A Note from the Director:

Thank you for joining us for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This has been an incredible journey as my first production here at Conchita Espinosa Academy, and I can’t say how proud I am to be working at this school with these students. I’m thrilled to have you all here, sharing in the students’ work.

What’s amazing about performing Shakespeare is the immense tradition of it. The language is delicious and runs with a vibrant blood. These words have been passed down from generation to generation for over 400 years, and they are part of a living tradition. An actor that handles this language follows in the footsteps of countless great thespians. Yet here we are presenting this 400 year old play in modern dress, with pop songs interspersed throughout. And we end in a dance. How is that possible?

When originally performed, all of Shakespeare’s plays (even the tragedies) ended in a dance; all of the plays were accompanied by live music. (Musicians were placed in the balcony above the stage and would underscore the play.) Shakespeare wrote his plays in iambic pentameter—the pulsing rhythm that is interwoven into the very fabric of his words—and his characters speak with an inherent musicality. Music lies at the heart and molecule of his work.

And all of the plays were performed originally in what would have then been modern dress, (that is, the actors dressed the way people would in 16th century England.) This production—with all of its pop songs, modern dress, and a big dance at the end—is following in that tradition.

Thank you for joining us for this incredible journey; I would also like to express my tremendous gratitude to the students, families, and faculty of Conchita Espinosa Academy. Without their incredible support, this play would not have been possible. And I’d also like to thank Bianca Garcia for all of her amazing love, support, and intelligence. It’s been a fantastic first year, and I cannot thank you enough. To work here has truly been an honor and a privilege, and I look forward to many more years ahead.

- Ean Kessler