A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Illinois State University

Set in Athens, the play follows the trials, heartache, and eventual happiness of two Athenian couples and the entertaining antics of meddling, magical fairies. The main plot involves two sets of couples-Hermia and Lysander, and Helena and Demetrius-whose romances are complicated by the whims of Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the Fairies, and their servant Puck.

Shakespeare’s lighthearted play explores the capricious, dream-like, and sometimes ridiculous nature of love. A Midsummer Night’s Dream brings further humor with its play-within-a-play format, in which a group of craftsmen celebrates the upcoming marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta by putting on a badly performed play.

April 17-20 at 7:30 pm; April 20, 21 at 2 pm

April 17 is a preview performance. Preview performances are the day before the show officially opens. They provide an opportunity for our cast and crew to perform with an audience and allow patrons to see the production at a discounted rate.