Long Wharf Youth Shake Up Shakespeare

Fairy Queen Titania (played by Nina Dicker of Old Saybrook) sleeps in her bower as her fairy Peaseblossom (played by Dawn Williams of Trumbull), stand watch.

William Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and magic gets a fun new twist in this summer’s Shake-it-up-Shakespeare Youth Ensemble production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The play is adapted and directed by Long Wharf Theatre’s Director of Education Annie DiMartino. Musical direction is by Carol Taubl. Twenty-three local actors, ranging in age from 15 to 21 and from all over southern Connecticut, are performing the play.

The show will take place on Stage II from Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 23 -25 at 8 pm, and Sunday, Aug. 26 at 3 pm. Tickets are $10, general admission, and can be purchased by calling 203-787-4282.

Lovers jump and jive their way through the magic of Shakespeare’s language while incorporating classic songs from the 1950s, including “Rock Around The Clock” and “Hound Dog.” Fairies slither and crawl their way through their animal kingdom while singing contemporary rock music featuring artists like Florence and The Machine and Christina Perri.

The cast, comprised of students aged 15 to 21, includes Lauren Buonasora (North Haven), Chloe Chappa (Middletown), Nina Dicker (Old Saybrook,) Gabriel DiMartino (Middletown), Matthew Johnson (Trumbull), Bowen Kirwood (Easton), Jane Logan (Branford), Alex Luft (Middletown), Celine Montaudy (Norwalk), Tommy Ordway (Easton), Ethan Pierson (Milford,) Ryan Ronan (West Haven), Maya Rose (Bethany), Rachel Skalka (Woodbridge), Jack Taubl (New Haven), James Taubl (New Haven), Jeremiah Taubl (New Haven), Sam Taubl (New Haven), Henry Tobelman (Branford), Kira Topalian (Milford), Erik Van Eck (Ivoryton), Emily Walters (Woodbridge), Dawn Williams (Trumbull).

For more information, visit www.longwharf.org or call 203-787-4282.