A Midsummer Night's Dream - Free Shakespeare in the Park

Actors Ensemble's second production of our 2026 Summer Season in the beautiful John Hinkel Park is A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare,  adapted and directed by Michael R. Cohen with Ben Prusiner.  Free-of-charge, reservations encouraged (especially for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility) but not necessary.  Presented Saturdays/Sundays & holidays beginning Saturday, August 22nd through Labor Day Monday, September 7th, all at 4 p.m.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is the Shakespeare's comical melding of love stories within both the magical forest world of the Fairies and the Athenian court, with the King and Queen of the Fairies, the love quadrangle of Hermia, Demetrius, Lysander and Helena, and the Duke of Athens and his fiance the Queen of the Amazons, all "working things out", with a little intervention by the mischevious Puck and the hapless Mechanicals.  A perfect play to end the summer on - join us!

With: 
Francis Flute - Patrice Binaisa
Egeus - Carolyn Ford Compton
Oberon/Thesius - Arcady Darter
Puck - Linda Maria Girón
Tom Snout - Keith Jefferds
Bottom - Bruce Kaplan
Titania/Hippolyta - Cynthia Lagodzinski
Snug- Avery May
Robin Starveling - Sarah Mooney
Ensemble - Eshani More
Lysander - Ryan Morris
Hermia - AnneJelika Ong Cortez
Demetrius - Soughers Parker
Peter Quince - Kim Saunders
Helena - Tina Traboulsi
Ensemble - Comet Ziemer

Costumes by Lyre Alston.
Set design by Kirsten Yamaguchi.
Props by Susan Dunn.
Graphics by Sophie Ruf.
Photos by Jane Shamaeva.
Stage Management by Mary Tran. 
Production/Technical Direction by Jerome Solberg.

The amphitheatre seats well over 300 people and consists of a series of stone terraces. Low lawnchairs are acceptable, or bring pillows and/or blankets.  The amphitheatre is wheelchair accessible with 5 spots for wheelchairs or those who cannot climb steps and/or need a special chair, and 8 benches for wheelchair companions or folks who cannot climb ysteps but can sit on benches , all at ground level - please make a reservation so we can reserve these spots.  In addition, for those with limited mobility or hearing issues we will reserve places in the first few rows, which requires climbing a few steps (there are railings).  No chairs are provided, please bring your own and/or pillows/blankets.  For all others, we encourage you to make a reservation (and make a donation!) so we have some idea of who is coming (helps to plan concessions), but seats are on a first-come/first-served basis.   There a single handicap parking spot close to the amphitheatre and some additional spots along Somerset which are reasonably accessible for wheelchairs - we encourage folks to be dropped off.

John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre is at 41 Somerset Pl., Berkeley, CA 94707.  Access is via Arlington Avenue, turn right on Southampton, then continue straight onto Somerset.  Note that Google Maps will direct you to locations at the top of the park along San Diego Road - quite a hike down.  There is very limited parking at the amphitheatre, due to the addition of a playground which swallowed up most of the existing parking.  There is some parking along Arlington, Somerset, Southhampton, and San Diego Road - we encourage folks to ride bicycles or use ride services.  The closest BART station is the North Berkeley BART.  The #7 AC Transit bus stops right at the corner of Arlington and Southampton.

The production lasts a about two hours, plus a short intermission.

Actors Ensemble has been producing quality theater with a community flavor since 1957, right around from the corner from you.  Check out our websitewww.aeofberkeley.org for upcoming events, including our mini-production of the sci-fi dramedy Repossessed by local playwright Greg Lam (what happens when you pay to have your brain improved - and you fall behind on payments?) opening July 31st in  the cozy confines of LaVal's Subterranean Theater, in the basement of LaVal's Pizza in north Berkeley, and  Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, adapted and directed by Jay Manley, opening October 2nd at Live Oak Theater, Berkeley.