Midsummer Sueño
by San Pedro Playhouse

Apr. 09 - Apr. 14
Tuesday-Sunday

Welcome home to the historic streets of a South Texas city for a Latinx adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, told in English, Spanish, and Shakespeare’s verse. This Texan twist transports you to a world where mariachi melodies meet the magic of the Bard. Amidst the iconic River Walk backdrop, lovers’ quarrels, mischievous fairies, and a ragtag group of actors collide in a humorous and heartwarming romance tale. With Texas as the mystical forest, this production weaves together the rich tapestry of Latinx culture and Texan charm, promising a night of laughter, love, and cultural fusion that will leave you spellbound. Join us in celebrating Shakespeare with a Southwest Texas style.

Feature by Nicholas Frank, San Antonio Report, April 3, 2024

 

 

 

This spring brings a world premiere of a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, Midsummer Sueño. It will play on the fields of San Pedro Springs Park and be produced by both The Classic Theatre of San Antonio and The Public Theater of San Antonio, the longest-running theatre company in Texas. This new Latinx version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, told in English, Spanish, and Shakespeare’s verse, is developed especially for San Antonio, written and directed by Paco Farias. The Shakespeare in the Park festival has a limited 6-show run from April 9 through April 14, 2024. The festival will include local vendors and food trucks.

 

Director Paco Farias adds more about the vision and direction for the production: “I am honored and humbled to be collaborating with The Public Theater and Classic Theatre of San Antonio on such a fun and amazing project. Midsummer Sueño is not just an adaptation; it is a celebration of diversity and a reflection of the unique spirit of San Antonio's community. My hope is to create a production that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, making the beauty of Shakespeare's work accessible to all in a way that feels both relevant and captivating.”

The cast includes LUCERO PEREZ as ERMIDA, ANDREW TREVIÑO as LISANDRO, AMY ABRIGO as Elena, AJ HARDERMANas Demetrius, ISIDRO MEDINA III as Thesios/Oberon, CHRISTINA CASELLA as Apollonia/Titania, HUMBERTO GARCIA as JESUS, CHRIS BERRY as BOTTOM, JOSE RUBEN DE LEON as QUINCE / THE OLD ONE, IZA J. GARZA as FLORA, JOE DE MOTT as BOB, DWAYNE SHAW as NUGGS, MARYLIN CREANEY as Mayra, ERIC B. MOTA as Puck, CLAUDIA MARTINEZ as WEB, BRIANNA RESENDEZ as Paz, KATE SISCO as Semilla, and MARYANN VALERIO and KAREN JIMENZ as Fairies. This production will feature dancers ANTHONY SALAZAR and SAMANTHA LAFUENTE from Grupo Folklorico de Bendiciónes.

The creative team includes PACO FARIAS as Director and Playwright, JAIME RAMIREZ as Music Director and Composer, AARON SALINAS as Assistant Music Director/Band Leader, JACKIE PEREZ as Stage Manager, ALEX URDIALES as Assistant Director and Sound Board Operator, ABBY PARRISH as Assistant Stage Manager and Deck Chief, RACHAEL LORENZETTI as Costume Designer, CARLOS R. NINE as Lighting Designer, JAVIER SANCHEZ as Props Designer, ANTHONY CIARAVINO as Scenic Designer, and BENJAMIN FARRAR as Sound Designer.

 

Run time: Approximately two hours with one 15-minute intermission.

 

 

This production has themes that explore love, romance, magic, mischief, and nature. Fairies and enchanted forests create a dreamlike atmosphere, while humor and complexity arise from the contrast between order and disorder. Character transformations highlight the fluid nature of identity, and the exploration of gender roles, power dynamics, and meta-theatrical elements.

 

CAST

Christina Casella as Apollonia/Titania

Isidro Medina III as Thesios/Oberon

Humberto Garcia as Jesus

Lucy Perez as Ermida

Andrew Treviño as Lisandro

Azarel Hardeman as Demetrius

Amy Abrigo as Elena

Jose Ruben De Leon as Quince/The Old

Chris Berry as Bottom

Iza J. Garza as Flora

Dwayne Shaw as Nuggs

Marylin Creaney as Mayra

Joe De Mott as Bob

Eric B. Mota as Puck

Katy Sisco as Semilla

Brianna Resendez as Paz (Swing-Ermida)

Claudia Martinez as Web (Swing-Puck)

Maryann Valerio as Fairy (Swing-Flora/Mayra)

Karen Jimenez as Fairy (Swing-Elena)

 

CREATIVE TEAM

Director/Playwright — Paco Farias

Music Director and Composer — Jaime Ramirez

Assistant Music Director/Band Leader — Aaron Salinas

Assistant Director and Sound Board Operator — Alex Urdiales

Stage Manager — Jackie Perez

Assistant Stage Manager + Deck Chief — Abby Parrish

Costume Designer — Rachel Lorenzetti

Lighting Designer — Carlos R. Nine 

Scenic Designer — Anthony Ciaravino

Props Designer — Javier Sanchez

Sound Designer — Ben Farrar

 

The 2023-24 Welcome Home Season is proudly supported by Season Presenting Sponsors, Robert K. Brown and Dennis B. Karbach. Midsummer Sueño is supported by Presenting Sponsor, Siete Family Foods, as well as Producing Sponsors, H-E-B and Arts Midwest; Education Sponsor, Bank of America; and Sueño Supporter, Muriel F. Siebert Foundation.

 

About The Public Theater of San Antonio

The Public Theater of San Antonio is a non-profit organization producing live professional theater that inspires, educates, and connects communities. As San Antonio’s regional professional theater, many volunteers and service contractors contribute to the organization’s success. An average of two hundred professionally paid performers and technicians annually participate in productions. Nearly 90% of the performers and creative team members are from the local region. Established in 1912 as the San Antonio Dramatic Club and incorporated on April 6, 1927, as the San Antonio Little Theatre, it is the longest-running theater in South Texas. The company has had other brands, such as The San Pedro Playhouse (1997) and The Playhouse San Antonio (2012).  Its most recent brand, The Public Theater of San Antonio, was unveiled on January 7, 2018, to align the organization’s new professional vision to the region’s needs. The Public Theater has evolved to serve its community as a 501c3 non-profit organization for over a century. Visit www.thepublicsa.org for more information.

Connect with The Public Theater of San Antonio
Facebook @thepublicsa www.facebook.com/thepublicsa
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Twitter @thepublicsa www.twitter.com/thepublicsa

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About The Classic Theatre of San Antonio

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is a nonprofit professional theatre in San Antonio, Texas, committed to producing theatre that is relevant, diverse, entertaining, and transformative. 

We produce five main stage shows a year, as well as our Second Series, a series of smaller productions, partnering with local and national artists.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio was founded in 2008 by Chris Cheever, Asia Ciaravino, Anthony Ciaravino, Diane Malone, Rick Malone, Terri Peña Ross, and Allan S. Ross, and counts among its credits more than 70 Alamo Theatre Arts Council (ATAC) Awards.

 

 

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Midsummer Sueño
by William Shakespeare, adapted by Paco Farias, Jaime Ramirez
San Pedro Playhouse

April 9–14, 2024

Russell Hilll Rogers Theatre, The Public Theatre of San Antonio

• Site Map of Shakespeare in the Park Click here  

Tickets for Midsummer Sueño Click here.

• General Admission — All GA tickets are $25. FREE GA tickets are available for 18 and under, thanks to the generous support of Siete Family Foods, Bank of America, H-E-B, and Arts Midwest. 

• VIP Seated Tickets —  Ticket prices with fees included for Shakespeare in the Park are $50 (Adult), $35 (Military/Student/Older Adults 60+, First-Responders), and $20 (Child Under 12).

• VIP Tables — VIP tables are available for a party of four. This exclusive package comes complete with table goodies like wine, merchandise, snacks, food truck vouchers, and VIP access to indoor restrooms and bar. Cabaret tables are $800 each. To make a reservation for a table call  (210) 733-7258 ext. 1109 or email development@thepublicsa.org. 

• Single Tickets are available at www.thepublicsa.org, by phone at (210) 733-7258, or by email boxoffice@thepublicsa.org. Shakespeare in the Park will have wheelchair accessibility.

Events in Celebration of Midsummer Sueño

• Opening Night — Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

• Pride Night — Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

• ASL Performance —Friday, April 12, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. 

• District 1 Night — Friday, April 12, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.