Rider Theater Presents A Midsummer Night's Dream

Rider University’s Westminster College of the Arts will warm February’s chilly midwinter nights with William Shakespeare’s popular comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream February 16 through 19 in the BLC Theater on Rider’s campus in Lawrenceville.  Performances will be Friday, February 17 at 8 p.m., Saturday, February 18 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 19 at 2 p.m.  A preview performance will be presented on Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m.

This rollicking comedy of fairies, young love and an enthusiastic group of inept thespians frolicking in the forest is always an audience favorite.  “Our zany cast of characters will have you exclaiming, “Lord, what fools these mortals be,” says director Trent Blanton.

The performers will be Rider University students.  The production is directed by faculty member Trent Blanton, who directed The Laramie Project earlier this season at Rider. A member of Actor’s Equity, his professional acting credits include Les Miserables at Actors’ Playhouse; A Christmas Carol at Actors Theatre of Louisville; 1776 at Ford’s Theatre and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; Fiddler on the Roof at Starlight Musicals of Kansas City and The MUNY of St. Louis; A Christmas Carol and Romeo & Juliet at Alliance Theatre; and Masada at York Theatre in New York. Blanton was in the Broadway National Tour of Les Miserables and the musical’s Chinese premiere with Colm Wilkinson at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. He is also an active presenter with the Southeastern Theater Conference and production respondent for the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival.

Tickets for the February 17 - 19 performances are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.  For tickets call the box office at 609-896-5303 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets for the preview performance on 16 are $9 and available only at the door.