Creating community through theatre
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opened at Charleston Southern University on Tuesday, November 19 and runs through Friday, November 22 in the Blackbox Theater. There is no showing on Thursday, November 21. Tickets are $15 except for CSU students and faculty, who have free entrance with their ID.
Professor Thomas Keating is the coordinator of the CSU Theatre Program. Keating has years of experience under his belt. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in drama and from Columbia University with a Master’s degree in acting.
Keating has been a part of local plays in many ways: acting, directing, writing, or voicing characters. Keating has been involved in many performances, including “Daniel and the Kings” and “Boundless” at Flowertown Players. Keating was the consulting producer for “Daniel and the Kings” and the director of “Boundless.” He has also served as director in“The Diary of Anne Frank,” “King Lear,” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
According to Shakespeare’s Globe, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set in two separate worlds. This play takes place in the court of Athens and a mystical forest that lies beyond the city’s walls. This is a comedy that explores the themes of irrationality of love, friendship, possession, jealousy, desire, and magic.
Professor Keating has had a passion for theatre since he was 16. His passion for theatre came from the first performance starring his sister, “They’re Playing Our Song.” He admired his sister’s performance, and she encouraged him to try out for the next play. He then starred in the next eight shows at the same theater.
Keating believes that theatre brings the student body together. When students work together in a play, their differences fall away. Theatre creates friendships.
“When many students collaborate, whether onstage, offstage, or backstage; they learn to create things together that bring them closer,” he said.
Keating chose “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as the fall production because he has done many tragedies and wanted to do a comedy to change it up. Keating also believes that there are several messages to be taken away from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“We can hear about what it means to really love someone, find humor in being misunderstood, and feel a bit of heartache that shows longing for someone else and them not feeling the same way,” he said.
We can also learn about how the community has fun through the characters and celebrate what it means to do a show together regardless of their level of expertise.
Gray Freeman is a reporter, and Jill Davis is an editor for Buc News, a student media organization at Charleston Southern University.
