thanks to the rhythm inherent in Shakespeare and Charley's adaptation. The challenge, they explained, lies not in memorization but in conveying meaning. Ozzy notes, "Representing what is actually being said is so much more difficult than actually memorizing it." Charley's adaptation brings fresh energy to this more than 400-year-old text. The cast explained how he took multiple versions, adjusted passages to help modern audiences connect with the material, and added contemporary elements. "This is definitely a very unique version of A Midsummer Night's Dream," explains Ember ’28. "There's sound effects, a whole dance number, modern songs, and Taylor Swift.” The production also features fascinating staging and dynamic movement, with silks that allow characters to soar through the enchanted forest and interesting choreography, including a dance choreographed by Bria ’28. The production team has created a world where reality and fantasy blend.
What became apparent after talking with this ensemble is how the theater program at Proctor builds community and confidence. Many students spoke about how performing has transformed their self-assurance in ways that extend beyond the stage. "Being able to go out on stage and put donkey ears on and neigh on stage has given me so much confidence," shares Ember. "If I can act like a donkey on stage, then I can raise my hand in class and I can share my opinions."
As Ozzy eloquently put it: "In theater, we all come from nothing. We all walk into this building on the first day not knowing any lines…and we get to watch each other grow from nothing to this amazing character." This collaborative experience creates bonds that last well beyond the final curtain call. The cast and crew of A Midsummer Night's Dream should be proud of their hard work and the gift of theater they are providing to the Proctor and local Andover community this spring.
As director Charley Stern concludes in his program note, "I'm so proud of this cast and crew. They've embraced the poetic, the weird, the silly, and the chaotic spirit of this play with courage and creativity. I hope you all find yourself laughing, leaning in, and getting a bit lost in the woods just like I did as a kid." Be sure to come out to the Norris Family Theater this Friday and Saturday at 7:00 PM to experience one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies in person!
Thanks to PBN, the Performance will be livestreamed HERE.
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