Puck and the fairies make mischief in the woods.

Beginning June 20, Safe House Productions, Inc. and The City of Greenwood proudly presents the debut show of the inaugural season of Greenwood Shakespeare in the Park.

Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will premier at 7:00pm on June 20, and also be presented on June 21, and 22nd at the Greenwood City Amphitheater in Surina Square Park, with free admission and lawn seating for the public. Audience members are encouraged to come early for best seating and bring a picnic, or enjoy a food vendor at the park!

Greenwood Shakespeare in the Park's one-hour adaptation of this very popular comedy tells a fast-paced story of rivalry, jealousy, and forbidden love between the young people of Athens while handymen rehearse a play they plan to perform at their Duke's wedding. With forest fairies making mischief and tendering their powers to misplace affections, the wedding day preparations stay in peril until the very last minute! The play has been adapted to be appropriate for all ages.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" features many local professional actors, as well as student interns who are spending many hours rehearsing alongside the professionals, workshopping Shakespearean language fundamentals, volunteering for "tech days" where sets are built and costumes sewn, and completing homework assigned by their director, Greenwood resident Andrea Lott. Lott and her husband, Gary Lott, the Associate Producers of the series have emphasized both entertainment and education in the shows by casting young people in several key roles, and then providing educational resources and coaching to help get them up to speed. There is no cost to the young people involved for their participation or for those classes, workshops, and resources.

"The lines have been challenging, " says Nicole Nathan, who is playing Helena in "Midsummer". Nathan, a student at Hanover College and a graduate of Southport High School is also serving as Production Assistant for "The Taming of the Shrew" as part of the Lott's effort to double- or triple- utilize their cast and staff as much as possible both to give them a broad perspective and to keep consistency in the production quality throughout the summer. Nathan says, "As Production Assistant for 'Taming of the Shrew', I attend the production meetings , and it is very interesting to learn about the business and management side of theatre.

One of the youngest members of the company, Jacob Yager, a student at Center Grove Middle School Central, who is playing Philostrate, enjoys every opportunity to be on stage and is pleased that Safe House Productions, Inc. has brought more of them to the south side. He notices a contrast between working on this professional production and his school plays. "I've mainly worked with other middle school kids and they don't always pay attention when they're supposed to. It's nice when Andrea says, 'Go' and everyone is ready to go, [during rehearsal] " he observes.

Director Andrea Lott is very pleased with the progress her cast is making and sure they will be ready for opening night. Nonetheless, it has been an ongoing challenge to teach her younger actors how to "project" their voice in such a large space so that they will be heard clearly by all audience members. Actors Morgan Hunt and Caroline Morris, students of Greenwood Middle School, playing Fairies in the production, agree that this is a big obstacle. "I didn't expect to have to be so loud when I am on the stage!", said Hunt, who has previous stage experience from her many dance recitals.

Helping the effort toward opening night are a staff of theatre professionals from the entire Indianapolis area. Mrs. Lott says, "Because this is a first-time event, it was hard to predict what kind of talent we would draw at auditions. However, I couldn't be more pleased with the actors we have cast. They have not only stepped up to the challenge of producing Shakespeare in a limited time while helping to educate the young people, but also have embraced and brought life to their characters in ways stronger than even I as the director had envisioned."

The Lotts realize that many audience members coming to see their free series may never have seen a Shakespearean play or any live theatre before. Others may be Shakespearean enthusiasts ready to watch in a new venue. This series should appeal to all, they believe. By employing professionals with much experience in Shakespearean and other theatre, and working hard to educate their student interns, the goal is to make the shows easily understandable, quickly paced, and high quality. "If the actors themselves understand what they are saying, the Shakespearean language will not be an obstacle to the audience's enjoyment of the series, because they will understand the language through the actors' interpretations of their lines," says Mr. Lott.

Safe House Productions, Inc. is still seeking sponsors and donations for the 2008 season, and recognitions such as advertisements and website links may still be available, subject to printing deadlines. To get more information on this free event, visit www.GreenwoodShakespeare.com or call the Greenwood Community Center at 317.881.4545.

Who: Safe House Productions, Inc. and the City of Greenwood

What: Greenwood Shakespeare in the Park, "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

When: June 20, 21, 22 at 7:00pm ("The Taming of the Shrew" is July 18, 19, 20 & "Romeo & Juliet" is August 1, 2, 3)

Where: Greenwood City Amphitheater - located in Surina Square Park near the Greenwood Community Center and Little League Fields.

For More Information: visit www.GreenwoodShakespeare.com or call 317.881.4545.