Lynden High School Casts Shakespeare in 1920s Chicago

Lynden High School students will perform a jazz-age adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Judson Auditorium, 516 Main St., on Nov. 13, 14 and 15. The production replaces the original Athens setting with a 1920s Chicago jazz club known as The Woods. Director Tina Miller stated the show runs Nov. 13-15, with specific times listed below.

Miller, who directs the drama departments for both the high and middle schools, selected the play because she considers it Shakespeare's most popular comedy. She chose the adaptation by Gary Griffin to keep the plot intact while changing the era. Miller said she wanted a glamorous setting to help younger audiences engage with the story through visuals and costumes rather than just the language.

The jazz club setting is named The Woods because it has a woodsy feel. Miller noted that younger audience members might not understand the original language, so the visual aspect of the show provides an alternative way to connect with the performance.

Senior Luke Bright plays Demetrius, a role he describes as proper, haughty and self-interested. Bright said this is his first lead part since his freshman year. He enjoys the antagonistic nature of the character, which allows him to expand his acting range. Bright also credits the program's creative freedom for his growth, noting that the director allows actors to try different approaches on stage.

Sophomore Evelyn Roskamp plays Puck. Roskamp said the best part of the role was the character development, specifically the process of moving from struggling to process the lines to speaking them fluently with appropriate acting. She emphasized that the people in the program work hard to pull the production together.

Senior Tyler Grace plays Nick Bottom, a character who is clueless and has a large ego. Grace noted that Bottom is transformed into a half donkey, half human and later performs in a play with poor acting skills. Grace said he joined the arts program as a freshman and that his performing skills improved significantly during last year's productions of 'Channel Surfing' and 'The Prince Of Egypt'.

The cast includes Issiah Akbari as Egeus, Reece Chatterton as Philostratus, Piper Hollander as Hippolyta, Landon Lebel as Lysander, Genesis Leland as Helena, Bennett Parkinson as Theseus and Hope Stewart as Hermia. Stewart said she was excited to play Hermia because she admires the character's drama and passion. Playing the role pushed Stewart to step outside her comfort zone.

Other cast members include Alyssa Bright as Quince, Leena Charlton as Snout or Wall, McKenzie Jilk as Snug or Lion, Tessa Painter as Flute or Thisbe and Jordyn White as Starveling or Moonshine. Additional roles are played by Izzy Assink, Aliana Boersma, Jillian Bovenkamp, Charlotte Brown, Natalee Charlton, Sadie Girard, Naomi Patten, Millie Puderbaugh, Jeremiah Putnam, Paloma Rosario, Abigail Segaar, Kami Selva-Wuensch, Kenzie Smit, Elena Talley-Grovom, Tayla Van Cleve, Abby Whitehead and Cyrus Leland. Leland plays Oberon and said he is eager to perform the show.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 14, and 3 p.m. on Nov. 15. Tickets are available only at the door, which opens one hour before each performance. Prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students in grades K-12, and $10 for seniors aged 65 and older.