Centenary Theatre Program and Opera Centenary Collaborate on Outdoor Production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary Theatre Program (CTP), in collaboration with Opera Centenary, will present William Shakespeare's beloved classical comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream February 20, 21, 22, and 23 in the Hargrove Memorial Amphitheater, commonly called "The Shell.” All performances will be at 4:30 p.m.
“Taking our work out to our campus community is important, and this production is part of Centenary's year-long bicentennial celebration,” said Logan Sledge, Associate Professor of Theatre. “Working in an outdoor environment has come with its own unique challenges, but we are excited to present Shakespeare in this way, as it brings the performing of the play back to its roots in Elizabethan Theatre.”
A Midsummer Night's Dream is set mostly in an enchanted forest and explores themes of love, illusion and the unpredictable nature of desire. Dr. Briana Sosenheimer and Ken Chan of Opera Centenary are leading the live music component into the production. The collaboration began by exploring the script for moments that call for music or singing and then finding other opportunities in the text to include live music or instrumentation.
“Collaborating with colleagues from the theater department has been a rewarding experience,” said Dr. Sosenheimer. “Performing in an outside venue has allowed us to explore new ways to introduce opera to the community. Opera is not often blended into traditional plays and having the opportunity to work together to create a truly one-of-a-kind performance for our students and audience members is an incredibly rare and exceptional occasion.”
Centenary Theatre Program may build on this partnership with Dr. Cory Wikan, Dean of the Hurley School of Music, to introduce a musical theatre minor and chart a course to collaborate on a musical theatre production in the near future.
This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, and it is open seating. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets to sit on the The Shell’s grass section, or seat cushions to sit on the benches. They may also bring snacks and drinks, but no alcohol will be allowed.
Any performance changes or rescheduled shows due to weather will be announced on the Centenary Theatre Program website, the CTP Instagram account @centenarytheatreprogram, and the CTP Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Facebook page @MLPlayhouse