June 17-24, 2004

artpicks

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by Deni Kasrel

Dance

Matthew Neenan is all of 29 years old and already has impressive credits. A member of Pennsylvania Ballet, he's also created several new works for the company, and that's fairly unusual for a still-20-something. Additionally, he's co-director of Phrenic New Ballet, an ensemble that merges the contemporary with the classical.

Now he's set to premiere his own version of A Midsummer Night's Dream to be performed by Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania, a Doylestown-based group offering preprofessional experience to aspiring ballet artists. Midsummer has a special place in Neenan's heart because it was the first ballet, other than Nutcracker, that he danced in, at the wee age of 10. "I was a young Puck," he recalls.

Marilyn Budzynski, DTP artistic director, recruited Neenan and asked him to develop a new rendition of the enchanting ballet. She thought it would be good for her troupe of young dancers to learn firsthand how the creative process works. Neenan was keen on the concept — it's his first time choreographing a full-length ballet, as well as the first time he's worked with children. The cast for this production includes several imports from Pennsylvania Ballet, but most of the show is carried by young talents, including the lead role of Titania, Queen of the Fairies, performed by 18-year-old high school senior Nichole Smith.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fri., June 18, 8 p.m., Sat., June 19, 7:30 p.m., Sun., June 20, 2 p.m., $15-$25, Mitchell Performing Arts Center, Academy of the New Church, 800 Tomlinson Rd., Bryn Athyn, 215-348-7175.