Casting Performers for "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" Play

Athenian Noble. The Duke of Athens, Theseus represents order, reason, and authority; he is a strong and decisive leader, having conquered the Amazons, and his upcoming marriage to Hippolyta provides the backdrop for the play's events, with his presence serving as a contrast to the wildness of the forest and the fairy realm.

Athenian Noble. The Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta is a strong and dignified figure, betrothed to Theseus; though initially a captive of war, she is now a willing participant in her marriage, and she embodies both strength and grace, offering a counterpoint to the more chaotic relationships in the play.

Athenian Noble. Egeus is Hermia’s strict and inflexible father who demands that she marry Demetrius, despite her love for Lysander. He represents patriarchal authority and is more concerned with law and obedience than his daughter’s happiness.

Athenian Noble. Philostrate is the Master of the Revels in Theseus’s court — essentially the wedding planner and entertainment coordinator for the Duke’s festivities. He is organized, proper, and somewhat anxious to maintain decorum, especially when the Mechanicals’ clumsy play is offered as entertainment. Though a minor character, his brief appearance reveals his discomfort with amateur theatrics and his attempt to steer Theseus toward more refined entertainment.

The Young Lover Egeus's daughter and Lysander's beloved, Hermia is strong-willed and passionate, determined to marry for love despite her father's objections; her journey through the forest involves both romantic pursuit and the sting of betrayal, testing her resilience and loyalty.

The Young Lover A young Athenian in love with Hermia, Lysander is initially presented as a steadfast and devoted lover; however, he becomes a victim of the fairies' magic, his affections temporarily misdirected, which highlights the fickle and unpredictable nature of love in the play.

The Young Lover Initially favored by Egeus and once loved by Helena, Demetrius is entitled, jealous, and emotionally unstable. Though he begins the story in pursuit of Hermia, his affections are ultimately realigned through magical intervention, revealing a fickle but ultimately faithful side.

The Young Lover Helena is loyal, insecure, and lovesick. Hopelessly in love with Demetrius despite his cruelty, she follows him into the woods and becomes caught in the enchanted mayhem. Her vulnerability and sarcasm reveal both the pain of unrequited love and a deep desire to be seen and valued.

The Fairies As the King of the Fairies, Oberon is a powerful and sometimes vengeful figure, whose quarrel with his queen, Titania, sets many of the play's events in motion; he's capable of great magic, and his desire for control and order, particularly over Titania, drives much of the play's action, though he ultimately restores harmony.

The Fairies The Queen of the Fairies, Titania is strong-willed and independent, and her refusal to yield to Oberon's demands regarding the changeling boy sparks the central conflict between the fairy royalty; her temporary enchantment and subsequent humiliation highlight the play's themes of love, power, and the chaotic nature of desire.

The Fairies (Robin Goodfellow) Oberon's mischievous and sprite-like servant, the Puck is the play's primary agent of chaos, delighting in pranks and misadventures; their bumbling application of the love potion to the Athenian lovers creates much of the play's comic confusion, and their playful nature is essential to the play's lighthearted and fantastical atmosphere.

The Fairies They all attend to Titania's needs and whims as her loyal servants. Their roles add to the play's fantastical atmosphere, embodying the lighter, more ornamental aspects of the fairy world. They are often called upon to perform small tasks, such as attending to Bottom when he is enchanted, and represent the more gentle and diminutive side of the fairy realm, in contrast to the more powerful magic of Oberon or Puck.

The Fairies They all attend to Titania's needs and whims as her loyal servants. Their roles add to the play's fantastical atmosphere, embodying the lighter, more ornamental aspects of the fairy world. They are often called upon to perform small tasks, such as attending to Bottom when he is enchanted, and represent the more gentle and diminutive side of the fairy realm, in contrast to the more powerful magic of Oberon or Puck.

The Fairies They all attend to Titania's needs and whims as her loyal servants. Their roles add to the play's fantastical atmosphere, embodying the lighter, more ornamental aspects of the fairy world. They are often called upon to perform small tasks, such as attending to Bottom when he is enchanted, and represent the more gentle and diminutive side of the fairy realm, in contrast to the more powerful magic of Oberon or Puck.

The Fairies They all attend to Titania's needs and whims as her loyal servants. Their roles add to the play's fantastical atmosphere, embodying the lighter, more ornamental aspects of the fairy world. They are often called upon to perform small tasks, such as attending to Bottom when he is enchanted, and represent the more gentle and diminutive side of the fairy realm, in contrast to the more powerful magic of Oberon or Puck.

The Mechanicals Bottom is a passionate and egotistical weaver who takes center stage in the Mechanicals’ play. Overconfident and loud, he believes he can play every role better than anyone else. After being transformed to have a donkey’s head by Puck, he becomes the object of Titania’s love — blissfully unaware of the absurdity of it all.

The Mechanicals Quince is a modest and earnest carpenter who leads the Mechanicals’ play as director and playwright. Though often overrun by Bottom’s enthusiasm, he tries to maintain control and get the production on its feet, despite everyone’s lack of theatrical experience.

The Mechanicals A young bellows-mender who is cast to play the female role of Thisbe, Flute is shy and initially embarrassed by the part. However, he eventually performs it with surprising feeling and commitment, adding unexpected depth to the comic play-within-a-play.

The Mechanicals Snout is a somewhat nervous tinker assigned the role of Wall in the play. Literal-minded and hesitant, he takes his unusual part very seriously, standing still with fingers forming a chink for the lovers to whisper through.

The Mechanicals A tailor cast as Moonshine, Starveling is quiet and awkward. He delivers his part with flat seriousness, holding a lantern and using a dog and thornbush as props, all while attempting to make sense of his symbolic role.

The Mechanicals A gentle joiner cast as the Lion, Snug is worried his roar will frighten the ladies in the audience. His soft-spoken personality makes him endearing, and his effort to appear non-threatening is both charming and humorous.