Junior Players find Shakespeare not just literature, but a shared community bond
In the heart of East Dallas, the rehearsals for Junior Players' annual Shakespearian production, A Midsummer Night's Dream, are underway. At the helm is director Kyle Lemieux, who approaches this timeless play with a unique perspective, tailoring his style to nurture young talents.
Lemieux, who is also a drama professor at the University of Dallas, believes in helping actors find their characters and voices within the play. He encourages the teens to delve deep into the text and the community aspect of Shakespearean theatre. This approach is designed to make Shakespeare accessible and meaningful beyond just prose, fostering a sense of ensemble and discovery.
The rehearsals, taking place at East Dallas Christian Church, are filled with a blend of dedication and camaraderie. The kids find the amount of dedication required to perform Shakespeare impressive, but they enjoy the support and friendship of their fellow actors. For Lemieux, watching the kids grow and discover themselves through the play is a sentimental experience.
One such performer is 17-year-old Charlotte Foree from Allen, who plays the mischievous fairy Puck. Foree's portrayal involves playing a creepy character who curses people, with a touch of hyena-like behaviour, complete with creepy laughter, Kubrick stares, and creepy smiles. The chaos on stage as Puck transforms an actor's head into a donkey is a testament to the energy and enthusiasm the young cast brings to the production.
Maximo Casas, who plays Lysander, shares Lemieux's affinity for Shakespeare and finds the community at Junior Players welcoming. Tickets for the performance, which will be held at Theatre Three from July 29 to Aug. 3, are priced at $12-$17.
Lemieux's method involves building up the actors' "muscle memory" not just for individual scenes but for how scenes connect and flow together, helping them grasp the play’s overall structure and pacing. This emphasis on continuity and fluency is evident during rehearsals, where he emphasizes running larger chunks of the play to build this continuity and confidence.
Casas expresses a desire to return to Junior Players in the future to help others as they have been helped. For many of the young actors, this production is more than just a performance—it's a stepping stone in their artistic journey, a testament to the power of community theatre, and a reminder of the magic that lies within the pages of Shakespeare's works.
[1] This paragraph is a summary of the bullet points provided, explaining Lemieux's directing approach and its impact on the young actors.
- Besides nurturing young talents, Kyle Lemieux, the director of Junior Players' A Midsummer Night's Dream, encourages actors to delve into Shakespeare's community aspect and the play's text.
- Rehearsals for the production are filled with camaraderie and dedication at East Dallas Christian Church.
- Charlotte Foree, a 17-year-old actor from Allen, portrays Puck in a unique and engaging manner, showcasing creepy behavior with Kubrick stares, hyena-like laughter, and creepy smiles.
- Maximo Casas, who plays Lysander, finds the community at Junior Players welcoming and shares a desire to return in the future to help others.
- Tickets for the performance at Theatre Three from July 29 to Aug. 3 are priced at $12-$17.
- Lemieux's directing method focuses on building "muscle memory" for both individual scenes and the play's overall structure, which becomes evident in rehearsals.
- For the young actors, this production is more than just a performance—it's a stepping stone in their artistic journey, a testament to the power of community theatre, and a reminder of the magic within Shakespeare's works.
