by Ruby Orans ’28, Staff Writer for The Polygon

With the excitement of the upcoming play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Poly Prep is reminded of the role theater has had in facilitating the growth of students. The Middle School play is a longstanding tradition, with many students auditioning and participating in it each year. From the collaboration and bonding it requires, to the work ethic that it promotes, the experience of Poly theater leaves a lasting impression on the faculty, cast, and crew involved. Working on the current production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has provided both new challenges to students and staff as well as new connections between cast and crew.

Middle School drama teacher Andrew Cooper-Leary, and Daniel Hogan, Poly’s technical theater director, have decided to add their own twists to the famous Shakespeare play. Previous productions of it, as well as the original play, have been set in a magical forest and the court of Athens, according to the Royal Shakespeare Company. In Poly’s retelling, there will be a few key differences. “It’s Shakespeare, obviously, but we wanted to go in a slightly different direction,” said Hogan. “He [Cooper-Leary] wanted to present it in a ‘Coney Island in the 1950s era’ instead of woodland forest. We’re not setting the play in Coney Island specifically, but somewhere that has same feeling of an ‘exciting summer night.’ In this production, we’ll be taking the audience to a theme park called The Woods and it will have a carnival feel.”

“I think the fun thing about the play is watching people think that they can control other people’s lives, and watching them fail to do so. As parents, we think we can control so much of what happens with our children, and more often than not, children find a way to do what they’re going to do. Hopefully they’ll do things the right way—or learn from their mistakes,” said Cooper-Leary when asked why he chose A Midsummer Night’s Dream. According to Shakespeare’s Globe, the overall themes of the play are love, comedy, resistance to control, and friendship. While the Poly production adds a modern twist, its heart remains true to the play’s original messages which continue to resonate with students. However, beyond its themes, the actual experience of being in the play, has greatly impacted participants.

“It’s always amazing to see people who were once shy or quiet, are now showing up with confidence and being able to perform at a high level. It’s exciting.” said Hogan. Through their time performing, students build abilities that allow them to grow into the leaders and actors they become. The skills that they gain play into not only their journey on the stage, but also into their daily life—things such as developing confidence and discipline.

“As you go further into the play, your roles become bigger. You have a higher level of responsibility. But, it’s also really fun, because you get to have a community of kids that you never thought you would be friends with,” remarked cast member Sameer K. ’30. He believes that working on the play teaches him key skills from the time rehearsals start until the final show ends. The production embodies and teaches a ‘work hard, play hard’ balance, with students managing the combination of dedication, focus, and fun throughout the process.

For students who may not engage in Poly athletics, the play provides a team-like environment. Participating in the play “gives a space and opportunity for kids that aren’t as athletic to still be a part of a team of some kind,” shared Gabby Pipitone ’28, an Upper School student who has been involved in Poly Arts since Middle School. The Middle School play, as well as theater productions as a whole, offers inclusivity for students who may not have found it elsewhere. It encourages and allows them to experience the bonding, camaraderie, and accomplishment that you find in a team. “And I think that without [the play], a lot of kids would feel like they didn’t have a place,” added Pipitone. In this sense, the play ensures that every student has a place to belong, contribute, and thrive.

The Middle School play provides students with opportunities to collaborate, take on responsibilities, and develop skills through their participation. Experiences on the stage, as well as the lessons learned throughout their time working on the production, help students grow in both their personal and daily lives, both at school and at home. The theater has had a consistent impact on not only Poly’s middle schoolers, but also the teachers and staff who work with them.

Families are asked to register to attend our Middle School fall play, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, on Friday, November 14 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 PM in the Richard Perry Theatre.

View the program!

Note: This article has been edited and was originally published in The Polygon‘s September/October 2025 issue.