This production of A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Mischa Catalani will take place in a mystical forest setting meant to represent a dream world where the lines between reality and illusion are blurred. The plot focuses on the intertwining dreams and fantasies of four young lovers and the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania. The style is meant to be nonrealistic and enchanted to match the fanciful world of magic and fairies. Both the human and fairy characters will have costumes inspired by nature to differentiate them while also showing their similarities in this dream state. The set aims to create a whimsical forest setting using elements like a central willow tree, roses, Greek architecture, and lighting effects

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By: William Shakespeare

2. Director
Mischa Catalani

3. Driving Action
LOVE -
Everything that takes
place in this play is centered
around the idea of love.
Themes
Dream, and Magic.

4. Concept
This production of A Midsummer Night’s dream will center around the idea
that mortals have entered the fanciful world of immortals (fairies) within
their dreams, and are dealing with the confusion and consequences of
magic and misfortune in this dream-land. Because it is all taking place
within a dream, days are skewed and reality is hard to recognize from
illusion. The audience will be taking a look into the world where 4 lovers’
(Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius, and Helena) dreams collide with the
fantasies of others’.

5. Style
Nonrealism. This world within a dream is enchanted and full of
magic, mystical creatures, and unexplainable occurrences.
Every aspect of the production will encompass
something fanciful crossed with realistic features.
And draw contrast within the dream world between the humans
and the fairies, illusion and reality, and character traits (Titania and
Hippolyta, Hermia and Helena etc.) through casting, costume, and
lighting

6. CAST OF CHARACTERS
Humans
(An air of whim about their appearance)
Egeus… Sherman Howard
(Father of Hermia)
Theseus… Henry Cavill
(Duke of Athens,
engaged to Hippolyta)
Lysander…Jesse Eisenberg
(Lover of Hermia)
Hermia…Amanda Seyfried
(Lover of Lysander)
Demetrius … Christian Borle
(Lover of Helena)
Helena…Zooey Deschanel
(Lover of Demetrius)
Hippolyta… Anne Hathaway
(Queen, engaged to Theseus

7. CAST OF CHARACTERS
Fairies
(Seemingly ageless)
Puck… Jim Carrey
(Mischievous fairy)
Oberon… Orlando Bloom
(King of the Fairies)
Titania… Amy Adams
(Queen of the Fairies)

8. Fairies
Very human-like, yet have some subtle differences in costume and, lighting.
The strong similarities exemplify the mudding of fantasy and reality
in the script.
Fairies glow, while mortals
have a duller light.
Every aspect of the fairies are
inspired by nature. Clothes,
dwellings, props. I

9. The land where lives of the immortal
and mortal intertwine
Setting: in a mystical forest, with the constant
feeling of fantastical wonder.
Blackbox theatre will create the
illusion distant fairies to depict the
constant presence of fantasy.
Time: 1900’s, spring. No period pieces will be
used on stage, as the setting should be
timeless and natural.

10. Ruling Metaphor
The moon symbolizes a far away world where
anything can happen. It is present the entire
performance to symbolize the constant force
of the unknown, and as a unifier between the
fantasy and reality.

11. Costume Design
The theme of the play is
whimsical, mystical,
curious, and mischievous.
The costumes must reflect
such a theme from the
humans to the fairies.
Both humans and fairies will have different
costumes that will fit according to their
background. For example, female fairies will
have dresses made out of flowers, vines, and
greenery while human females will have long
flowy dresses made of fabric.

12. Puck
Puck is a mischievous and prankster-like fairy who delights on playing tricks on mortals.
As a servant of the King Oberon, his outfit will not be as formal or regal. For his
costume, it will consist of an outfit made of leaves, bark, and wood to symbolize his
fairy origin. The leaves will cover his exposed parts and be woven together to wear as
pants or a outfit reminiscent of a toga. He will have no shoes or shirt and be barefoot,
symbolizing his carefree nature. His horns will be made of plastic and attached to his
hair, symbolizing his mischievous behavior. This light outfit will allow the actor to
move about quickly without restrictions.

13. Oberon
Oberon is the King of fairies. With such a
title, a more formal and elegant outfit is
more befitting the title of “King.” The
primary outfit will consist of a large cloak to
represent his royal status. To add to his fairy
origin, his costume should be green or dark
green with leaves or patterns of leaves
scattered on his clothes. A small ring made
of warm colored flowers, leaves, and twigs
would be placed on their head, symbolizing
a crown.

14. Titania
Titania, the Queen of fairies, is considered to be very
beautiful and fair. A large elegant and exquisite dress
would be fit for such a character. The dress should be
decorated with many flowers and vines to show her
affinity with nature. A more colorful and larger flower
crown will adorn Titania’s head, representing her royal
status as the Queen. Sticking to the whimsical and fairy
theme, her wings will be warm colored.

15. Lysander
• Lysander is the young man who is in love with Hermia and his love is reciprocated. He is a
human and his attire does not resemble much of the forest compared to the fairies. His outfit
is made of fabric such as cotton and is loose fitting on him, representing his agreeable
personality and allowing the actor to move freely in this outfit. He is not of noble blood and
will be wearing a simple commoner’s loose button up white shirt and simple black riding
pants to reflect his status in society. His shoes will not be flamboyant as well and are dark
dress shoes.

16. Demetrius
• Demetrius is the fickle man originally in love with Helena before falling in love with Hermia.
He is shown to be stubborn throughout the play and scornful of Helena’s love for him. He is
also a commoner man and will wear a simple white button down shirt much like Lysander.
However, he will also sport a black vest and black riding pants represent his uptight, brash,
and unyielding personality.

17. Hermia
Hermia is the rebellious and
outspoken lady that is in love with
Lysander. Her stature is short and
she is very self conscious about it.
Her outfit will be a simple long
white and flowy greek dress that
covers her legs to represent her
insecurity and accentuate her
figure.

18. Helena
Helena is the childhood friend of Hermia
and was once betrothed to Demetrius
before he abandoned her. Helena is
described as tall yet unconfident in her
looks. Her outfit will be a short white
dress that shows off her legs in contrast
from Hermia’s long dress that covers her
legs. Shorter dresses tend to elongate and
accentuate the length of legs, giving the
actress in the costume the illusion of
being very tall.

19. Egeus
Egeus is the stubborn and demanding father of Hermia who agreed to give his daughter’s hand in
marriage to Demetrius. As an older male his outfit is more thicker, less flamboyant, and
concealing compared to the younger males in the play. He will wear a dark grey thick overcoat
that covers his vest, which also represents his stubbornness, and his shirt. His pants will also be
grey to match the outfit and the shoes will be brown dress shoes. Since he is not noted to be of
royalty, his outfit will not reflect such standards.

20. Other minor characters
Other minor characters include the four men chosen to perform a play. They are lower class men
and will not wear flamboyant outfits. Instead they will wear generic costumes such as simple and
casual button up worker shirts with light brown pants. Nick Bottom, a more recognized character
for his transformation into a Donkey head will also adorn a mask of a Donkey to signify his
transformation. The mask will be fitted to the actor’s head, allowing sight through the eyes.

21. Set Design
• The goal of the set is to create a whimsical and
dreamlike forest setting.
• While creating the set, there is a need to be
able to help distinguish between the realistic
world of humans and the fantasy world of
fairies.

22. Background
• The goal of the set background
was to have it fit the theme of
dreamlike and whimsical while
following the play’s setting.
• The play’s time and place is set
primarily in the forests outside
Athens and the events take place
generally from dusk to night.
• Therefore the background is
generally set to emphasize the
moonlight and trees that will
have sparkles for dreamlike
effects.

23. Willow Tree
• In one scene, Titania is sleeping
next to a river. It is hard to
incorporate a river into the set for
the sole purpose of the scene.
• Therefore a willow tree takes its
place because willow trees
generally grow near bodies of
water, and it serves as a physical
embodiment of the forest for
practical purposes on set.
• The tree also serves as the
centerpiece and central image of
the set having both elements of
realism and fantasy

24. The Flower
• The chosen flower for the
production is the flower
of love, the rose.
• The flower is shot with an
arrow from Cupid, the
god of love, and used by
Puck in the play.
• Roses have a connotation
for love and it makes
sense for them to be
incorporated.

25. Titania’s Bed
• The bed is used by
Titania and Nick
Bottom, her donkey
lover.
• Titania’s bed is a white
bed with white drapes
adorned with some
vines and leaves to
portray beauty and
incorporate nature.

26. Set Pieces
• The setting is taken
place near or around
Athens.
• To portray the Greek
side of the play and be
practical to the set,
Greek architectural
elements, such as
columns and marble
steps, are placed on set.

27. Set Pieces
• To add more to the
world, adding chairs
made from trees to add
to the fantasy elements
and sell the world of
the fairies.

28. Final Set Design
• The final set design for the production come together
has the willow tree as a central image and greek-like
structure set pieces to decorate the set.

29. Light Designer
Melissa Caballero

30. Dark lighting to resemble the theme of the setting. Spotlight on
characters to provide visibility

31. Bright moon lights up the stage. Light focused on objects to portray shapes and
forms.

32. Light focuses eyes to onstage action. Lighting makes audience
more intimate with scene.

33. Spotlight intensifies fairies performance. A Ellipsoidal
reflector spotlight must be used.

34. Dark lighting reflects mood of scene. Floodlights, strip
lights, and border lights should be used.

35. Tension is around the donkey so a Automated light used to
project light on to floor. Bringing attention to the Donkey.

36. Soft-edged spotlight gives the audience a visual of the
main character in the scene

37. Dark night like lighting brings the setting to life. Moon
is brightened to create distribution.

38. Dark lighting with a
spotlight on the
fairies. Night sky
should suggest time of
day.

39. Spotlight focuses the
composition of the
scene.