March 27, 2006

MOORESTOWN FRIENDS TO PRESENT "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" APRIL 7 & 8 MOORESTOWN, NJ – Moorestown Friends School will present William Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7:30 p.m. Fri., April 7 and Sat. April 8. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and $25 for premium seats. They can be purchased in person at the door, or ordered in advance by calling the school at (856)235-2900, ext. 378. The play, which is among Shakespeare’s most popular works, depicts the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors in a moonlit forest, along with the fairies who inhabit the surreal fantasy world. It includes the play-within-a-play ”Pyramus and Thisbe,” which as part of a nearly century-old school tradition will be reprised later this spring at the Moorestown Friends’ quadrennial May Day celebration on May 5.

A 31-member cast will stage “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at MFS. In the lead roles are junior Anni Weisband of Moorestown as the mischievous Puck, or Robin Goodfellow; sophomore Richard Rinaldi of Shamong as Oberon, King of the Fairies and senior Allison Bernard of Merchantville as Titania, Queen of the Fairies. Lumberton senior Jared Smith as Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Haddonfield junior Kate Maugeri portrays his betrothed, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

Playing the young lovers will be Collingswood senior Ashley Alter as the sought-after Hermia. Hermia is in love with Lysander, played by Kevin Schlagle, a Maple Shade sophomore. However, Demetrius, played by Marlton senior Sean Mulligan, also loves Hermia despite the fact that he himself is loved by Helena, played by Moorestown senior Whitney Wolf.

Playing Hermia’s father Egeus is Westampton senior Ryan Mulligan. Merchantville junior Eamon Kelleher will play Philostrate, the Master of Revels to Theseus.

Richard “RJ” Durante, a Moorestown senior, plays Pyramus in “Pyramus and Thisbe,” along with Nick Bottom, a weaver. Moorestown sophomore Wyatt Cain plays Thisbe, along with Francis Flute, a bellows mender. Rounding out the “Pyramus and Thisbe” troupe are Delran freshman Tyler Catanella as Prologue and as carpenter Peter Quince; Merchantville junior Andrew Bernard as Lion and as Snug, a joiner; Mount Laurel sophomore Ryan Kirkpatrick as Wall and as Tom Snout, a tinker and Medford sophomore Dan Gurrieri as Moonshine and as Robin Starveling, a tailor.

Moorestown Friends’ play is directed by Drama Teacher Mark Gornto of Philadelphia. Moorestown junior Katherine Hoelz is serving as choreographer.