Enjoy this World Premiere streaming show any time in May... and support the work of ARC's Theatre and Film Students!
In the spirit of May's "Big Day of Giving," we'd love to give you more time to see our final production of the season. (See below for full show details). Simply purchase your digital ticket for "May 31", and you will be sent a link that will last ALL MONTH LONG!
It's pay-what-you-can.... so please consider ANY amount... even $10 will help! These ticket funds will support next year's shows! Thank you, in advance, for your support!
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Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream? Meet 2020!
MIDSUMMER v.20.20
Original adaptation by Terry Haley
American River College May 1 - 31, 2021
ARC Theatre closes its season with the premiere of an original adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream by Bay Area playwright, Terry Haley. Aptly titled Midsummer v.20.20, this innovative streaming production places the beloved characters in last year's now-familiar 'Covid world' where quarantines kept both friends and lovers apart, and Zoom, Instagram, Facetime and TikTok became the main methods of connection. Enter the merry hacker, Puck himself, whose chief goal is to eavesdrop on as many interactions as possible!
"Our goal with this production has been to get away from the idea of pretending that these characters are all together," says director Tracy Martin Shearer. "The playwright spent countless hours researching the myriad ways people have tried to stay connected during the pandemic — from social media platforms to the many online meeting apps like Webex, Discord, and, yes, Zoom. Haley's modernized, hilarious characters live in that world, and we get the fun of seeing everything they do through Puck's ability to hack his way into anything!"
In addition to all this, the show has the added element of music. Yes -- it's a musical, despite the fact that the show was put together entirely online. Musical Director Susan Hamre transposed, transcribed and taught the pieces, then Sound Designer Kirt Shearer captured and mixed the work of dozens of actors and musicians to make it all work.
For those who have always loved Shakespeare's Midsummer, you'll find the same groups of characters populate this production. In this show, however, the 'Nobles' are software company elites, the 'Fairies' are fabulous social media influencers, and the scene stealing 'Mechanicals' are dedicated Walmart employees as well as amateur actors. For folks unfamiliar with the original story, just remember that you're an expert on the story of 2020 and enjoy this crazy take on a crazy year!
The cast includes local theatre favorites Brianne Hidden, Demjuan Julian, and Corey Winfield, as well as Los Angeles actress/alum, Liesel Hanson -- all performing alongside a talented group of student actors who have served as cinematographers, editors and set dressers in addition to performing.
"One of the advantages of online productions like this is that the actors can live nearly anywhere and still be a part of the show," says Shearer. "Alum Jazz Sunpanich, who plays Mia, is an actress in New York. Liesel, who plays Flute, had to take one day off to film a Superbowl ad... but then she was right back at rehearsal." Shearer also noted how wonderful it has been to work with actors from other colleges, including Kaitlin Richards, a recent Kennedy Center ACTF finalist who attends CSUS, and Christine Nicholson who teaches for both Sacramento City College and CSUS.
The production has been extended, and is streaming online through the month of May. To view the show, order your ticket for the May 31 date, and the ticket will be good for any day through May 31.
After you order your ticket, you will receive, on the Order Confirmation page, the link and password to view the video. Please print/save this information. You will also get an email confirming your purchase. It should also be on your confirmation email. In the middle of the confirmation email is a red button "View Order". Click this, and in the middle of that page is the link and password to access the video
The cost of each ticket is 'pay-what-you-can,' which will help defray the many expenses involved in the production, and help support the return of live theatre in the fall!
To view Midsummer Notes and Program info, click here Midsummer Program and Notes
This video is closed captioned.
For additional production questions, email [email protected] or [email protected].
