Celebrate Fifteen Years of Children’s Theatre Re-Defined
The New Acting Company Presents William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare
Reimagined by Mary Jo Bono
Produced & Directed by Stephen Michael Rondel
April 17th – 26th at The Celebration Of Whimsy
“Best Sources for New York Families” – New York Family Guide
“The New Acting Company embodies the best kind of children’s theatre.”
– NewYorkTheatre.com
“After having cranked out award-winning children’s theater for years, Stephen Michael Rondel has pushed the bar way to the rafters.” – The Villager
The New Acting Company is celebrating its 15th anniversary with, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies and has been updated and reimagined to fit the modern time. The production is directed by The New Acting Company’s Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Michael Rondel, and choreographed by Ede Thurrell. The script has been reimagined and adapted by Mary Jo Bono.
Meet Helena & Hermia, two teenagers addicted and dependent on social media. When life and love get too tough they run to their safe haven in Central Park. Amongst the magic enchantment of the forest and its creatures they discover the power of love and friendship. Join your favorite and timeless characters Helena, Hermia, Puck, Oberon, Titania, Bottom, Flute and Quince all with refreshing new twists. Re-Imagine, Re-Envision & Re-Discover A Midsummers Nights Dream with this modern adaption that shows us “Lord what fools these mortals be.”
Tired of seeing the same old version of the classic story reproduced time and time again with the same costumes, characters, and interpretation? After 15 years of reputable and critically acclaimed professional productions, The New Acting Company is changing the face of “Theater For All Ages” once again!
The Production Stars; Andrea Alton, Sha James Beamon, Matt Bloch, Madeline Calandrillo, Lily Davis, James Leaf and Introducing; Eloise Esseks and Anne-Sophie Vandenberk.
The creative team includes Costume Design by Casey Malone, Set Design by Dan Paul, Lighting Design by Eric Hedlund, Marketing & Promotional design by Margeaux Lucas, and Stage Management by Cait Lang.
All performances take place at The Celebration Of Whimsy, 21-A Clinton Street (between Houston & Stanton). Subways: F to Delancey, J/M/Z to Essex.
Tickets are $18 in advance and are available at Smarttix.com.
Recommended for Ages 5 and up. No infants will be admitted. All children will be charged admission regardless of age.
Show Dates:
Friday, April 17th @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 18th @ 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 19th @ 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Friday, April 24th @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 25th @ 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 26th @ 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Running time: 80 minutes – More info at www.TheNewActingCompany.com
Stephen Michael Rondel (Producing Artistic Director), Created & Founded The New Acting Company in 2000. He is also the proud Owner (along with his business partner Dominick Cattarina) & Managing Director of The Celebration of Whimsy; A new theater, art, dance and event venue. As Producing Artistic Director he has directed and or acted in Jack & The Beanstalk (2012), Peter Pan (2010), Once Upon A Pandora’s Box (2007), Sideways Stories From Wayside School (2013 & 2006), The Jungle Book (2005), Once Upon A Mattress (2004) & Wild Thing (2009 & 2003). Other productions include The Mad World Of Miss Hathaway (2014 & 2013), The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun (Recipient of 2006 N.Y. Musical Theater Festival, Wild Card Performance Award – Talkin’ Broadway), Lead Heavy Sky, Circus Inferno, Romeo and Dream. Favorite regional credits include: Incorruptible (Artist Repertory; Portland Oregon), The Secret Garden, The Fantasticks, Cloud Nine, The Bacchae and To Kill A Mockingbird. Originally from Portland, Oregon and Washington State, Stephen has worked as an administrator and teacher with top-notch children’s theater programs such as The Northwest Children’s Theater and School (1994-1998), and Adventures in Science and Art, for Western Washington University, his alma mater. He has directed over 100 productions with children, teens and adults, produced 15 professional Off-Off Broadway productions in Manhattan, 12 of which he also directed, and has been an acting teacher for over 20 years.
About the New Acting Company:
Created and Founded by Producing Artistic Director Stephen Michael Rondel and celebrating its 15th anniversary, The New Acting Company’s mission is to use the energy of live performance (both onstage and in class) to promote responsibility, trust, friendship, teamwork and self-esteem in all ages of the community by offering the opportunity to study, rehearse and perform challenging texts in a professional theater environment. Our professional productions feature classic plays, fairy tales and original adaptations of children’s and adult literature to entertain, engage, enrich and inspire new and future performing artists. The New Acting Company strives to be a fun, safe and creative place for children, teens and adults preserving and promoting the artistic and cultural life of their community.
Here is what past critics have had to say about The New Acting Company:
“Brims with popular culture references that make adult theatergoers laugh… a rare “Snow White” with teenage appeal.” – The New York Times – Snow White
“Stephen Michael Rondel has taken a very old and worn-out children’s fairytale, and given us a very intelligent production to savor.” – The Villager – Snow White
“A truly remarkable production of one of literature’s classic works”
– theateronline.com – Peter Pan
“Monica Flory’s script is both scrupulously faithful to Rudyard Kipling and completely original in its approach…created a vibrant, wild world…ingenious costumes, these actors may be the most convincing stage animals south of “The Lion King”…easily appeals to theatergoers.” – The New York Times – The Jungle Book
“The New Acting Company embodies the best kind of children’s theatre…the pacing is brisk, the writing is earnest, and the staging is savvy and sophisticated.”
– NewYorkTheatre.com – Wild Thing
“More than a lesson on good behavior for children. It is also a lesson on how children’s theater can be clever without being dull, and amusing without being dumb”
– Offoffonline – Sideways Stories from Wayside School