By Emma Ngotie ’27

Mercersburg Academy’s Stony Batter Players will present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, at 7 p.m. in the Boys’ Garden. This abridged production will run less than 90 minutes and is free for all to attend. In the event of rain, the performance will take place in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Hale Studio Theatre.

Set in Athens, Greece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play written by Shakespeare around 1595-1596. It focuses on four young Athenians whose relationships become more complex after they run away into the forest. There, they encounter a world of fairies led by Oberon and Titania, whose magic adds even more chaos to the story.

“Our concept involves really leaning into a ‘Feywild’ vibe,” says director Matt Maurer, English and arts faculty member. “The human characters don’t just get lost in the woods outside the city. They unknowingly run, walk, stumble, or fall through an ‘invisible’ mystical portal that actually transports them to a completely different plane of reality.” This production is an exciting opportunity for all to experience one of Shakespeare’s most popular, magical, and comedic plays. 

A full 27 Mercersburg Academy students make up the cast of the play, each bringing their own energy and creativity to their respective role. “There’s a bunch of different story lines, but they are all interconnected by just a few characters. Pyramus (Jacob Bershatsky ’28) is my favorite character because he is melodramatic, comedic, and brings life to the stage,” says Keagan Killinger ’28.  

While the cast members have been working hard to bring Shakespeare’s characters to life, the 18-member Technical Crew has been creating the contrasting elements of the two worlds. They are led by technical director and resident designer Chaz Macklin, as well as Burgin Center Director of Operations Jessica Doubell. Maurer says, “Audience members will quickly notice two very different types of garden gnome-like set pieces scattered about the playing space. While the human world is decorated with hare, dragonfly, cat, and owl cutouts, the fairy realm includes a jack-a-lope, a fairy dragon, an owlbear, and a displacer beast!” Faculty Emerita Laurie Mufson leads makeup and hair design, while Director of Dance Kelsy Rupp provides choreography.

See the full cast list below. The next performance from Mercersburg’s Arts program will be the Spring Dance Concert on Saturday, May 9. This event is also free and open to the public.

Cast list:

Hermia: Rachael Zhang

Lysander: Aaron Chuang

Helena: Maddie Mamoudis

Demetrius: Jaime Madero

Theseus, Duke of Athens: Nate Cumiskey

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons: Ary Small

Egeus, Father of Hermia: Amon Yamamoto

Philostrate, Master of Revels: Steven Sanchez

Nick Bottom the Weaver/'Pyramus': Jacob Bershatsky

Peter Quince the Carpenter/'Prologue': Lulu Barker

Francis Flute the Bellows-mender/'Thisbe': Asher Keim

Tom Snout the Tinker/'Wall': Cali Exeter

Snug the Joiner/'Lion': Jiwon Chung

Robin Starveling the Tailor/'Moonshine': Isa Garza

Oberon, King of the Fairies: Finn McNeil

Titania, Queen of the Fairies: Janie Miller

Robin Goodfellow or 'Puck': Keagan Killinger

Peaseblossom, attendant to Titania: Emmie Kelley

Cobweb, attendant to Titania: Barbara Gamboa

Mustardseed, attendant to Titania: Mae Van Hove

Moth the Sentinel: Boden Keim

Bluebell, fairy dancer: Seren Gibbs

Lily, fairy dancer: Becca Harrison Yan-Hip

Rosaline, fairy dancer: Lilly Killinger

Virelya, fairy dancer: Malaika Mankey-Akogbeto

Flora, fairy dancer: Huda Muhamud

Evergreen, fairy dancer: Emma Ngotie

Stage Manager: Sam Feese