Midsommer Flight, a company that has brought free performances of Shakespeare's plays to Chicago Park District parks since 2012, will present a fully staged ROMEO AND JULIET ­­- ­one of the Bard's most popular tragedies -  as its 2024 free Shakespeare production. Midsommer Flight Founding Artistic Director Beth Wolf (she/her/hers) will direct the story of young lovers caught in between their feuding families. Later in the summer, on August 12, the company will present a staged reading of a play by a 17^th Century female French playwright, in collaboration with Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre of Brooklyn, NY, at The Understudy Coffee and Books in Andersonville.
 
ROMEO AND JULIET will be Midsommer Flight's 11^th summer production. Full cast and production team announced.

Wolf says, "ROMEO AND JULIET is a beautiful play to see or perform for its romance, excitement, gorgeous language, and deep emotion. But more than just a famous tale of young love gone awry, ROMEO AND JULIET speaks to our present moment with a story of the tragic consequences when two clashing factions cannot or will not put forth effort to seek communication, understanding, and forgiveness." ROMEO AND JULIET will be performed over six summer weekends in six different Chicago parks, including a first-time stop in Nichols Park, at 1355 E 53rd Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Opening night is Friday, June 28 at 6 pm at Chicago Women's Park and Gardens, 1801 South Indiana Avenue in the South Loop (Near South Side).

Midsommer Flight Founding Artistic Director Beth Wolf (she/her/hers) announced her cast today. Appearing in the title roles are Faiz Siddique (he/him/his) as Romeo and Ebby Offord (she/they) as Juliet. Siddique's many Chicago area credits include roles in SELLING KABUL and ANDY WARHOL IN IRAN at Northlight, and MOSQUE4MOSQUE with About Face Theatre. Offord played Puck in Midsommer Flight's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in 2022 and before that, Ophelia in Invictus Theatre's HAMLET. 

The cast also includes Kristen Alesia (she/they, Nurse, Lady Montague), Ryan Armstrong (he/him/his, Sampson, Balthazar), Brandon Beach (he/him/his, Paris, Abraham), Zach Bloomfield (he/him/his, Lord Montague, Peter, Apothecary), Haven A.J. Crawley (Mercutio), Jack Morsovillo (he/him/his, Gregory, Friar John), Tristan Odenkirk (he/him/his, Tybalt), Jonathan Perkins (he/him/his, Lord Capulet), Laura Resinger (she/her/hers, Lady Capulet), Genesis Sanchez (she/they, Benvolio), and Amber Washington (she/her/hers, Prince, understudy for Juliet). Understudies are Blake Hood (he/they, understudy for Tybalt, Mercutio, Benvolio), Katie Luchtenburg (they/them/she, understudy for Prince, Gregory/Friar John, Sampson/Balthazar), Shail Modi (he/him/his, understudy for Romeo, Paris/Abraham), Rocco Renda (he/him/his, understudy for Lord Capulet, Friar Laurence, Lord Montague/Peter/Apothecary), and Anne Marie Trodden (she/her/hers, understudy for Lady Capulet, Nurse/Lady Montague).

(* Indicates Midsommer Flight Artistic Ensemble member.)

Performed in six different Chicago Park District parks

June 28-30 at Chicago Women's Park and Garden, 1801, S Indiana Avenue
July 5-7 Gross Park, 2708 W Lawrence Avenue
July 12-14 Lincoln Park, Stockton & Dickens / near the Hans Christian Anderson statue
July 19-21 Kelvyn Park, 4438 W Wrightwood
July 26-28 Nichols Park, 1355 E 53rd Street
August 2-4 Touhy Park, 7348 N Paulina Avenue
 
Shakespeare's eternal tragic story of young love between warring Italian families is performed free, outdoors, in six Chicago parks. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. Seating is first come, first served, and audience members can bring their own blankets or chairs.
 
Free Reservations are encouraged but not required. Those with reservations will be contacted in the event of weather cancellations or other last minute updates. Reservations will be available through the Midsommer Flight  website at https://midsommerflight.com/romeo-juliet-summer-2024/. Show information on website at www.midsommerflight.com, including detailed schedule and info about directions and parking at each park.

 COMING IN AUGUST – Midsommer Flight to collaborate with Brooklyn-based Hedgepig Ensemble/EXPAND THE CANON to present staged reading of a 17th-century French play by a female playwright

Midsommer Flight is thrilled to partner with Brooklyn-based Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre to introduce Chicago to their exciting EXPAND THE CANON program, an annual list of nine plays by historic women and people of underrepresented genders. EXPAND THE CANON not only celebrates these classic plays but also offers a call to action to produce them.

On August 12, Midsommer Flight will present a staged reading in English of LE FAVORI, a French verse play written in 1664, at The Understudy in Andersonville. Written in 1664, LE FAVORI (THE FAVORITE) is a French verse play about the transactional nature of relationships. It was the first play by a woman performed for King Louis XIV. Brimming with social commentary and humor, LE FAVORI invites obvious comparisons to the work of Molière and promises to be a delightful romp. Midsommer Flight's staged reading will utilize a new translation by Canadian playwright James Hyett and will be directed by Midsommer Flight ensemble member LaKecia Harris. Casting is still to be announced.

Now in its fourth year, the 2023 EXPAND THE CANON list includes plays ranging from 1664 to 1979, from seven countries across three continents, and brings Hedgepig's total number of celebrated works to 36. On the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's First Folio, which contains his 36 plays, Hedgepig has a full folio-worth of classic plays by women that are long overdue for recognition. https://www.hedgepigensemble.org/expand-the-canon

LISTING INFORMATION

LE FAVORI
By Marie-Catherine Desjardins (Madame de Villedieu)
In a new translation by James Hyett
In partnership with Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre/EXPAND THE CANON
Directed by Midsommer Flight Ensemble Member LaKecia Harris
One night only staged reading
August 12, 2024
The Understudy, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago

ABOUT MIDSOMMER FLIGHT. Midsommer Flight is a theatre company dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare's plays in Chicago communities. After the company's well-received inaugural production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in 2012, the Chicago City Council honored Midsommer Flight with a resolution praising "the Midsommer Flight theater troupe on their dedication to bringing the arts to underserved communities."  The company incorporated as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois in early 2013 and has produced ROMEO AND JULIET (2013), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2014), MACBETH (2015), TWELFTH NIGHT (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) AS YOU LIKE IT (2016), HAMLET (2017), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (2018), THE TEMPEST (2019), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (2012 AND 2022), and CYMBELINE (2023). The company was nominated in 2019 for the third time for the League of Chicago Theatres "Emerging Theatre Award."
 
Midsommer Flight is committed to presenting financially accessible theatre. Productions are 100% free to the public (donations gratefully accepted). Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.
 
ABOUT NIGHT OUT IN THE PARKS
 
ROMEO AND JULIET is presented as part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor's Office and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visit www.nightoutintheparks.com.