LAND OF DREAMS 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Musical Fantasy

Conceived and Created by David Grapes 

Music & Lyrics by Alan L. Miller and Danny Strimer

 

Production Requirements

Cast Size
Flexible

Orchestration
Piano
Bass
Guitar
Percussion

Scenic Requirements
Unit Set

This modern take on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream transports audiences to an enchanted rain forest during Carnival – here fairies live in trees and lines are blurred between fairies, musicians and a noble lord and lady, as we follow the interwoven storylines of four young lovers, a troupe of madcap auto mechanics turned actors and the fantastic fairies, who toy with all of their romantic fates. The flexible sized cast calls for a talented mix of comedians, actors, improvisers, dancers, aerialists, vocalists and musicians, making for a unique adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most captivating tales. This adaptation reinvents the Bard’s classic in an interactive, accessible and contemporary way that showcases a scintillating Bossa infused score by Nashville songwriters Alan Miller and Danny Strimer. Land of Dreams is sure to please the most avid Shakespeare fan, as well as those who might be experiencing Shakespeare for the first time.

Land of Dreams – Musical Numbers

Act I

Once Upon a Summer Day Pucks
Emerald Paradise Pucks and Fairies
The Land of Dreams Titania and her Fairies
Could It Be We’re Saying I Love You Pucks

Act II

Doesn’t Mean a Thing Pucks
Not Enough Pucks
Now When Love Calls Titania and Bottom
Dance in the Moonlight Oberon, Titania, Pucks and Fairies
Ain’t Love Grand Pucks and Fairies
When You Fall in Love Wedding Singer, Hermia, Helena, Demetrius and Lysander
When You Fall in Love (reprise) Theseus and Hippolyta
Love is Always a Tango Pucks and Wedding Singer

Bows
Dance in the Moonlight (reprise) Cast

Studio Cast Recording Available

Reviews

Under Construction

Cast Requirements

Puck 1 (male guitarist)
Puck 2 (female guitarist)

Titania/Hippolyta
Fairies (female tropical birds)
Cobweb
Mustardseed
Peaseblossom
Moth
Fairies

Oberon/Theseus
Fairies (male jungle cats)

Featured Aerialist/s

Hermia
Lysander
Helena
Demetrius

Egus (female)
Philostrate (female)
Wedding Singer (female)

Quince (director)
Snug/lion (female)
Flute/Thisby
Starveling/Moonshine
Snout/Wall
Bottom/Pyramus

Creator’s Notes

Under Construction

 

Creator’s Bios

David Grapes II

David Grapes II

Creator

David is an Emeritus Professor of Theatre at the University of Northern Colorado, where he served as the Founding Director of the School of Theatre Arts and Dance and Producing Artistic Director for The Little Theatre of the Rockies for 15 years. David is also an award-winning director, actor, drama critic and playwright, and has provided administrative and artistic leadership for a wide variety of theatrical institutions including two professional regional (LORT) theatre companies. An active member of SDC, DGA and AEA his work as a stage director (250+ productions) and actor has been seen at major regional theatres across the United States. As a DGA member, David is the creator or co-creator of ten original musical revues, six plays, a screenplay, and numerous adaptations (www.summerwindproductions.com), which have enjoyed over 500 productions worldwide. David holds a BA from Glenville State University (Alumnus of the Year 2010) and an MFA in Acting/Directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2021, he was inducted into The American Theatre College of Fellows at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Alan Miller

Alan Miller

Lyrics

Alan Miller (Lyricist) – New Yorker Alan Miller has always been intrigued by music, baseball and writing. 100+ of Alan’s songs appear on major labels, with genres including Americana, Blues, Christian, Country, Jazz, Latin, Musical Theater, Pop, Rock, and R&B. Miller’s songs are featured on television shows and movies. Grammy, ACM, and CMA winners The Mavericks and Rick Treviño, and Rockabilly and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend Wanda Jackson have recorded Miller’s songs. Rick Treviño and Alan composed I Am a Mexican for Rick’s 61st Grammys nominated album Cruzando Borders by Los Texmaniacs, and co-wrote Rick’s upcoming album TBA. Alan Miller’s numerous co-writes with The Mavericks’ lead singer Raul Malo include album cuts; 5 songs, 2018’s Hey! Merry Christmas!, 9 on 60th Grammy nominated Brand New Day (Grammy nominated I Wish You Well), 3 on 58th Grammy nominated Mono, and 7 on All Night Live.

Danny Strimer

Danny Strimer

Music

Danny Strimer (Music) – Danny’s critically acclaimed February, 2020 album, New Love Songs – Bossa Nova & Beyond – of original Bossa Nova/Great American Songbook inspired, guitar-driven, Jazz Pop – was co-written with Grammy nominated lyricist Alan Miller. At age 15, Strimer’s guitar career began in West Virginia R&B clubs, backing artists including The Drifters, Spyder Turner and Dee Clark. He was lead guitarist, background vocalist, and MC for Brenda Lee. Graduating NYU’s Steinhardt School (Music Business and Technology), he composed a score with Walker Steady for Leon Felder Dance Company that was performed at Lincoln Center and other venues. Strimer also acted while in NYC under directors Gerald Freeman and Alex Dmitriev. Danny Strimer has songs with Cherry Lane Music and Leiber & Stoller. His Garth Brooks and Lena Arice Lucas cowrite, Crazy Ole Moon, was recorded by Farmer’s Daughter and Patti Page. He charted nationally with Jill Jordan’s Calendar Blues.

Credits

PROGRAM CREDITS FOR TITLE PAGE

Conceived and Created by David Grapes
Original Music by Alan L. Miller and Danny Strimer – additional words and music by Lena Arice Lucas, Raul Malo and Eddie Perez Ariel


Dramaturgy by Robert Neblett

Premiere Production
The University of Northern Colorado
Directed by David Grapes

Special Thanks

Dr. K. Dawn Grapes, James DaSilva, Dr. Andrea Moon, Henry Haggard, Andrea Runge

Contact Us

Summerwind Productions, LLC – Box 430, Windsor, CO 80528          Email: Summerwindprod@hotmail.com