For one night only, a student-run production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” graced the stage of the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater Oct. 5.
Theater & performance studies and politics double major, and the play’s director Keelyn McDermott (senior), said the idea for the “Midsummer” production started with wanting to put Occidental’s Greek Theater to use after watching outdoor theater Theatricum Botanical’s take on “Midsummer.” From there, she said she saw the potential of what could be done in Occidental’s own amphitheater, despite lacking the technology of Keck Theater.
“[The Greek Theater] hasn’t really been used and for legitimate reasons,” McDermott said. “But I think approaching second semester of junior year, I was like, ‘How can I make my mark? How can I go out with a bang?’”
McDermott said that once she decided she wanted to put on a show in the Greek Theater, she began recruiting people that she wanted to collaborate with again, reserved the space and got to work. Throughout the summer, McDermott said she and other members of the production started meeting to dissect the script, characters and dynamics.
One such member was Carolina Arap (junior), who played Helena in “Midsummer.” She was also the production’s choreographer, social media manager and intimacy coordinator, where she supported actors through scenes that involved physical contact. According to Arap, the outdoor venue was an exciting part of the production.
“[The outdoor venue] is one of the things that most of the cast is the most passionate about with this production,” Arap said. “Especially being in the theater department here at Oxy, one of the things that we as a collective feel is our most underused resource [is] that gorgeous Greek amphitheater sitting there.”
According to McDermott, the technology used for “Midsummer” was influenced by the outdoor venue. She said it was minimal, but due to the nature of the play, McDermott believed it added to the magic of the production.
“[In the Greek Theater], things need to be bigger. Things need to be louder. We’re not using mics, so that kind of informs the style of acting,” McDermott said. “[But] it’s complimentary to the play itself […] it is a little larger than life, outlandish and hilarious.”
Arap said being in the Greek Theater also allowed the play to be more immersive. Several characters entered and exited throughout the theater, as well as ran through the audience. Unlike many theater venues, there were no official, controlled wings.
According to McDermott, “Midsummer” was a passion project for her and her directing debut. Before “Midsummer,” McDermott said she had been mainly involved in theater as an actor.
“I feel like through this process, I have found my own artistic voice,” McDermott said. “I decided that I wanted to challenge myself in a way that I’ve never challenged myself creatively before.”
According to Arap, McDermott wasn’t the only one taking on something new for this production. Arap said she stepped in as the intimacy coordinator without training to be someone that people could go to if they had concerns and be a middle-ground between the director and the actors.
Several cast members also made their acting debuts, which Arap said created a dynamic learning environment intertwining their various experience levels. Arap said that while she believes many of the people newer to theater may have learned from those with experience, the theater veterans also learned a lot by seeing the budding actors’ fresh takes on the play’s well-known characters.
“I am just so thrilled for the people doing their acting debuts and so thrilled for them to have that experience,” Arap said.
According to McDermott, this learning environment was also prevalent as the entire production was student-run. McDermott said everyone had to keep themselves accountable and put trust in the people around them. McDermott said she learned how to balance her ideas and ambitions with trusting the community she built around the show.
Zola Morris (sophomore) is a theater & performance studies major at Occidental. She was the stage manager for this production of “Midsummer.” According to Morris, some challenges were introduced because the production was fully student-run. However, she said McDermott took the time to be an exemplary leader and director.
“I think we’ve done a great job of cultivating an environment where we see each other as professionals and adults,” McDermott said.
McDermott said she believes they were able to succeed with this show because they put trust in each other.
“This show is really magical and special, and we have such a talented and dedicated group of people working on it,” Morris said via email.
According to Arap, the community they were able to build during this production was a huge part of what made it special.
“’Midsummer’ is a celebration of the community you can build at Oxy,” Arap said. “[It’s] a love letter to classical work and a love letter to theater, and a love letter to just connection and what it is to be with people […] I just hope that people love it as much as I’ve loved doing it.”
Contact Ava Anderson at aanderson5@oxy.edu
