In Charles Freij’s 10th-grade theater class at Pierson High School, students worked with the Neo-Political Cowgirls on deconstructing the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” after the nonprofit performed a condensed version for them in the Pierson auditorium. The students continued their education on the play with a hands-on workshop at LTV Studios alongside the Bridgehampton High School theater class.
The Neo-Political Cowgirls is a nonprofit theater and dance company dedicated to sharing new and creative performances. On a visit to Pierson High School, the group performed “The Dreamer,” a shorter version of William Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as seen through the eyes of a young girl. After the performance, the students discussed the play with the performers including the difference between devised theater and classical theater.
The following day, the 10th-grade theater class traveled to LTV Studios in East Hampton to further work on deconstructing the play by Shakespeare. Accompanied by the Bridgehampton High School, the students worked together through warmups and discussions on a specific scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as directed by Kate Mueth, the nonprofit’s artist director. The students were then broken up into four large groups to examine a speech in the play and devise an ensemble performance. By the end of the workshop, the students joined together once more so each group could perform their section of the scene.