The Illustrious Theatre Company will be presenting Shakespeare’s popular romantic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” under the stars on the Great Lawn at the Lycian Center for the Performing Arts in Sugar Loaf, N.Y. on July 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29. Show times are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday and 7:30 on Sunday. This production continues the company’s outdoor summer Shakespeare series begun in the summer of 2003.  The company will also perform the play indoors at the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre at BergenCommunity College inParamus,N.J.on August 2, 3, and 4.

        Directed by Mary Clifford, the play has been staged to make almost full use of the Great Lawn with the green grass as the stage and the pond, trees, moon stars, and sky as the backdrop.  “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a magical, romantic comedy in which four plots are inter-woven exploring the madness that love can inspire in us all.  Royalty, two pairs of young lovers, six bumbling tradesmen, and even spirits of the fairy kingdom are all bewitched beneath the moon by Cupid’s swift arrow.  The show will set the show in the early 1800’s with empire style attire for the mortals and fantastical costumes for the fairies, all of which will be designed by Carol Chave of New York City and Highland Lakes. Rounding out the production team is Roy Reese as lighting designer and the Steinwand Sound Company. The cast includes a number of residents from Orange County: Frank DiPietro (Snout), Isaac Kiernan (Flute), Hugh Mackay (Bottom), Lauren Mehling (Cobweb), Ted Odell  (Oberon), Sarah Pollard (Moth) Howard Wagoner (Quince), and Jessica Rupert (Hippolyta & props mistress). The remainder of the cast is fromSussex,Passaic andBergenCounties.

Audience members should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Picnics are welcome. Tickets are now on sale via the ITC’s website (www.theillustrioustheatre.org).  For more information visit the website or call 973-764-4936.