A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
MORTALS

PHILOSTRATA Theseus’ Court Leader & Mistress of Revels; featured dancer***
THESEUS
Regal Duke of Athens; was a busy bachelor, but wants to impress his Bride to be;
can be non-singing role*
EGEUS
Hermia’s father; wishes to marry Hermia to the bachelor he thinks has the most potential;
can be non-singing role*
HIPPOLYTA
Engaged to Theseus; gets bored easily, butstands her ground with Theseus; waited for marriage
a while; can be non-singing role*
LYSANDER
Loves Hermia; but whenPuck casts a spell on him, he starts chasing Helena;calm, cool and
collected Prince Charming type**
HERMIA
Loves Lysander; best friend to Helena; chaste and pure at times, but can be a bit of a vixen;
strong-willed but likeable**
DEMETRIUS
Competing with Lysander for Hermia; Helena loves him but he rejects her; determined; morea
tough guypersonalitythan Lysander**
HELENA
Loves Demetrius; best friend to Hermia; sort of gawky, perhaps former tomboy who doesn’t
realize her beauty; becomes more confident;**
BOTTOM
a weaver, but sees himself a dramatic actor;rehearses “The Play within The Play”; a boisterous
“ham”but loved by all the villagers**
THE PLAYERS Snug – shy and unsure (could be small)
Quince – tries to keep the goofy actors organized; can be male or female
Snout – tries to be bossy but fails (could be tall)
Starveling – in his own world; a bit odd
Flute –a little defensive of his manliness; is cast as a female in The Play
(anotherPlayer canbe female: physical characteristics and age of each Player varies)

SPIRIT/DREAM CHARACTERS

PUCK
Oberon’s personal Sprite; delightfully mischievous; movement is swift, energetic and very
physical; thinks he’s/she’s quite funny;can bemale or female***
TITANIA
Queen of the Fairies; wed to Oberon but is currently angry with him; strong-willed,graceful and
a bit devious; can be a non-singing role*
OBERON
King of the Sprites: strong presence; used to getting his way; loves to create chaos;
can be non-singing role*
FAIRIES
Moth,Mustard-Seed, Peaseblossom, Cobweb***
Titania’s personal groupies; each has a distinct trait (could be sassy; not too bright; high-pitched
voice, physically clumsy or…… open to creativity)
SPRITES & OTHER FAIRIES
Children’s chorus of singers/dancers

*Age Range Look:35 – 50;
**Age Range Look:16 – 30;
***ageless; can be teens
Age Range is intended as a guide only
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
SYNOPSIS
The story begins at the pre-nuptial ceremony of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta at Theseus’ Palace. Theseus has
sown his wild oats and now wants to settle down with his intended, Hippolyta. Hippolyta, who was born into
Royalty, feels she is entitled tothis Marriage.
Lysander loves Hermia, and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius; Demetrius used to love Helena
but now loves Hermia. Egeus, Hermia’s father, prefers Demetrius for Hermia and enlists the aid of Theseus,
the Duke, to force his wishes on his daughter. According to an old Athenian law, Hermia must choose
between Demetrius, life as a nun, or death. Hermia, ever defiant, chooses to escape with Lysander into the
surrounding forest. The two plot to run away and Hermia tells her best friend, Helena, of their plan. In an
effort to gain favor with Demetrius, Helena tells him of Hermia’s and Lysander’s scheme.
Complications abound in the forest. Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Fairies and Sprites, are locked
in a dispute over a child whom Titania has adopted. Oberon is jealous. He instructs his servant, Puck, to find a
magic flower and to place the juice of that flower on the Queen’s eyelids as she sleeps. When she awakens
Titania will fall in love with the first creature she sees. Meanwhile, Helena and Demetrius have followed
Hermia and Lysander into the woods. Overhearing Demetrius’ rejection of Helena, Oberon takes pity on her
and tells Puck to place the magic drops upon the eyelids of the sleeping Demetrius as well, so that he will fall
in love with Helena. However, Puck makes the mistake of putting the magic juice on the eyelids of Lysander
instead of Demetrius. Helena stumbles over Lysander in the forest after the spell is cast so she is the first
person Lysander sees. Lysander now loves Helena and rejects a stunned Hermia.
In the midst of this chaos, a group of villagers are rehearsing for a production of a play they wish to perform
for the Duke at his Wedding, “Pyramus and Thisbe”. Puck impishly casts a spell on Nick Bottom and gives him
the head of a donkey. Bottom, as luck would have it, is the first thing Titania sees when she awakens; hence,
Bottom, wearing a donkey’s head, becomes her love andis lavishly treated by the Queen and her Fairies.
Oberon enjoys this sport, but is less amused when it becomes apparent that Puck has botched the attempt to
unite Demetrius and Helena.Remember, Puck placed the love juice on the eyes of Lysander, the wrong man.
Oberon himself anoints Demetrius with the love juice and ensures that Helena is the first person he sees when
he awakens. However, Helena understandably feels that she is now being mocked by both Demetrius and
Lysander (who is still under Puck’s spell and is enamored with Helena) and Hermia too.
Finally, Oberon decides that all good sports must come to an end. He puts the four lovers to sleep and gives
Lysander the antidote for the love potion so he will love Hermia again.Next, Oberon gives Titania the antidote,
and the King and Queen reconcile. Bottom is also released from Puck’s spell. Theseus and Hippolyta discover
the four lovers asleep in the forest. All return to the Palace to make sense of what they think is a strange
midsummer night’s dream. Likewise, Bottom returns to his players, and they perform the over-acted play
“Pyramus and Thisbe” at the Wedding Feast (which has become a celebration for all three couples).
As everyone retires, the Fairies bestow their blessings on all the mortals and Puck delivers a tender epilogue
soliloquy. “If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended”.
(Always keep the spine of the play, falling in love, in mind. Though “love makes fools of us all” and sometimes wrecks
havoc in our lives, it is always worth the effort.)
SONGS AND VOCAL RANGES
CHORUS
Arise; If Music Be The Food Of Love; Midsummer Night’s Dream (MSND); The Best Day Of My
Life; I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch);Comedy Tonight
Most are sung in 3-4 part harmony: Soprano,Alto, Tenor, Bass.
PHILOSTRATA Prologue; MSND; Tell Him (dance); other chorus numbers
Soprano II/Alto
LYSANDER
When You Say You Love Me; Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You; Men In Tights; Lover’s Quartet
Tenor/Baritone. (holds Tenor in the Quartet)
HERMIA
You Don’t Own Me; Tell Him; When I Look At You; Water Under The Bridge; Lover’s Quartet
Soprano.(can belt in some songs; holds Soprano in the Quartet)
DEMETRIUS
The More I See You; Unchained Melody; Only Have Eyes For You; Men In Tights; Lover’s Quartet
Baritone/Bass. (holds Bass in the Quartet)
HELENA
You Don’t Own Me; Tell Him; I Will Always Love You; Water Under The Bridge; Lover’s Quartet
Alto. (holds Alto in the Quartet)
BOTTOM
Do A Play;In The Still Of The Night; Comedy Tonight; Men In Tights
Baritone. (can be more a character voice than great singer)
PLAYERS
Do A Play; Comedy Tonight; several Chorus numbers
Any voice part/character singing; (great singing not required)
PUCK
Why Do Fools Fall In Love; Men In Tights; I Am What I Am; MSND; Best Day Of My Life
Middle range for either male or female
Other Music TBA for Titania and Oberon if singers; William Tell Overture – Instrumental +Titania and
Oberon in spoken verse; Fanfares
FAIRIES
Midsummer Night’s Dream; I Can’t Help Myself; William Tell Overture; The Best
Day Of My Life (Reprise); other chorus numbers
CHILDREN
Midsummer Night’s Dream; I Can’t Help Myself; Best Day Of My Life (Reprise); other chorus
numbers
FOR CHILDREN’S AUDTIONS: children are to prepare up to 32 measures of a song of their choice. Children do
not have to be concerned about their song demonstrating knowledge of the character for which they are
auditioning. However, we are interested in hearing natural children’s voices – not a belting style like
Elsa from Frozen. Children will also learn a short dance combination. There may be an opportunity for some
featured work in one of the chorus numbers.