SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance Presents Mainstage Production of William Shakespeare Comedy from April 18 to 21
Photo by Ayisha Khalid '24
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present William Shakespeare’s play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at the Performing Arts Center Proscenium Theater, from April 18 to 21.
One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” transports the audience to a forest outside Athens, where mischievous fairies wreak havoc on the hapless mortals who cross their paths. Magic is employed to confuse lovers, turn fairy against fairy, and to place a donkey’s head on Bottom the Weaver. As Robin Goodfellow, a Puck, reminds us: “Lord what fools these mortals be.”
The large cast contains majors from across campus. Junior music education major Gabby Maresco ’25, who plays Peter Quince, explained: “This is my first Shakespeare role, and it changed the way I interpret text, which was very useful for looking at the other work I have done in theatre.”
Other cast and crew members are majors in arts management, art studio, creative writing, dance, music and theatre.
Photo by Ayisha Khalid '24
“‘Midsummer’ feels like the perfect show to end my time at Potsdam,” said Sophie Leuzzi ’24, a senior theatre major playing Titania. “It challenges me not only with the Shakespearean dialect, but also with character-building, choreography, and cast connections. My time in this theatre and dance department has given me so many opportunities to grow in my acting, and I am sad to leave it behind as it gets discontinued; however, I know the experiences and direction I've been given in my time here by professors and peers is priceless.”
Director and Associate Professor Dr. Jay Pecora explained: “‘Midsummer’ is Shakespeare’s most accessible play, which is why it is so widely performed. As this is the department’s last fully produced mainstage production, the designers are pulling out all the stops and the audience can expect a visual and audio delight. Costumes were designed by senior theatre major Emily Bailey ’24, donkey head design was by senior music and art major Antoinette Parisi ’24, set design is by faculty member Todd Canedy, and light design is by staff member Tom Grabowski.”
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens with an evening show at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18. A sold-out school performance will be held on Friday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. The Saturday, April 20 performance at 7:30 p.m. will have American Sign Language interpretation. The final performance is a matinee, on Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m.
Performances will be held in the Proscenium Theater at the Performing Arts Center on the SUNY Potsdam campus.
All tickets for Department of Theatre and Dance productions are free and can be picked up at the door starting 30 minutes before the show time.
For more information on the production, please contact Department of Theatre and Dance Chair Jay Pecora at pecorajw@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2547.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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