This enchanting setting of Shakespeare’s tale of mischief, fickle teenage love, magic, and comedy is the most beguiling of all Britten's operas — a work with a spellbinding atmosphere that inhabits a truly unique dreamlike world.

Approximate running time 3 hours
Inside the Opera preshow talk begins one hour before curtain.

Escape into Fantasy!

Britten’s enchanting setting of Shakespeare’s tale of mischief, fickle teenage love, magic and comedy premiered 50 years ago at the U.K.’s Aldeburgh Festival. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is possibly the most beguiling of all Britten's operas, a work with a spellbinding atmosphere that inhabits a truly unique dreamlike world. The already magical ambiance of The Barns takes on deeper meaning as fairies and imps play with human hearts.

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this (and all is mended),
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.

Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Benjamin Britten
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Libretto adapted from Williams Shakespeare
by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears
First performed at the Aldeburgh Festival on June 11, 1960

Cast

Oberon, King of the Fairies - Ryan Belongie
Titania, Queen of the Fairies - Ashlyn Rust
Lysander, in love with Hermia - Paul Appleby
Hermia, in love with Lysander - Catherine Martin
Helena, in love with Demetrius - Rena Harms
Demetrius, in love with Hermia - Chad Sloan
Bottom, a weaver - Nicholas Masters
Quince, a carpenter - Kenneth Kellogg
Flute, a bellows-mender - David Portillo
Snout, a tinker - Nathaniel Peake
Starveling, a tailor - Daniel Billings
Snug, a joiner - Michael Anthony McGee
Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons - Eve Gigliotti
Theseus, Duke of Athens - Michael Sumuel
Puck - Alexander Strain
Cobweb, a fairy - Claudia Rosenthal
Peaseblossom, a fairy - Amy Owens
Mustardseed, a fairy - Hilary Ginther
Moth, a fairy - Rachel Milligan
Arlington Children’s Chorus; Kevin Carr, Artistic Director

Production

Conductor - Steven Osgood
Director - Patrick Diamond
Scenic Design - Erhard Rom
Costume Design - TBD
Lighting Design - Robert H. Grimes         
Hair & Makeup  - Elsen Associates