Rice Theatre to present ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Nov. 6-9

Rice University Theatre will present an outdoor performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the university’s Founder’s Court. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-9. Admission is free.

Recent Rice alumnus Carter Spires '13, left, and Susannah Eig, a Jones College senior, play leading roles in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!” says Puck, the mischievous fairy, in this most popular of Shakespeare’s comedies. When the feuding king and queen of the fairies interfere in the couplings of mortals, the result is bedlam. “A tale of lovers, heroes, fairies and rustic would-be actors is Shakespeare’s tribute to the power of imagination and love in all its guises,” said Christina Keefe, director of Rice’s Theatre Program, professor in the practice and the play’s director.

Most recently, Keefe performed in Houston Grand Opera (HGO)’s production of “Showboat.” She has directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “A Place Called Home” and “Brundibar” for HGO’s Art of Opera summer youth program. Keefe will be directing the world premiere of “Bound” for the East + West Series of HGO’s HGOco community initiative next February.

Set designer Mark Krouskop is the new production manager and lecturer for Rice’s Theatre Program. His recent designs were “Hamlet” and “Comedy of Errors” for Houston Shakespeare Festival. Costume designer Clair Hummel is currently the costume design assistant for “Venus in Fur” at the Alley Theatre. She is designing the world premieres of “River of Light” for HGOco and “Rapunzel” for HGO To Go! Recently she became an artistic affiliate with MOZAWA, an international company that creates original works of interdisciplinary art. Hummel’s work was last seen at Rice for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The performances will be cancelled if severe weather occurs. For more information on the performances, visit http://arts.rice.edu or call 713-348-PLAY.