USD offers a major and minor in Theatre, but this semester’s fall production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was open to all USD students regardless of their major. For USD sophomore Aveilla Schneider, this show will be her very first theatrical performance.
“I took a class with Jersten [Seraile], the director, last semester and he recommended me to try out,” Schneider shared. “I did it with no intention of getting a good role … I’d be happy to just play a tree.”
Schneider, who plays Hermia, will be doing far more than just holding branches. Her character is central to the plot. Schneider shared how bringing Hermia to life has expanded her intellect in many ways.
“You just go through every single beat [to bring her to life], you have to constantly think about what your intention is, behind what you’re saying and how you’re moving,” Schneider said.
The Shakespearean comedy centers around three interconnected plots set in Athens and a nearby enchanted forest. The first plot follows Hermia, who is caught in a forbidden romance against her father’s wishes. The play then heads into the enchanted forest, where the mischievous Puck tricks the fairy queen into falling in love with the first creature she meets, which leads to various mishaps. The final plot centers around a group of Athenian craftsmen, known as the Rude Mechanicals. The cast includes 19 undergraduate students who have been rehearsing since early September.
Since then, the cast has dedicated over twenty hours each week to bring the show to life. USD senior August Nickoli, who plays Helena, shared how rehearsing for a Shakespearean play is particularly unique.
“We would go through the text line by line and break it down,” Nickoli explained. “Then we go in and try to understand the objectives of our characters and get really specific.”
For some, performing an over 400-year-old show in 2026 may seem irrelevant. Nickoli disagrees.
“I think the universality of Shakespeare is something that not a lot of people understand or always pick up on,” Nickoli argued. “What’s so awesome is that we still see all of these tropes today in modern media … [Shakespeare] is literally the basis of everything.”
Schneider agreed with Nickoli’s views on Shakespeare’s relevance.
“Shakespeare, and specifically this show, reminds us that basic human emotions like love, sadness, fear or anger is what makes life beautiful,” Schneider shared. “There’s just something powerful about letting yourself go through these emotions and feel everything really deeply.”
USD first-year Nio Beavers, who plays the trouble-stirring Puck, shared that playing this character has been a refreshing change of pace.
“I’m an engineering major, so going from classes to rehearsal has been a nice break,” Beavers shared. “It’s just fun to let go and be whimsical.”
Beavers’ character Puck is a shapeshifter, and the actor shared that he feels he was a great fit for this reason.
“I take on so many roles in my life at once,” Beavers explained. “I shift between those, I’m a shapeshifter just like Puck.”
Audiences can expect lots of whimsy, magic and classic Shakespearean drama in the upcoming play. Beavers shared that he hopes audiences will come into the show with lots of energy.
“Have fun, it’s a very interactive show and the actors can feel your positive energy,” Beavers concluded.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will open today, Thursday, Nov. 12 and conclude on Sunday, Nov. 15. Tickets can be purchased online via the Department of Theatre’s Instagram account.
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