By Reanna Filmore
The Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) is known for hosting diverse performances, but this month, the BrickBox Theater inside is transforming into something specific: a pulsating 1980s nightclub called “The Wood.”
This unique setting serves as the backdrop for The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s (THT Rep) newest production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Kathryn Moncrief, the production reimagines the classic comedy not as a story set in ancient Greece, but as a clash between the corporate greed of the 1980s and the underground freedom of club culture.
For Moncrief, who serves as the Paris Fletcher Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the decision to update the setting was about exploring themes that remain relevant today.
“We start in a very restrictive society,” Moncrief said. “In Shakespeare’s play, it is Athens. In our version, it’s more Manhattan than Athens… think Wall Street, ‘greed is good.’ It is a restrictive environment that is imposing rules on the characters.”
In the play, four young lovers escape this rigid world and flee to the forest. In Moncrief’s adaptation, which she co-adapted with WPI Humanities and Arts colleague Dr. Sarah Lucie, they escape to a nightclub.
From Fairies to Club Kids
This shift in setting changes how the audience encounters the play’s famous magical elements. The fairies are no longer woodland creatures but are reimagined as “club kids,” inspired by the fantastical fashion and nightlife scenes of 1980s New York.
The fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, are presented as rock celebrities, channeling the energy of icons like David Bowie and Cher. The young lovers, meanwhile, draw inspiration from “Brat Pack” tropes often seen in films like The Breakfast Club.
The production aims to be an immersive experience for Worcester residents. The lobby of the JMAC currently features a pop-up art exhibit inspired by the 1980s, curated to set the tone before the first line is spoken. Inside the theater, the setting includes table seating and an active bar. Moncrief noted that the bar will remain open after performances, inviting the audience to linger in “The Wood” and listen to the soundtrack.
A Collaborative Effort
While the concept is bold, the production remains grounded in local collaboration. Moncrief emphasized that theater is inherently a shared art, citing the work of designers and technicians from the WPI Theatre program who helped build the world of the play.
“We have actors from New York and from Boston and from Rhode Island and a lot of Worcester-based actors,” Moncrief said. “This is for Worcester, by Worcester. We’re making this art in downtown Worcester for us.”
The adaptation has also been streamlined. Running approximately 100 minutes, the play keeps the heart of the original story while adjusting the pacing for a modern audience. Moncrief hopes this approach makes the material accessible to those who might feel intimidated by classical theater.
“Shakespeare is asking essential questions about what it means to be human,” Moncrief said. “Who do you love? What causes you to be angry? How do you hang out with your friends? These are things that anybody can relate to.”
Finding Community in Winter
Beyond the neon lights and retro soundtrack, the production carries a deeper message about finding acceptance. Moncrief pointed out that while the 1980s were a time of vibrant culture, the era was also marked by the HIV crisis and societal pressures regarding traditional family structures.
Themes of “chosen family” and finding a sanctuary where you can be yourself are central to this production. Moncrief views the show as a “joyful gift” to the city during the cold New England winter.
“Life is really hard right now in a lot of ways,” she said. “The idea of doing Midsummer in the midwinter is a gift to Worcester. Come inside and have a joyous, joyful fun party with us.”
What Comes Next
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is currently running at the BrickBox Theater. Tickets and a full schedule of upcoming performances can be found on The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts website.
For those interested in the wider local arts scene, the Worcester Cultural Coalition provides additional information on exhibits and events happening downtown.
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