PAIN AND PASSION
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ opens in McGinnis Theatre
Summer Collins as Puck, Oberon’s Jester.
A tale filled with lovers and fairies takes stage at McGinnis Theatre as William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens at East Carolina University on April 19.
“‘Midsummer’ is a comedy that has some universal themes about how love is fickle and falling in and out of love is often fraught with as much pain as passion,” said director Jennifer-Scott Mobley. “We can laugh at the lovers behaving badly because we perhaps recognize a bit of ourselves in them.”
The lovers are played by ECU students Jessica Braun, Grant VanderVoort, Pierce Williams and Madeline Whallen.
This is Mobley’s directing debut at ECU. Before joining the School of Theatre and Dance faculty, she worked as a freelance dramaturg and director in New York City.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre from the College of William and Mary, a master’s of fine arts in dramaturgy and theatre criticism from Brooklyn College, and a doctorate in theatre studies from the City University of New York Graduate Center.
“There are very big shoes to fill in terms of the directors who have come before me on the McGinnis stage, especially that of our former School of Theatre and Dance director, John Shearin, who was the spine of our program and season here,” she said. “It’s a gift to be working with the talented and dedicated students and faculty designers at ECU.”
Brooke Palmer as Cobweb, Summer Collins as Puck, Jordan Biggers as Moth, Aubrey Celene Moya-Mendez as Peaseblossom and Alyssa Davis as Mustardseed.
Stage Manager William K. Brooks, a senior from Charlotte, said one of the most exciting parts of this production is the collaboration.
“For this show, scenery, lighting and costuming worked very close to make sure everything flowed together,” said Brooks, who is majoring in theatre arts with a concentration in stage management. “There are lights in the costumes and costumes that are the same colors as the set so it all works so well together.”
“The students continue to blow me away with their talent and professionalism,” Mobley said. “I think people would be surprised to see just how hard these students work, and how much training and practice goes into what you see onstage.”
Performances will be held in McGinnis Theatre at 8 p.m. April 19-21, 2 p.m. April 22, and 8 p.m. April 23-24. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for ECU students and youth. Call 252-328-6829, email theatre@ecu.edu or visit www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/theatredance/Playhouse.cfm for more information.
Madeline Whallen as Hermia, Pierce Williams as Lysander and Jessica Braun as Helena.