Midsummer for Haters
A Collaboration with Nemesis Theatre Company
Directed By Melon Wedick
Created By Melon Wedick based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE
MELON WEDICK (Director, Dramaturgy)
Melon Wedick (director) holds a BA in theater (and philosophy) from Oberlin College and, improbably, a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. She is the Artistic Director of Nemesis Theatre Company, and past founding member of the Certain Players (Randolph, VT) and the Greenville Shakespeare Festival (Greenville NH). A lifelong hater of Midsummer, she has enjoyed her first collaboration with The Magnetic Theatre. Past directing projects include 'Measure for Measure,' and 'Hamlet' with the Greenville Shakespeare Festival, 'Hamlet' with Montford Park Players (2018), and 'Coriolanus 2020' (Nemesis). Thanks to the cast and production team for going along with her many, many hare-brained plans for this unusual production, and to Katie and Jess, for going out on this limb with us!
When Katie Jones approached me last summer about a co-production between Nemesis and Magnetic, I was excited and troubled. Magnetic is primarily a writers’ theater, focusing on new works, and Nemesis principally works with Shakespeare - the furthest possible thing from a “new work.” What could a co-production between our companies possibly look like?
Personally, as a director, I’m driven by investigating and re-imagining things I don’t like. Nemesis’s last production, Coriolanus 2020, happened because I had never seen a production of Coriolanus I didn’t hate, but I found the underlying play interesting. This production is different; there have been many serviceable productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I guess, but I really dislike the play itself.
So we kind of rewrote it.
Midsummer for Haters is a fever-dream, a collaborative clusterfuck that was driven by incredulity as we collectively said “yes” to a lot of things that any other production would have met with a resounding “no.” We improvised, we paraphrased, we tore out the ending and tacked on a new one. It got weird. When there wasn’t room for all our ideas in one production, we made two! It was an incredible amount of fun.
I’m glad you’re here!
But just in case you really love Midsummer, let me loosely paraphrase Shakespeare / Puck (with thanks to Haven Volpe):
“Didn’t like the play?
Try this neat trick!
Pretend you were sleeping the whole time and only dreamed it.
If you forgive us for this
(and promise to come see another show),
we swear to do something better.
In the meantime, clap so we can all go home?”
CAST B
Hippolyta - Katie Jones
Theseus - Daniel Henry
Egeus - Erin McCarson
Hermia - Molly Graves
Demetrius - Alex McDonald Villarreal
Lysander - Paul Vonasek
Helena - Christine Hellman
Oberon - Jon Stockdale
Titania - Lauren Otis
Puck - Haven Volpe
Bottom - Erin McCarson
Fairies - Zak Hamrick, Daniel Henry
CAST A
Hippolyta - Katie Jones
Theseus - Molly Graves
Egeus - Paul Vonasek
Hermia - Lauren Otis
Demetrius - Jon Stockdale
Lysander - Daniel Henry
Helena - Christine Hellman
Oberon - Erin McCarson
Titania - Alex McDonald Villarreal
Puck - Haven Volpe
Bottom - Paul Vonasek
Fairies - Zak Hamrick, Molly Graves
ABOUT THE CAST
click or hover over a photo to see bio
Molly Graves
(Theseus / Hermia / Fairy)
Molly is super happy to work with Nemesis and The Magnetic on this production. She has worked with both companies before, but never together- yay!! Molly has also worked with Different Strokes! PAC, Anam Cara Theatre Company, and Montford Park Players. Many thanks to all!!
Daniel Henry
(Lysander / Theseus / Fairy)
Daniel Henry is excited to make his debut with Nemesis Theatre Company! Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Daniel didn't start acting until his senior year of high school. After his first production, he decided to pursue acting and attended Mars Hill University, graduating with a BA in Theatre Arts in 2016. He moved to Asheville not long after where he quickly became involved in the theatre community and has been in countless productions. Daniel also studied a summer intensive semester at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2018. Some of his favorite characters he has portrayed include: (Onstage) Jeff in Lobby Hero with Elipsis Theatre, Thomas in The Alabama Story with Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective, and Tybalt/Paris in The Ballad of R and J with American Myth Company, (Onscreen) Jax in Lovestruck with TrashMouth Productions, Othman in Salt with SCAD, and Bradley in Skin Deep with Zach Echols. Please enjoy the show!
Alex McDonald Villarreal
(Titania / Demetrius)
Alex hails from Dallas, Texas, and has been a part of the Asheville theatre community since 2013. Alex's training includes studying abroad in Stratford-upon-Avon and London with the Royal Shakespeare Company, receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Acting from Texas State University - San Marcos, and working as an Acting Intern at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. Notable credits include, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Puck in DREAM! and Longaville in Love's Labour's Lost with Austin Shakespeare, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream with The Barons Men, Romeo in R&J and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing with the Montford Park Players, and Antigonus in Sixteen Years Tried by Travis Lowe.
Haven Volpe
(Puck)
Haven Volpe is delighted to be making his Magnetic Theatre mainstage debut! First time y'all! You may have seen Haven onstage with other local companies such as Montford Park Players, Attic Salt, ACT, and Nemesis. But never here! First time! Magnetic Theatre Mainstage baby! Woohoo! He is very excited for this unique opportunity to tap into his intense and passionate hatred for this historic story. By show’s end, he hopes the audience finds it in their hearts to despise this timeless fairytale almost as much as he does. A big thanks to all his family, friends, and partner in crime for their endless support. Enjoy the show, y'all!
Zak Hamrick
(Fairy / Puppeteer)
Zak Hamrick (he/him) began acting in 2019. You may have recently seen Zak as Mr. Darcy in Multiverse Theatre Collective’s Christmas at Pemberley. His most recent performance with The Magnetic Theatre was in Court of the Grandchildren. Past credits include work with the Montford Park Players, Nemesis Theatre, and virtually with Different Strokes PAC. Much love to his partner Eliza, brother Luke, mother Josephine, and all of the friends, lovers, and enemies that have supported him along the way.
Katie Jones
(Hippolyta / Mechanicals)
Katie is a director, performer, and educator, having worked at regional theatres in Sarasota, Chicago and Denver. She is a member of Directors Lab, both New York and Chicago, as well as Wishbone Theatre Collective. Katie has a BA from Clemson University and an MFA in from Naropa University, where she focused on devised theatre and new play development. Locally, she has worked with Asheville Creative Arts, Immediate Theatre Project and the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival. Katie serves as Co-Artistic Director of The Magnetic Theatre, along with Jessica Johnson.
Lauren Otis
(Hermia / Titania)
Lauren is so excited to be a part of this dynamic and talented group of artists! Originally from Rochester NY, Lauren holds a BFA in Acting from Arcadia University and has been in Asheville for nearly a decade. Recent credits include Lydia Wickham in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Tori Piper in Bloodbath: Victoria's Secret, Paula Justice in The Sparrow and the Whippoorwill, Virgilia/Ensemble in Coriolanus 2020, and Perdita in 16 Years Tried. Lauren wants to thank this amazing community for embracing her with open arms. Also, thank you Melon; your trust and belief in me means more than I can express. ENJOY THE SHOW!
Paul Vonasek
(Egeus / Bottom / Lysander)
Having spent most of the past decade doing long-form improv, Paul is excited to be back in the realm of scripted work. Having escaped Los Angeles during the pandemic, Paul and his brilliant wife Laurie are finding it hard to leave Asheville. Thanks to this incredible cast and Melon for providing such a safe space to explore and play.
Christine Hellman
(Helena)
Christine is a performer, playwright, and teaching artist based in NYC and Asheville. Through the scope of consent-based practices and physical storytelling, Christine guides actors to find physical and emotional depths of intimacy on stage in a sustainable and non-harming way. Developing tools for the actor to safely step in and out of deep work is at the core of her work. Christine is currently a teacher in training with The Lucid Body House in New York City and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200). She is the co-creator of Misery is Optional. Recent acting credits include- No More Waiting, Sweat (Jessie), Barbecue (Barbara), The Flick (Rose), Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Mrs. Shears, voice 1), Misery is Optional (Voice 2) Trustus Theatre. Some Girls (Bobbi), Don't Dress for Dinner (Suzette), String of Pearls (Amy, others) Workshop Theatre. Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) CTC.
Erin McCarson
(Oberon / Egeus / Bottom)
Erin, local celebrity and national disaster, is honored to be making her Magnetic acting debut. She was last involved with The Magnetic Theatre as a playwright, penning the 2021 holiday show It's the Most ___ Time of the Year. Thank you Melon and Jess. Thank you Magnetic and Nemesis. Big sloppy thank yous to this intimidatingly talented cast and incomparable crew. And THANK YOU for supporting the arts! I love you, Luis & Cooper! www.ErinMcCarson.com
Jon Stockdale
(Demetrius / Oberon)
Jon couldn't ask for a better return to live theater than Melon's take on Midsummer, with this incredible cast and crew. Favorite past roles include Danny in The Submission with Different Strokes, Roland in Constellations at 35 Below, Oliver/Silvius in As You Like It with NC Stage, and Hamlet with the Montford Park Players.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Playwright………………………..William Shakespeare
Director…………………………..….Melon Wedick
Stage Manager……………….Jess Johnson
Set Designer……………………Alice Dodge
Props Designer……………….Melon Wedick
Sound Designer……………..Chris Hamilton
Lighting Designer…………Abby Auman
Costume Designer………..Christine Caldemeyer
Makeup Designer………….Christine Caldemeyer
Fight Choreographer…..Jered Shults
Dramaturgy………………….….Melon Wedick
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM
ABBY AUMAN (Lighting Designer) - Abby Auman is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.
CHRISTINE CALDEMEYER (Costume Designer, Makeup Designer) - An Asheville native, Christine is working her first show with Nemesis Theatre! Midsummer is a particular favorite, and it’s been a fascinating process working through this adaptation of the play.
ALICE DODGE (Set Designer, Set Builder) - Alice Dodge is a visual artist living in Montpelier, Vermont. This is her first remote set design and she's extremely grateful to all those who helped make it happen, including everyone at Nemesis and Magnetic; Molly and Chris and family; her husband Will, who is holding down the fort up north while she's here; and Jon and Melon, who first dragged her to a rehearsal thirty years ago.
CHRIS HAMILTON (Sound Designer) - Chris Hamilton is an audio, sound design, and synthesizer enthusiast. Prior projects have included Foley and sound design for short and feature length films as well as the Nemesis Theatre Company production of Coriolanus in 2019.
JESS JOHNSON (Stage Manager) - Jess Johnson has worked in theatre since the early 2000s, primarily as a stage manager, but also as a director, props and scenic designer, and dramaturg. In addition to her behind the scenes theatre work, she currently serves as the Co-Artistic Director for The Magnetic Theatre, along with Katie Jones.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Playwright; 1564-1616) - Was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He absolutely did not consent to this production of Midsummer for Haters.
JERED SHULTS (Fight Choreographer) - Jered Shults is excited to return to The Magnetic Theatre. Jered has been acting in the WNC theater scene for 10 years now. Jered is also a stage combatant and a fight choreographer which is what he brings to this amazing show. Jered would like to thank his family and friends for their support and the fantastic cast and crew of this production and you the audience for attending.
MELON WEDICK (Director, Dramaturgy, Props) - Melon Wedick holds a BA in theater (and philosophy) from Oberlin College and, improbably, a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. She is the Artistic Director of Nemesis Theatre Company, and past founding member of the Certain Players (Randolph, VT) and the Greenville Shakespeare Festival (Greenville, NH). A lifelong hater of Midsummer, she has enjoyed her first collaboration with The Magnetic Theatre. Past directing projects include 'Measure for Measure,' and 'Hamlet' with the Greenville Shakespeare Festival, 'Hamlet' with Montford Park Players (2018), and 'Coriolanus 2020' (Nemesis). Thanks to the cast and production team for going along with her many, many hare-brained plans for this unusual production, and to Katie and Jess, for going out on this limb with us!
PHOTOS by CHEYENNE DANCY
GALLERY
click to view full-size images
SPECIAL THANKS TO…
Will, Lia, and Iris Alexander
Julianne Arnall
Jeff Catanese
Ashleigh & Skyler Goff
Molly Graves & Chris Hamilton
Stellan Hamilton
Riya Hamilton
Tyler Johnson (@tothebonewoodworking)
Ellen Knepper
Kai Strange
THE MAGNETIC THEATRE STAFF
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…….……JESSICA JOHNSON
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…………..KATIE JONES
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR………….…ABBY AUMAN
BOX OFFICE MANAGER……………TIPPIN
MARKETING MANAGER……………CHEYENNE DANCY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GEORGE AWAD
ERIN MCCARSON
ELIZABETH MCCORVEY
BRET MURPHY
JASON PHILLIPS
MAX REID
JOSH SULLIVAN
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Aaron and Gus Ballard