A Midsummer Night's Dream

2025-26 Season THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AND THEATRE PRESENTS

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ARENA THEATRE MARCH 4 TO 8

DIRECTED BY MICHAEL SCHANTZ

WEDNESDAY AT 8PM THURSDAY AT 8PM FRIDAY AT 3PM SATURDAY AT 2PM & 8PM SUNDAY AT 2PM

FOR INFO & TICKETS

Advance Tickets: $20 general public/$15 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff Day of Show Tickets: $25 general public/$20 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff

Info: (518)442-3995 WWW.ALBANY.EDU/PAC

UAlbany Theatre Department of Music & Theatre College of Arts and Sciences presents

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by

William Shakespeare Directed by

Michael Schantz Scenic Design

Costume Design

Beck Clark

Anne Croteau

Lighting Design

Technical Direction

Evan Anderson

John Knapp

Stage Manager

Heavenlee Gonzalez

This production is made possible with the generous support of The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment.

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE I always balked at A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was never one of my favorites — I never understood it. I probably still don’t to a certain extent. But through this process, I find myself falling in love with it. And much like the experience of love, it is coming with some precariousness, as the team and I try to “figure it out.” If you’re lucky, there is always a sense of falling when you’re making a play, and that you don’t quite know if you’ll be safely caught.

This play really asks for some surrender — surrender to the irrational, to the absurd. These are challenging human experiences to give over to, especially when there is such a premium placed on logic and control in our world.

I try not to approach plays from a terribly intellectual place, but from a guttural and visceral one. And though we've explored the play here through a sort of cerebral lens, linking its themes of irrationality and transformation (among others) to the Surrealist and Dada art movements, ultimately, it is the emotional landscape of the play that I am most concerned with --the inner transformative journeys of the characters, and the ordeals they must all undergo.

These ordeals unfold in an interwoven latticework of events inside a forest, which may or may not be a psychological forest of sorts. It is interesting to consider that these transformations occur inside of a dream, where I believe many of our transformations happen — behind our backs, as we wrestle with powerful unwieldy forces within ourselves.

Gender power dynamics, the irrationality of love, mistaken identity, mischief, absurdity... all of these collide and collapse into each other as the characters descend deeper into the dark night, only to emerge rebirthed and reordered, wondering if it was all a dream.

And we are left to consider the place dreams have in our lives; whether life itself is a dream, and how unnerving the suggestion is that if we perhaps listened more intently and surrendered to our irrational dreams, we might find something new and transformative.

THE COMPANY Puck / Philostrate

OTTO VAVAL

Oberon / Theseus

DAVID ESPINAL

Titania / Hippolyta

ZOEY BLISS CAHILL

Lysander

JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY

Demetrius

XAVIER LAKE

Hermia

ALLISON KRAWCZYK

Helena

GABRIELLE VILLANUEVA

Nick Bottom

HUDSON VILLANUEVE

Egeus / Peter Quince

XAVIER ROSARIO

Francis Flute / Cobweb

RYAN WILCOX

Robin Starveling / Peaseblossom

CAT BRADY

Tom Snout / Fairy

BRYAN ANTINORE

Snug / Mustardseed

CHLOE POLANCO

PRODUCTION TEAM Production Manager……………………………………. EVAN ANDERSON Props Supervisor………………………………………………….. BECK CLARK Costume Shop Manager ………………………………… ANNE CROTEAU Scene Shop Supervisor ..……………………………………… JOHN KNAPP

Assistant Scenic Designer………………………………MARQUEZ JONES Assistant Lighting Designer……………………………..AVERY LUENING Master Electrician……………………………JOHANNA LEVITT-DINDAS Assistant Stage Managers…………….STACEY HYSON, LOREL ROSS Dramaturg……………………………………………………………..LOREL ROSS Assistant Director………………………………………………… J. VINEYARD Marketing …………………………………………………. SHERLYN JOAQUIN Department Photographer………………………………………..LONG LIN Light Board Operator………….……………..…....… HAYLEY WHITSETT Sound Board Operator…………………………………SAMANTHA GLICK Wardrobe Crew..………...………………………………….ZACH GOPILALL, AVA ARVAI, BIA BOUABBOUNE, NAFISA MOSTOFA, ALVARO PATRICK-GERALDINE Run Crew .…….…………………….BRIELLE BURNS, NAZANIN MOSAVI, VICTORIA UGWUDIOBI, NATALIA ZEHNER Scene Shop Technical Assistants …………………………... CAT BRADY, STACY HYSON, ESTHER LEVINE, JOHANNA LEVITT-DINDAS, AVERY LUENING, MALACHI REDD Scene Shop Crew ………………….…………………. EMMA EIS, MALACHI REDD, XAVIER ROSARIO, HAYLEY WHITSETT, RYAN WILCOX

Scene Shop Lab Students……………………….. MAYA CAMERON, ACE DEAN, JULIA HAYWOOD-DADZIE, MISCHA JAMES, CLOVER JONES, EDWARD LIN, LONG LIN, WILLIAM MAGRINO, CADEN MAJEWSKI, THOMAS MCCORMACK, MARI PINEDA DELGADO, MIAH REID, DESTINEE RISER, MIKAEL ROJAS, BRIANNA ROWE, ELLA UHTEG Electrics Crew…………………………………………………………. MILLA LIM Costume Shop Student Assistants ………………………. LAUREL IZZO, ETHAN KAVALUNAS, SAMANTHA LANDY Costume Shop Bespoke Tailors……………………………LAUREL IZZO, SAMANTHA LANDY Costume Construction…………………………HEAVENLEE GONZALEZ, ETHAN KAVALUNAS Costume Shop Lab Students….…………………………….ZOEY CAHILL, ALVARO PARRADO GERALDINE

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WHO’S WHO BRYAN ANTINORE (Tom Snout / Fairy) is a senior from Ballston Spa. This is Bryan’s 6th show at UAlbany with other credits including Our Town, The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, and Taming of The Shrew. As well as a featured role in UAlbany's Fresh Acts new play festival. Bryan has also directed two plays featured in Fresh Acts.

CAT BRADY (Robin Starveling / Peaseblossom) is a junior, majoring in Theatre with a minor in Technical Theatre and Acting. She is currently a Technical Assistant in the theatre department's shop. She enjoys all aspects of theatre and has previously worked backstage on many UAlbany theatre department productions. This is her first onstage role. She is extremely excited to be a part of this production.

ZOEY BLISS CAHILL (Titania / Hippolyta) is a senior at UAlbany and is thrilled to be finishing out her career here with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You may have seen her recently in Our Town and The Rocky Horror Show. She is so grateful for every opportunity and will miss the theatre department here.

DAVID ESPINAL (Oberon / Theseus) is a senior with a major in Theatre Arts and a minor in Acting. Previous roles at the school include Stage Manager (Our Town), Lord Byron (Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein), and Dracula (Dracula). He would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support!

ALLISON KRAWCZYK (Hermia) is a senior in her last semester at the University at Albany as a Theatre major and a Musical Theatre minor. Previously she has been involved in productions of In the Blood (Amiga Gringa/Beauty), The Rocky Horror Show (Colombia), Taming of the Shrew (Vincentio), and RENT (Featured Ensemble). She has loved working on stage and behind the scenes in this department and wants to thank the creative team, staff, and peers that have helped her find her light over the last four years.

XAVIER LAKE (George Gibbs) is a Sophomore at the University at Albany majoring in Finance with a minor in Theatre. His most recent role was playing George Gibbs in the Theatre department's production of Our Town during the fall semester.

He's excited to return to the stage once again for A Midsummer Night's Dream!

JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY (Lysander) is a Junior at the University at Albany pursuing a BA in Theatre and Political Science with a minor in Acting. He will be playing the role of Lysander in this production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Recent credits at the University include Chilli and Jabber in ln The Blood, Percy Shelley in Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, Willmore in The Rover. Oswaldo in Between Riverside and Crazy, for Harbinger Company and ensemble work in Capital Repertory Theatre’s Next Act Festival. Jared is grateful to God for this opportunity and Director Michael Schantz for trusting him with this role.

CHLOE POLANCO (Snug / Mustardseed) is a freshman at UAlbany and is thrilled to join the Theatre Department. She has appeared in multiple productions at her high school’s Drama Academy, including The Crucible and Chicago: The Musical.

Chloe is excited to explore Shakespeare for the first time and bring her love of performance to the stage.

XAVIER ROSARIO (Egeus / Peter Quince) is a Sophomore at UAlbany who is very excited to be performing again this semester. He is a Theatre major and an Acting minor. Previous productions he has worked on include The Rocky Horror Show (Ensemble/Phantom), The School of Rock (Dewey), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), The Prom (Ensemble), Clue: On Stage (Mr. Green), and Freaky Friday (Adam). Xavier wants to send out a special thank you to his friends and family for their never ending support and love!

OTTO VAVAL (Puck / Philostrate) is a junior at the University at Albany. They’re a Theatre major with a minor in Acting. This is her second show she’s acted in at UAlbany, their first being The Rocky Horror Show. They have also participated in The Youth Playwright Contest Winners Reading held at The Capital Repertory Theatre in 2024. Otto has worked as the Assistant Stage Manager for Clyde’s and was the Assistant Props Supervisor for Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, as well as the Props Master for In The Blood. Otto is so excited to work on A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

GABRIELLE VILLANUEVA (Helena) is a senior Theatre major with a minor in Acting at the University at Albany. Her previous credits include Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs), Machinal (Adding Clerk & others) and The Taming of the Shrew (Hostess/Widow), as well as a few staged readings and university showcases. Gabby is beyond ecstatic to bring this character to life in our own Arena Theatre, and so grateful to finish off her time at UAlbany with such a talented cast and creative team. She will cherish this forever!

HUDSON VILLENUEVE (Nick Bottom) is thrilled to be a part of the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream as Bottom! He is a junior and a Theatre major with an Acting minor. He’s acted in Our Town, Machinal, and Fresh Acts (2024 & 2025) with UAlbany. He’s unbelievably ecstatic to help bring this show to life!

RYAN WILCOX (Francis Flute / Cobweb) is in her senior year at UAlbany, majoring in Criminal Justice and double minoring in Theatre and Legal Studies. This is her first show at UAlbany, but she has previously worked on several shows with Highlight Acting Troupe in Brunswick, NY, including A Christmas Carol, Once Upon A Pandora’s Box, and The Jungle Book.

HEAVENLEE GONZALEZ (Stage Manager & Costume Construction) is a fourth-year student at UAlbany. She is a Theatre major & a Theatrical Design & Technology minor.

Previously at UAlbany, she worked on Our Town (Assistant

Stage Manager & Costume Technician), Rocky Horror Show (Assistant Stage Manager), Machinal (Assistant Stage Manager), Taming of the Shrew (Prop Assistant & Sound Board Operator).

They are very excited to be working with this team & this cast on this production!

LOREL ROSS (Assistant Stage Manager/Dramaturg) is a senior at the University at Albany. She is a Theatre major and Psychology minor. She has participated in theatre for many years, performing in James and the Giant Peach, Into The Woods and She Loves Me. Working as an ASM for Sister Act for a student run theatre group, and Dramaturg for Our Town as well as props crew for last semester. She would like to thank her parents for their endless support and love.

STACY HYSON (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior majoring in Theatre with a Theatrical Design and Technology minor.

Previously at UAlbany she was a spotlight operator for The Rocky Horror Show and an assistant stage manager for Our Town. Locally she has worked with the Sand Lake Center for the Arts on their production of Puffs as the light and sound board operator and was the light board operator for Fort Salem Theatre’s Snow Business. She is very excited to serve as one of the assistant stage managers on this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MARQUEZ JONES (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a freshman at the University at Albany, double-majoring in Theatre and Math

(BA) and minoring in Technical Theatre. This is his second production at UAlbany; his first was last semester's Our Town, where he worked as soundboard operator. He is originally from Georgia, where he worked on many productions throughout high school, including Midsummer, making this his second time working on this show. He is excited to be part of the team that brings this production to life.

MICHAEL SCHANTZ (Director) is a New York-based actor and director with a diverse career in theatre, film and television.

On screen, Schantz has appeared in The History of Sound (Cannes, In Competition), FBI (CBS), Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz), Three Women (Starz), City on a Hill (Showtime), "The Blacklist" (NBC), and Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu).

On stage he has worked extensively at the country’s most prestigious theatres including New York Theatre Workshop, Page 73, Mint Theatre Company, Denver Center Theatre Company, Guthrie Theatre, Alley Theatre, Bard Summerscape, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, New York Stage and Film and Virginia Stage among others. He has directed numerous productions at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting and is a cofounder of Wheelhouse Theatre Company, whose productions have garnered critical acclaim, including NY Times Critics' Picks, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations. Michael received his M.F.A. from NYU’s Graduate Acting Program at Tisch School of the Arts. He lives in Manhattan with his fiancé and their daughter.

BECK CLARK (Scenic Consultant/Props Supervisor) is a scenic designer, scenic artisan and the Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design here at UAlbany. Professional design and assistant design credits include work at Cortland Repertory Theatre, Underscore Theatre Company, Colorado College, Hangar Theatre Wedge and KidSTUFF series, Arkansas Shakespeare Company, and more. Before joining the UAlbany Theatre Program, Beck was an Assistant Professor of Theatre Design and Technology at Angelo State University in Texas. They hold an MFA in Scenic Design and Production from the University of Arizona, and a BA in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

ANNE CROTEAU (Costume Designer/Shop Manager) is the Theatre Program's Costumer, designing costumes and supervising student designers for the production season. She teaches courses in theatrical design and costume construction and runs the costume shop. Previous costume design credits at UAlbany include Our Town, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, The Taming of the Shrew, Rent, and many others since 2012. Last year, she designed costumes for Once on This Island for the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York. Other professional theatre credits include the American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Costume Works Inc., Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Saratoga Children's Theatre and many others. Anne is the owner of Dress You Up, a custom bridal and formal gown design studio in Ballston Lake,

NY and a member of the Board of Directors for Not So Common Players of Clifton Park, NY. She holds an MFA in Costume Design and Construction from the University of Illinois, ChampaignUrbana; and a BA in Theatre from UAlbany.

EVAN ANDERSON (Lighting Designer/Production Manager) is a lighting designer and composer for theatre, dance, and film, as well as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Production here at UAlbany. His work has been seen and heard across the United States and internationally in Europe and Asia. Frequent collaborators include zoe | juniper and Paul Budraitis. Recent work: The Cottage, Jekyll & Hyde, The Winter’s Tale, It’s a Wonderful Life (Hartford Stage); The Plot (Yale Repertory Theatre); Pipe Dream (Berkshire Theatre Group); Symphony of Rats (The Wooster Group); The Greatest Story Ever, Blue is the light that doesn’t reach us, I Love That For You (Acker Statd Palast); Where The Mountain Meets The Sea, Constellations (Ancram Opera House). He is a Burry Fredrik Design Fellow and a graduate of Yale School of Drama.

JOHN KNAPP (Scene Shop Supervisor/Technical Director) John holds a BA in Theatre from UAlbany. He has been part of the team of students and artistic colleagues for approximately twenty-seven years, helping to build roughly 100 productions at UAlbany. John’s designs include The School for Scandal, Cloud 9, My Children! My Africa!, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, The Importance of Being Earnest, and In the Next Room. John doubles as the Theatre Program’s Archivist. In 2006 John started

collecting documents (photos, programs, posters, etc.) to create a digital archive of Theatre at the University. We now have over 110 years of known Theatre history at UAlbany. If you have memorabilia that relates to theatre here, please contact John at: jknapp@albany.edu.

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THEATRE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chair of Music & Theatre/Producer…………............. KATE WALAT Head of History, Literature & Criticism………….ESZTER SZALCZER Department Administrative Assistant…..…ILDEFONSO APELANZ Administrative Services ..............................................PAC STAFF THEATRE FACULTY & STAFF Professor..........................................................ESZTER SZALCZER Associate Professor.................................................KATE WALAT Lecturer…………………………………………………………..ANNE CROTEAU SHAUN PATRICK TUBBS Visiting Assistant Professors…………………………. EVAN ANDERSON BECK CLARK MICHAEL SCHANTZ Instructional Support Associate..............................JOHN KNAPP Adjunct Instructors ………………………………..……..….. ELLEN CRIBBS SARA FRIEDMAN DAVID GIRARD AMINA HENRY ASHLEY-SIMONE KRAUS ANGELA LEDTKE JEAN-REMY MONNAY YVONNE PERRY DESIRÉE CHAPPELLE STREETER SPECIAL THANKS Albany Fabrics and Variety, INC. COMING SOON April 22-25, 2026, Arena Theatre FRESH ACTS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS Hope to see you then!

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