The Madera Theatre Project opens its third season tonight (Thursday, June 13) with a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The company plans an ambitious summer season. After “Midsummer,” which runs through June 22, the lineup is “The Odd Couple (The Female Version),” which runs July 5-13; “Disney’s Aladdin: Dual Language Edition),” which runs July 18-21; and “Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” which runs July 25-Aug. 3.”
In the next episode of “The Munro Review on CMAC,” I include a segment on the Madera Theatre Project,” specifically talking to the director and some cast members of “Mermaid.”
For “Midsummer,” I caught up with director Austin Yarbrough to talk about the show.
Q: What is your directorial concept for the show, including the setting and time period?
A: The show is set in two places: black and white 1960 San Francisco, contrasted against the vividly colorful redwood forest. The themes of this show have a lot to do with young love, but also a push and pull between society, which is governed by men, and nature, where there are no rules, and young people are free to live and speak their will. Another major theme is escapism. Some people look inward to escape: entertainment, TV, theatre, stories; others look outward: to nature, to travel, to the great outdoors.
Q: Why did you pitch this title?
A: I’ve been waiting 10+ years for a project like MTP, and having directed in Fresno and Boise, I was thrilled to have a chance to bring Shakespeare back to my hometown. I started here with Duncan Needham’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” back in 2010, and I’ve been in love with theater and Shakespeare ever since. I picked this show specifically because 1) It’s a family-friendly comedy with many opportunities for Madera Students and young actors to show their chops; 2) It’s accessible and relatable to audiences whether they know Shakespeare or not, just a big magical romp and teen love story; and 3) it’s the closest you’ll ever get to putting on a Christmas show in June – it’s called “Midsummer” for a reason, haha. I also feel it has a great message for younger people, that love is never easy, and it can be confusing, but it’s still beautiful.
Q: Have you directed “Midsummer” before? Have you acted in it?
A: This is my first time working on this play, but my background is in Shakespeare. I’ve always loved “Midsummer,” particularly the Mechanicals, and their meta commentary on what it’s like to be stressed out to put on a play. I have a cameo in this show at the beginning and end of the play, so I’ll get to see the show from both audience and stage this time around.
Q: Tell us about some of the joys and challenges of directing community-theater Shakespeare.
A: The Madera theater community has so much talent, and so many people both young and grown who are hungry for theater. So many talented kids do theater for years in high school and then move away, but those who don’t need a venue, an outlet to express their love for the craft. My biggest joy is getting to facilitate that, and getting to work with all these talented actors, designers and technicians. Plus, the space we’re using at Matilda Torres High is incredible. I couldn’t have imagined a theater like this in Madera ten years ago, and it really shows that a quality space helps the local drama programs train quality technicians. Our crew consists almost entirely of students. I’m a teacher first and a director second, so really all of this for me is about giving students opportunities to do something like this in their community.
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Q: Can you share one moment/costume/effect in the show that you’re particularly proud of?
A: Our design as a whole package: set, sound, lights, costume, and makeup really blows me away every night I watch rehearsal. I’ve actually cried a couple times. The forest is designed to emulate my mother, Griselda Tello Yarbrough’s artwork. She has been painting the redwood forests for over 50 years, and my childhood is filled with images of her enchanted fairy forests. Seeing her paintings brought to life as a 3D space I can live and walk in is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say?
A: Shakespeare didn’t write about kings and queens; he wrote about families. And those families had all the same problems we have today. We’ve worked hard on this production to emphasize those relationships, and we invite everyone to come join us, and remember the feeling of your first crush, and fall in love all over again.
