Lone Star Ballet concludes season with Shakespearian comedy

Lone Star Ballet caps off its 2023-24 season with the world-famous Shakespearian comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" this coming weekend. The performances will be held at the Globe-News Center for Performing Arts on Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13.

In the ballet adaptation of the William Shakespeare piece by the same title, the story begins with a lovers' quarrel between the fairy Queen Titania and the fairy King Oberon over a "changeling." To force Titania to give him the young creature, Oberon plans to trick Titania with the help of his trusty servant Puck. However, as he is about to hatch his plan, the Fairy King views four humans involved in a love triangle (or rectangle, rather) as they are fleeing from the city of Athens, traveling through the Fae woods. To get back at his wife, Oberon orders Puck to deliver the humans a cupid's potion, but the servant mistakenly gives the potion to the wrong human, resulting in a comedic outplay of mixed emotions (literally), complicated scenarios, and a test of true love.

"This year has had a sort of literary theme to it, with Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Nutcracker' and now this. I know that some people can be intimidated by the thought of Shakespeare, it but this is one of his more comedic love story pieces, so it won't be hard to follow along," said Roxanne Seaton, Ballet Mistress.

"This will be truly interesting to watch; it won't be a serious piece. We are using drops rather than projections, because most of it will take place in a forest. Mixed with the makeup, costumes and lighting, I think it will be a real spectacle," Seaton added.

Emily Evans, who doubles as an LSB dance instructor and the character Titania in the production, said that although the title includes "midsummer," the story and the production feel like spring.

"Although it is called 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' I think it is a great show to watch in the spring. Throughout the show, there are these visuals and a feeling of revival, and that is what spring is, that sort of coming back to life. ... For us as dancers, it is the same. We were in a sort of hibernation following 'The Nutcracker,' and now we are back, waking up and presenting the last show of our season, like spring flowers," Evans said.

Although this production stands as just the ending of the season for the audience, some of the LSB dancers plan to leave it all on the stage, as this might be their final ballet dance ever.

Graduating high school senior Cambree Hutcherson, portraying the Mustard Seed Fairy Attendant, spoke about her excitement to begin a new chapter of her life, following her upcoming high school graduation and attending Texas Tech to study biochemistry, as well as her sorrow to say farewell to the stage and her "second home" that she has been a part of for more than a decade.

"This whole show is a really fun and chaotic piece, so I am excited for it, but it is also a little sad for me because it will probably be the last time I ever get to do this," Hutcherson said. "Lone Star Ballet has definitely come to be a second home to me. I have probably spent more time here than I have at my own home. I have made friends here and made support systems; it is a very safe environment. I know I will be welcomed at any time, and I thank them for that," Hutcherson said.

LSB's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be the company's first-ever production of the tale, including magical floral views, specialized choreography, and plenty of laughs. The production's showtimes include Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online panhandletickets.com or by calling (806) 378-3096 .

For more information about Lone Star Ballet, visit them online at https://lonestarballet.org/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Lone Star Ballet production offers magic, comedy and Shakespeare