Listen Here
By Sarah Rutledge
rutledges@findlay.edu
“Magical” and “whimsical” is how Eva Hancock, a sophomore journalism major, describes the University of Findlay theater department’s upcoming play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which will be Hancock’s fifth show at UF.
“I think students will be shocked at how well they understand the show,” Hancock said. “When people hear the word Shakespeare, they tend to go into the performance with fear.
“I think that the biggest challenge is having such a large cast,” Hancock said. “We all, including cast members, have a super hectic schedule, and are feeling the stress of the upcoming finals. Even through this stress, we now have our show week, and it’s been a fun challenge.”
Admissions Counselor Jack Yeater, a UF alumnus, is also a cast member for the upcoming production in his 23rd production at UF.
“Although I have not been in production for nearly a year and a half, it is similar to riding a bike; it just took some time to get back into it,” Yeater said. “I think that it can be surprising how modern the play can feel.”
Behind the scenes, stage managers, stage hands, makeup and costume designers, and technical support are working overtime to make the performance a success.
Caleb Acker, a junior biology major, has only been on UF’s stage twice, but including his involvement with the crew and the stage management team, this is his 20th production.
“This play is so different from all the other ones I have done, not only for the fact that I am on stage, but also for the fact that it is written by Shakespeare,” Acker said. “The time period when it was written, our language was wildly different from what it is today.”
“Expect the unexpected,” says Kai Powell, a senior journalism major. “Whatever you think is going to happen, the opposite is going to happen. Also, pay attention to the little details.”
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at the John and Hester Powell Grimm Theater in the Egner building on UF’s campus, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 16. Tickets are free for UF students, faculty, and staff; and $8 for the general public. The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts will be collecting shelf stable foods for local charities at all performances.
