Sensory-friendly Guide: A Midsummer Night's Dream

SENSORY–FRIENDLY SHOW GUIDE

a MidsuMMer Night’s dreaM

by William Shakespeare

Directed by Tom Jaeger

During the show, you will hear different sound effects and music, see different kinds of lights, and see dances and stage fights performed. The volume of the sounds has been lowered a bit, and some of the lights in the theater will remain on during the performance so you are able to move around, enter, and exit as you need.

In the tradition of Shakespearean theater, people in the audience may make noises throughout the play, such as clapping and cheering for the hero or hissing at the villain.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is 90 minutes and has no intermission, but you’re free to leave and return at any time.

This sensory-friendly performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is presented by the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare and features seven different actors.

The cast of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2024.

Photo by Four Wings Photography.

THE THEATER

We are going to the theater at Shakespeare & Company to see a show. The theater is called the Tina Packer Playhouse.

PARKING

We will park the car in the parking lot near the theater, then walk to the theater entrance.

Tina Packer Playhouse

Tina Packer Playhouse parking lot (aerial view)

Tina Packer Playhouse entrance (from parking lot)

LOBBY

The lobby has many windows with views of what’s outside.

There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack.

The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it.

We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.

The Tina Packer Playhouse lobby

The Box Office with an employee.

There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack.

The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it.

We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.

Concession stand, Josie’s Place

THE BOX OFFICE

Before we go into the theater, we will pick up our tickets for the show from the Box Office.

Everyone needs a ticket to go into the theater to see the show.

THE TICKET WINDOW

The Box Office is a table with a red curtain behind it.

The person at the table will hand us tickets for the show.

The Tina Packer Playhouse Box Office.

A patron picks up a ticket at the Tina Packer Playhouse Box Office.

TICKET SCANNERS

The theater usher will take our tickets to scan with a small, handheld machine that beeps.

After the beeping sound, we may enter the theater.

USHERS

The theater usher is a friendly helper.

We can ask the theater usher for help at any time.

The theater usher can help us find our seats.

Tickets will be scanned using a small handheld machine before entering the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Theater ushers will be present throughout the performance to assist patrons at any time.

ENTERING THE THEATER

When we hear the bell, we will enter the theater.

When we enter the theater, we will walk through red canvas walls to get to our seats.

OUR SEATS

The seats in the theater are benches. They have letters and numbers on them.

Every ticket has a letter and a number.

We will match the ticket letter and number to the letter and number on the bench to find our seats.

An usher can help us find our seats.

This is where we will sit to watch the show.

The entrance to the theater at the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Seating inside the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Inside the Tina Packer Playhouse theater

STAIRS AND AISLES

We will walk carefully down a few stairs to get to our seats.

SITTING

The people who came together can sit together.

There may be people we don’t know sitting near us.

When we are seated, sometimes people will walk by or in front of us.

Theater aisles inside the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Patrons sitting in the audience enjoying a performance at the Tina Packer Playhouse.

THE STAGE

The stage includes dark curtains and red curtains, with three, triangular ladders that are used as many props.

Actors come on stage from behind these curtains and from each side of the stage.

Actors will come on stage from backstage or from the wings on the left and right of the stage.

Sometimes an actor will walk in the aisles to and from the stage.

The Tina Packer Playhouse stage at the start of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

THE START OF THE SHOW

The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves.

When the show starts, the lights will dim slightly, and it will not get any darker than this.

There is always enough light in the aisles if we need to leave.

The cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the start of the show.

THE ACTORS

This is what the actors look like. They will each play a few different parts during the show.

Sometimes actors play parts of different genders than their own.

Headshot photos of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2024.

Luke Haskell

Tom Reynolds

Anna Rock

Kristin Yates

Darius A. Journigan

Charlie Lavaroni

Amberlin McCormick

THE PLOT

In the city of Athens, the fabled hero Theseus plans to marry Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons. They are interrupted by Egeus, who comes to complain about his daughter, Hermia.

Hermia loves Lysander, but Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius! Lysander says that Demetrius has already wooed another girl, Helena, who loves him. But Theseus, siding with Egeus and the law, gives Hermia four days to make up her mind: either she can marry Demetrius, take a vow of single life, or else face death.

Hermia and Lysander decide to flee to the woods to where his aunt lives, where they can be married. Hermia tells only her dear friend Helena who decides to tell Demetrius, thinking that it will at least make him grateful to her. Helena follows Demetrius when he goes to pursue Hermia in the woods. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors discuss their parts in a play for Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding called Pyramus and Thisbe, and gives the lead role to Nick Bottom. The players agree to meet in the woods outside of Athens to rehearse secretly.

Egeus comes to talk about his daughter, Hermia.

Hermia and Lysander decide to flee to the woods where they can be married.

Hermia has four days to decide to marry Demetrius, or take a vow of single life.

A group of amateur actors plan to meet in the woods to rehearse the play Pyramus and Thisbe

In those same woods, there is a magical fairy named Robin Goodfellow (Puck) who loves causing mischief. Puck warns that Oberon, the Fairy King, is coming and that he is angry with his Fairy Queen Titania because Oberon wants a mortal boy whom Titania refuses to surrender.

After Oberon and Titania argue, Oberon vows revenge. He asks Puck to use a magic flower to bewitch Titania. It causes that person to fall in love with the next creature that they see – even something ridiculous!

Oberon invisibly watches Demetrius and Helena. Demetrius scolds Helena for following him into the woods, but Helena argues that she is powerless to resist him, and will follow him even if it means her death. Oberon sympathizes with Helena and tells Puck to use the flower on Demetrius, so that he will fall in love with Helena as well as on Titania.

Oberon, the Fairy King, and Titania, the Fairy Queen, fight over Puck.

Oberon gives Puck orders to use the flower to bewitch Titania.

Oberon invisibly watches as Demetrius scolds Helena for following him to the woods.

Lysander and Hermia enter, exhausted and lost in the woods. They fall asleep, and Puck enters, mistakenly thinking Lysander is the Athenian youth Oberon sent him to find. He rubs the flower in Lysander’s eyes. When Helena then discovers Lysander and wakes him, he falls immediately in love with her and forgets Hermia! He pursues Helena, leaving Hermia alone and confused upon waking.

Puck makes mischief when he finds the actors in the woods. He transforms Bottom by giving him a donkey’s head, which frightens the others into fleeing. Bottom is left alone and awakens Titania. Titania, whose eyes are charmed, falls in love with him. She summons her fairies to attend to him.

Oberon sees that Puck enchanted the wrong Athenian. Oberon then charms Demetrius’s eyes. Now both Lysander and Demetrius are charmed to love Helena. Hermia enters and does not understand why Lysander is wooing Helena. An argument breaks out between the two women, who insult each other while the men stay fixated on Helena. The men run off to fight for Helena’s love, while Helena runs off to escape Hermia.

Puck mistakes Lysander and is now in love with Helena, leaving Hermia alone.

Puck gives Bottom a donkey head and Titania falls in love with him. Titania’s fairies now attend to Bottom.

Lysander and Demetrius now both charmed to love Helena! The men fight as Helena runs off to escape Hermia.

Oberon, now furious, instructs Puck to take the charm off Lysander. Puck rounds up the four lovers and undoes the charm as planned. Oberon then takes the charm off of Titania’s eye so they can reconcile, and Puck restores Bottom’s head.

Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus awaken the four sleeping lovers in the woods. Lysander is again in love with Hermia, Demetrius is still in love with Helena, and the two girls are friends again. Theseus overrides Egeus’s demands, and everyone goes back to Athens to prepare for the multiple weddings that will follow.

Bottom wakes in the woods, alone, and tells the audience that he believes his experience was a dream. He reunites with his friends, and they are requested by Theseus to perform at the wedding celebrations.

The actors enter and perform Pyramus and Thisbe. Theseus praises them and sends all the newly married couples off to bed. Puck enters, followed by Titania and Oberon, who bless the newlyweds. Puck has the last word, and apologizes to the audience on behalf of all the cast, promising to mend their ways if the audience will pardon them.

The four lovers are found in the woods, and when they wake everyone are friends again.

The actors perform Pyramus and Thisbe

Bottom reunites with his friends, and they are requested to perform at the wedding celebrations.

Oberon instructs Puck to take the charm off Lysander’s eye.

DURING THE SHOW

Some actors will wear different costumes and use different voices to play various parts.

Sometimes, the actors will use props, like swords.

Some sounds and music will play during the show.

Sometimes, lights will be used briefly to look like lighting.

The audience is welcome to make some noises during the show, like cheering for the hero or hissing at the villain.

The actors will use props like swords, or wear different costumes to play various parts.

BATHROOM

If any of us need to go to the bathroom, we can get up to go any time.

Ushers can show us where the bathrooms are.

When the toilets flush, they are a little bit loud.

Toilets are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Urinals are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

QUIET SPACE

If any of us need to take a break, we can go out to the lobby.

Anyone can sit in the break space, or walk around the lobby.

The break space will have pillows and cushions, as well as fidget toys and stress balls.

A quiet space is available for those who need a break.

CLAPPING

The show ends when the actors bow.

People will clap at the end of the show. Sometimes people will stand up to clap, and sometimes people will shout out to the actors.

It is ok to cover our ears if the clapping is too loud.

It is ok to “clap” with fingers waving (ASL claps)

People only clap for a short time.

Some audience members will clap at the end of the performance.

LEAVING

Everyone in the theater will leave around the same time.

The stairs might be crowded.

We will walk slowly out of the theater.

Audience members will leave the theater after the performance is over.

SENSORY BREAKDOWN

Show Start – An actor introduces the show.

:05 – The play begins. The audience claps and cheers.

:10 – Trumpet music plays as characters enter. One character (Hyppolyta) is holding a staff.

7:55 – Soft music starts to play as a character (Helena) speaks.

8:10 – Several characters (The Mechanicals) come on stage yelling, hugging, and dancing happily.

8:10 – Happy trumpet music plays in the background.

8:20 – Characters may enter the aisles and interact with the audience.

12:10 – A character (Bottom) sings a few high notes.

12:20 – Bottom falls to the ground dramatically.

12:30 – A character (Peter Quince) starts chanting “Pyr-a-mus!” and asks the audience to join.

12:45 – The characters on stage cheer.

13:20 – The characters on stage cheer.

13:20 – Soft guitar music plays.

13:40 – A character (Puck) comes on stage running and yelling happily.

13:45 – Puck may enter the aisles and interact with the audience.

18:05 – Soft guitar music plays.

19:10 – A character (Oberon) screams loudly.

19:10 – Lights and sounds are played to represent thunder and lightning.

20:45 – Two characters (Helena and Demetrius) run on stage.

21:00 – Demetrius picks up a prop that looks like a ladder. Helena pushes it across the stage.

21:05 – Helena and Demetrius may run into the aisles and interact with the audience.

22:05 – Soft music plays as Oberon speaks.

23:45 – Soft guitar music plays as the Fairies move props to make a bed for a character (Titania).

24:01 – The Fairies sing to Titania.

24:50 – Ominous music plays.

25:10 – Jazzy piano music plays.

27:40 – A sound plays and a birthday horn sound follows.

30:55 – Jazzy music plays.

31:00 – The Mechanicals come on stage yelling happily.

31:10 – The sound of a cricket can be heard in the background.

32:50 – Characters interact with audience members, asking “do you have a calendar?”

34:20 – Puck runs through the aisles.

35:40 – The Mechanicals run around the stage yelling.

36:20 – Harp music plays as Titania awakes.

40:50 – Hermia “slaps” Demetrius, who falls to the ground.

41:00 – Hermia “stomps” on Demetrius while he’s on the ground.

42:30 – Helena runs back and forth from the stage into the aisles.

43:00 – Magical sounds play as Puck comes on stage.

50:00 – Hermia yells and jumps into Demetrius and Lysander’s arms, lunging for Helena.

51:25 – Hermia chases Helena around the stage.

51:45 – Puck yells happily and claps his hands.

51:50 – Oberon yells at Puck; lights and sounds are played to represent thunder and lightning.

53:15 – Fast-paced music with drums plays.

53:30 – Lysander runs toward Puck, yelling.

54:15 – A clunking sound plays as Puck “knocks out” Lysander.

54:50 – The same clunking sound plays as Puck “knocks out” Demetrius.

55:00 – The same clunking sound plays as Puck “knocks out” Helena.

55:30 – The same clunking sound plays three times as Puck “knocks out” Hermia.

56:10 – The sound of the wind plays in the background.

56:30 – R&B music (Al Green’s Let’s Get it On) plays.

56:40 – Titania asks the audience “Guess what?”

59:40 – Light piano music starts to play.

59:50 – Bird and wind sounds play.

1:00 – Egeus walks into the aisles.

1:05 – The Mechanicals yell and jump happily as Bottom returns.

1:06 – Trumpet music plays.

1:08 – Theseus walks into the aisles and sits with the audience for several minutes.

1:09 – Theseus speaks from the audience; the first of several lines spoken from his seat.

1:11 – Pyramus draws his sword and “stabs” himself with it, falling to the ground.

1:12 – Thisbe draws her sword and “stabs” herself with it, falling to the ground.

1:14 – The Lion roars.

1:15 – The Lion roars again at Thisbe, who screams.

1:15 – The Lion chases Thisbe into the aisles, and they run around the theater with Lion roaring and Thisbe screaming.

1:17 – Pyramus draws his sword again, and “stabs” himself with it three times, falling to the ground.

1:19 –Thisbe draws her sword again, and “stabs” herself with it three times, falling to the ground.

1:20 – Piano music plays.

1:21 – Hip-hop music plays, and The Mechanicals start to dance.

1:21 – A clock strikes four times.

1:22 – Titania walks into the audience.

1:23 – The play ends. The actors bow; the audience will clap and sometimes cheer.

Timestamps are approximate.

This performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is generously supported by a grant from the GKV Foundation.