Home   |   Bookstore   |   Reviews

Charles Askenaizer
Charles Askenaizer
Snout
Jos N Banks
Jos N Banks
Lysander
Joey Banks
Joey Banks
Oberon
Bryan Breau
Bryan Breau
Demetrius
Keith Cavanaugh
Keith Cavanaugh
Bottom
Madisen Dempsey
Madisen Dempsey
Mustardseed
James Dolbeare
James Dolbeare
Snug
Kevin Grubb
Kevin M. Grubb
Quince
Hilary Holbrook
Hilary Holbrook
Hermia
Charley Jordan
Charley Jordan
Egeus
McKenna Kirchner
McKenna Kirchner
Peasblossom

Jen Mathews
Jen Mathews
Hippolyta
Jessica McCartney
Jessica McCartney
Starvling
Jennifer Nickell
Jennifer Nickell
Moth
Hallie Peterson
Hallie Peterson
Cobweb
Miriam Reuter
Miriam Reuter
Puck
Nicola Rinow
Nicola Rinow
Helena
Roy Samra
Roy Samra
Philostrate
Anastasia Spalding
Anastasia Spalding
First Fairy
Laura Sturm
Laura Sturm
Titania
Jeremy Thompson
Jeremy Thompson
Theseus
Aaron Wertheim
Aaron Wertheim
Flute


A Midsummer Night's Dream

by William Shakespeare

Adapted and Directed
by Ann Keen


April 20 - May 22, 2016
at the Greenhouse Theater Center
2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614

A Magical, Music-Filled Celebration of Love!

Get ready for doo-wop harmonies from magic fairies in a fun-filled interpretation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the bard's most popular comedy. Director Ann Keen sets the production in an America of the early 1960's, a time of distinctive transition in our culture, as music, morality, and racial relations began a revolution. Like Ann's Hamlet (which won Polarity the honor of Best Emerging Theatre Company from the Chicago Reader) and her A Streetcard Named Desire, this production was infused with music.


About the Play


A Midsummer Night's Dream was written around 1594 or 95. It portrays the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland fairies and a duke and duchess. This production takes place in a mythical 1960's America and an enchanted forest with a crafty fairy king, an outraged parent, an interracial love story, a bumbling weaver transformed into a half-donkey, and fairies who sing in 1960's harmony. It's a magical, music-filled celebration of love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all.


About the Director


Polarity Ensemble Theatre co-founder Ann Keen received her B.A. from Saint Mary's University and her M.F.A. in acting from Arizona State University. She has done a lot of acting and voice over work in the Chicagoland Area. Her favorite roles include Clytemnestra in The Oresteia, Emilia in Othello, Lucetta in Two Gentleman of Verona and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. Most recently, Ann was in the play Unnecessary Farce at Fox Valley Repertory. She directed Polarity's productions of Antigone, Hamlet and A Streetcar Named Desire and most recently, Crimes of the Heart at Steel Beam Theatre. She is especially brilliant at working with playwrights on developing new scripts. Ann and her husband John are the proprietors of The Spice House in Geneva.
Read the reviews!

Ticket Info

A Midsummer Night's Dream ran at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago 60614 from April 20 through May 22, 2016. Previews April 20 and 21 ($15 adults, $10 students). Press Opening Friday, April 22 (regular prices). Benefit Night Saturday, April 23 ($40). Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Regular general admission tickets are $25. Seniors (65+) $20. Students (with ID) $10.

How to Get There

Red Line or Brown Line El: Get off at the Fullerton stop - all trains including the Purple Line stop there. When you exit the station, turn right and walk one block east and then two blocks south on Lincoln Ave. The Greenhouse Theater Center is on the left side of Lincoln Avenue just past the old Children's Memorial Hospital, 5 doors south of Belden Ave. & Starbucks.

Free Parking

Greenhouse Theater Center patrons can find free parking at the former Children's Memorial Hospital Garage, located at 2316 N. Lincoln, just south of Fullerton Ave. There is a street light that marks the open entrance to the garage. Currently, the first three floors of the parking garage are open to the public for FREE. There is a 5 hour limit. In addition to the garage, there is metered parking on Lincoln Ave.

Production Staff

Richard Engling, Artistic Director
Ann Keen, Director
Nicole Lewter, Production Manager
Hazel Marie Flowers-McCabe, Stage Manager
Buck Blue, Scenic Designer/TD
Claire Chrzan, Lighting Designer
Alaine Moore, Costume Designer
Charley Jordan, Props Designer
Bob Kretz, Sound Designer
Dave Gonzalez, Fight Director
Abigail Epperson, Casting Director
Ali Helland, Text/Vocal Coach
Michael Alexander Joseph, Master Electrician
Aaron Pepple, Assistant Stage Manager


Home   |   Bookstore   |   Reviews


Polarity Ensemble Theatre