This weekend classics with a modern twist are on tap for Dorchester actors and audiences with free performances for the whole community to enjoy.
Huntington-Codman “Dream”
Tomorrow,— Friday, July 27— Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” will meet Shakespeare as two dozen students from Codman Academy Charter School will show off the acting (and dancing) skills they have been honing all year. They’re in a 1980s-themed version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to be presented at 7 p.m. at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts in the South End. Admission is free.
The performances of the Bard’s romantic comedy come courtesy of the seventh annual Huntington-Codman Summer Theatre Institute in which the Dot school again partners with the Huntington Theatre Company (HTC).
A founding partner of Codman Academy, the HTC collaborates with Codman year-round to create and teach its innovative, interdisciplinary Humanities curriculum.
“As the students apply the skills and techniques they learn from scene study and monologue competitions during the school year to a full production, they revel in the challenge and opportunity to follow their character’s story from beginning to end,” says the HTC’ s Meg O’Brien, who co-directed the show with Daniel Morris. “This summer’s cast of 24 extremely talented and funny students are each deeply invested and engaged in our process. It is a real treat to be working with them each day.”
Most of these “talented and funny” youngsters live in Dorchester: Brandon Niles (Peter Quince), Nia Tomlinson (Helena), Kyle Depina (Nick Bottom), Asisa Harrison (Hermia), William Henderson (Robin Starveling), Latasha Snider (Puck), Thammy Pierre-Louis(Philostrate), CJ Spears ( Francis Flute), Oliver Hernandez (Demetrius), Phinix Knight-Jacks (Mustardseed), Kershalee Levy(Moth), Robertho Gay (Oberon), and Rayshawn Clement (Lysander). Two other Dot residents, Marquis Knight-Jacks and Martin Willis, provide tech support. Mattapan actors include Malik Anderson (Tom Snout); Joanna Calderon (Peaseblossom).
O’Brien notes that some of these characters are costumed like pop icons of the 80s like Prince and Jackson and that all the background music is also from that era in this 90-minute trimmed down version of the classic.
Opera Collaborative Goes To Hell
Even those who know little about opera will recognize the famous hectic Can-Can theme and dance that climaxes a frothy new version of Jacques Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” running this weekend at the Strand (Thu-Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 3 pm). Thanks to a grant from The Free For All Concert Fund, the Boston Opera Collaborative (BOC) waives all admission fees for this work that is not so much an opera as the first full length classical operetta.
Offenbach spoofs the tragic Greek myth of the musically gifted Orpheus who tried to rescue his beloved wife Eurydice from the Hell. BOC is presenting the local premiere of a new adaptation which sets the goings-on in the 1930’s Hollywood. The character of Public Opinion is recast as a Hedda Hopper gossip columnist.
The Akron Symphony’s Maria Sensi Sellner will conduct a 24 piece orchestra in the Strand’s pit.
“E-Bay is a great place to get vintage dresses,” notes stage director David Gram who is using revolving platforms and singers in the aisles and balcony boxes to put the audience in the midst of all the farcical action. He estimates that including intermission performances will run under two hours. See bostonoperacollaborative.org for more information.
