Midsummer/Jersey is the hilarious high-octane re-telling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream set on the boardwalk of a seaside town in modern-day New Jersey.
The story revolves around the impending marriage of the Governor of New Jersey, the love affairs of four beach-bound high school crushes, a lively crew of screwball fairies and the staff of the local beauty salon. With several weddings and the acting careers of six beauticians hanging in the balance, the lovers take to the boardwalk, backed by pop music and an iPhone-obsessed wood sprite.
Written for high schools and colleges, Midsummer/Jersey received its world premiere in November 2011 at James Robinson High School in Fairfax, VA.
Reviews
Dan Barr as Oberon, Photo by Frank Ruth
Sarah Irving as Titania, Photo by Frank Ruth
FULL REVIEWS
Fairfax Connection: Fresh and Entertaining Ken Ludwig's Midsummer/Jersey at Robinson Secondary School
Fairfax Station Patch: Review of Ken Ludwig's Midsummer/Jersey
ARTICLES
The Washington Post: Ken Ludwig world premiere to be at high school:
A Broadway master is trying out his play--Shakespeare meets "Jersey Shore"--at a Fairfax high school
Original Cast and Creative Team
KEN LUDWIG'S MIDSUMMER/JERSEY premie red on November 17th, 2011 at James W. Robinson Jr. Secondary Schoo l. The production was directed by Douglas Rome, with assistant direction by Lizzie Hodgedon, dramaturgy by Sarah Irving*; set design by Emily Rowson,* set decoration by Hannah Sikora*, costumes by Arianna Vessal, sound design by Christine Wagner, lighting design by Paul Mayo*, property design by Mary Turgeon*, hair & makeup design by Kayla Neal, technical direction by Samantha Hennerty, set construction by Matt Lynch, paint by Lindsay Rubin, publicity by Sarah Irving*, program by Emily Rowson*. and film & video by Scan Cooper. It was stage managed by Allison Poms*, and assistant stage managed by Anna Barr*, Kyle Ronyecs and Helai Karim.
The production was managed by Michaela Wright*.
The cast was as follows:
MIA "COOKIE" DICARLO—Gabby Rojtman; HELENE—Emily Rowson; LYLE "THE UNDERSTATEMENT" FAGIOLI—Ethan Malamud; DENIS—Kolya Rabinowitch; ROBIN GOODFELLOW (PUCK)—Adam Bradley*; OBERON—Dan Barr*; TITANIA—Sarah Irving; NIKKI BOTTOM—Carys Meyer*; PATTI QUINCE—Molly Johnson*; CHRIS ATHENS—TJ Albertson*; HIPPOLYTA GINSBERG —Aubrey Benham*; PHYLLIS TRAIT —Hillary Hollaway; JUSTINE DICARLO—Hannah Sikora*; RUFUS DICARLO—.Jackson Viccora*; PRINCIPAL PLATT— Addy Gravatte; FRANCI FLUTE—Sarah Markstciner; TERRI THUMBS—Mary Turgeon*; ROBERT SUDDS—Jamie Green*; JANET SNUG—Brandy Skaddan; COBWEB —Taylor Fountain; MOONBEAM—Andie Mauen; MOTH—Maya Davis*; MUSTARDSEED — Kate Poms; PEASEBLOSSOM —Ellie Duhadway; SUNFLOWER —Darla Reynolds; SUNSHINE— Kelly Thomas; TURTLE—Rachel Ingle; JACK — Josh Meyers*; SHIRLEY —Hannah Bunting*; KIM — Meg Connors; MINDY — Taryn Falkenstein; PENNY — Jessica Israel; HAROLD — Jacob Medley; BAKARI — Ashaya Pokhrel
OBERON'S FAIRIES. . . . Alex Bulova, Ashaya Pokhrel, Ivonte Milligan, Jacob Medley, James Lynch
TITANIA’S FAIRIES —Taryn Falkenstein, Hannah Bunting
UNDERSTUDIES
Aubrey Benham*, Alex Bulova, Meg Connors, Maya Davis*, Monica Goodwin, Sydney Lykins, Andie Mauen, Jacob Medley, Dasha Savina, Sophia Sempeles, Brionna Simmons, Arianna Vessal*
PRODUCTION TEAM
Amani Abdeljabbar, Sean Baird, Dan Bonilla, Hannah Bunting, Jorge Gandia, Tristan Cheramie, Renee Colligan, Marissa Considine, Sean Cooper, Nicole Copenhaver, Liam Dillon, Sabina Dua, Casey Early, Emily Filostrat, Victoria Fong, Paige Franklin, Chloe Gilfoil, Monica Goodwin, J amie Green, Blair Gruendl , Kyle Gaulke, Kelly Guin, Paige Hastie, Hillary Holloway, Molly Johnson, Brennan Laskas, James Lynch, Lucia Maldonclo, Andie Matten, Chris Mayhew, Kayse McGough, Ivonte Milligan, Chris Moalli, Dinma Onyekwere, Kate Poms, Anna Ready,Kelsey Rooney, Lindsey Rubin, D'Arcy Sampson, Dasha Savina, Hannah Selz, Elana Shuart, Brandy Skaddan, Andrew Suarez, Isabella Suarez, Elise Truong, Reetu Varadhan, Sophie Wh ite, Cassie Wood, Edyan Yusuf
*Denotes Membership in International Thespian Society
KEN LUDWIG’S MIDSUMMER/ JERSEY was subsequently presented by Interlochen Center for the Arts (William Church, Director of Theatre and Comparative Arts) on July 27, 2012. The production was directed by J. W. Morrissette, with assistant direction by Linda Osborn, dramaturgy by Scott Harman, set design by Christopher Dills, costumes by Candace Hughes, sound design by Bryan Chess, and lighting design by Jason Banks. It was stage managed by Seth Valentine.
The cast was as follows:
PRINCIPAL PlAIT/ MOTE —Lily Lipman; GOVERNOR CHRIS ATHENS—Will Ouweleen; HYPOLYTA GINSBERG—Tara Stallion; PHYLLIS TRAIT/COBWEB—Margaret Murphy; JUSTINE DICARLO—Natasha Batten; RUFUS DICARLO/JACK/ TURTLE —Clayton To; MIA "COOKIE" DICARLO—Cate Payne; LYLE "THE UNDERSTATEMENT" FAGIOLI—Harry Thornton; DENIS—Abram Blau; HELENE— Sarah Pidgeon; OBERON —Andrew Elk; TITANIA —Chloe Baldwin; ROBIN GOODFELLOW (PUCK)— Jennifer Klink; PATTI QUINCE—Shawna James; NIKKI BOTTOM/ HAROLD —Amrita Newton; FRANCI FLUTE/ BAKARI—Ruby Green; JANET SNUG/ PENNY—Maddy Sosnowski; ROBERTA SUDDS/ SHIRLEY—Savannah Kolodziej; TERRI TIIUMBS/ MINDY—Emma Gutt; PEASBLOSSOM—Hannah Dakssio; MOONBEAM— Paige Goetz; SUNFLOWER—Clare Donaldson; SUNSHINE— Grace DiChristina; MUSTARDSEED—Carolyn Rogan; TURTLE—Clayton To
UNDERSTUDIES
MIA—Lily Lipman; OBERON —Will Ouweleen; TITANIA —Margaret Murphy; HELENE—Natasha Batten; LYLE—Clayton To; PUCK—Ruby Green