The Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance (SoTD) announced a new type of event associated with the mainstage season. SoTD’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare will have an official preview performance on April 17 with tickets sold at reduced prices. There will also be a pre-show talk and reception at 6 p.m. that includes a discussion with a panel of creators associated with the show, including the dramaturg, Sarah Hall, and director, Connie deVeer.
The idea for this pre-show event originated from Dr. Le’Mil Eiland, a member of the theatre studies faculty, who expressed a wish for an event that would foster a sense of community and celebration. “It feels like the students acknowledge their work on the mainstage shows,” says Eiland. “But they don’t have time to celebrate it before they have to move on to the next project.”
The idea then expanded into something that would allow people outside the school to learn and engage with the art of theatre. Dr. Kee-Yoon Nahm, head of the theatre studies sequence, suggested that the production’s dramaturg could moderate the event. The upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream seemed like the perfect opportunity to do a trial run since Shakespeare’s plays are often more difficult for general audience members to understand.
According to Dr. Derek Munson, whose arts administration class is coordinating the event, this is a unique opportunity for both longtime and would-be enjoyers of Shakespeare’s work. The pre-show event is designed to help make meaning from Shakespeare, so new audience members will not go into the theatre without a guide.
Hall, the moderator for the event and the show’s dramaturg, says that the pre-show talk will consist of themes and character dynamics that the audience can watch out for during the performance. The talk will also explain some of the contexts that affected Shakespeare’s writing process. “There are so many fun relationship dynamics and fluctuations due to the manipulations of magic throughout the show, and it kind of becomes chaotic,” says Hall. “I want audiences to go in prepared to understand the story and characters.”
Eiland says that the pre-show event has developed beyond his initial idea but celebrates that as the beauty of collaboration. He says he hopes the event can evolve organically into what it needs to be for our students and community. Munson hopes that this is the first of many pre-show events hosted by the theatre studies area going forward. Hall had these final words to say: “I think it is a great opportunity for SoTD to engage with the students to talk about theatre and give them a little bit of insight of behind the scenes and the process of decision making.”
Tickets for the preview performance are on sale now and can be purchased at a reduced price in person at the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office on the campus of Illinois State University, by calling (309) 438-2535, or on the box office website until they are sold out.
The reception will start at 6 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts Lobby where free pizza will be provided. The panel will begin discussions at 6:15 p.m. during the reception and continue until the house opens at 7 p.m.
The preview performance will be in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre, starting at 7:30 p.m. The performance run time is approximately two hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will continue to be performed at the Center for the Performing Arts on April 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. as well as April 20-21 at 2 p.m. at regular ticket prices.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office on the campus of Illinois State University, by calling (309) 438-2535, or on the box office website.
If you need accommodations to fully participate in this program, please contact the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at (309) 438-2535. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
