It’s often heralded as the world’s most beloved comedy. In it, an enchanted forest becomes the perfect setting for the follies and foibles of love-sick humans, mischievous fairies, and amateur actors putting on a play. It’s Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” which will be staged by Sterling College Theatre on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 9, at 2 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the College campus. 

Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a whimsical comedy filled with love, magic, and mischief. The play follows four young lovers who escape into the forest, only to be caught in a fairy king’s magical prank, leading to hilarious romantic confusion. 

A group of bumbling actors prepares a play for the Duke’s wedding, but their rehearsal takes an unexpected turn when one of them is transformed into a donkey and becomes the fairy queen’s unlikely love interest. With mischievous fairies, mistaken identities, and enchanted chaos, this timeless classic is a joyful celebration of love and imagination.

New Artistic Director Lesa Brown makes her Sterling College Theatre debut as play director with her 26-person cast for the show. Playing Theseus, the Duke of Athens, will be Sterling Alum Bryson Brownlee with freshman Elles Herndon (Pratt) as Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons. Their wedding provides the backdrop for the action. 

The four young lovers are Lily Stansbury (Lorraine), Brennan Blake (Cambridge, Minn.), Kim Skirvin (Emporia), and Kurt Keegan (Burlington). Anya Billings (McPherson) will be seen as a member of the court of Theseus.

Kyle Arnett (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Mariana Inchaugria (Hutchinson) will play Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the Fairies. Macy Brownlee (Sterling) will be seen as trouble-maker fairy Puck. Others playing fairies in the magic-filled show include Bailey Brewer (Hutchinson), Morgan Pelegrino (Las Vegas), Makenzy Carter (Wichita), Harleigh Baker (Burlington), Kassia Lopez (Lyons), Kayleann Herrington (Pleasanton), Rose Marie Inmann-Hall and Natalynn Gulick (Eureka).

The third group within the show is known as “Rude Mechanicals," a group of six amateur actors who are essentially skilled laborers (carpenters, weavers, and tinkers) from Athens attempting to perform a play for the royal wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. (The term "rude" refers to their working-class status and lack of refined acting skills, making their performance unintentionally comical.) 

The troupe is led by Bottom, played by Philip Starnes (Wellington). Others in the troupe include Abigail Sawin (Washington), Chandler Reiman (Kinsley), Broc Harland (Ulysses), Liv Ivie (Burlington) and Paul Zier (Clearwater). 

Brown is also designing costumes for the show with students Josh Allen (Inman) and Inchaugria designing the set and Noah Svaty (Sterling) designing the lighting. 

Tickets for Sterling’s production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are currently available online at www.sterling.edu/arts and will be available at the door before each performance. 

Sterling College Theatre is dedicated to entertaining, educating, and enriching the community through high-quality theatrical productions. Rooted in a Christian liberal arts tradition, the program fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in an environment that inspires artistic and personal growth.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.