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Young actors to perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

07-22-2008 | Family

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A special "youth only" preview of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Riverside Theatre’s Young People’s Company is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St.

All youths under the age of 18 will be admitted for $5.

Public performances will be held July 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. and July 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for youth, available at the Riverside Theatre box office online or at (319) 338-7672.

One of Shakespeare’s most popular works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows young love into an enchanted forest. While Oberon tries to help love along, his not so able assistant Puck manages to confound the whole affair.

While the classic plot remains the same, Young People’s Company has made it their own by setting the play in Ireland.

“The Irish theme came to me while I was in Ireland in June,” says director Mary Sullivan. “The design team liked the concept and then began to come up with great ideas for the sets and costumes. I think the play is going to be beautiful and lots of fun and hopefully a little magical as well.”

The Young People’s Company is a training program for students in grades 8 through12. Participants receive an intensive, hands-on experience to stage their own unique version of the classics. With professional guidance, students perform, design and construct all aspects of a full-length Shakespeare production.

Company members attend area schools including Iowa City High School, West High School, Regina, Solon High School, Washington High School, South East Junior High, and Northwest Junior High.