Dive into Shakespeare's Enchanted Playground: Directing A Midsummer Night's Dream

Unlocking the Magic of Modern Shakespeare
Join host Scott Leon Smith on Rustic Shakespeare, the Bard-loving segment of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, as he spills the beans on directing a fresh, inclusive take on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Forget dusty old interpretations. Scott turns the spotlight on empowering women in the play, flipping sexism on its head with clever, hilarious tweaks that make the comedy sparkle for today's audiences.

From Warrior Queens to Wedding Woes: Bold Choices and Bardic Insights
Ever wondered how to make Hippolyta more than just arm candy for Theseus? Or how Hermia can scoff at outdated laws without missing a beat? Scott shares his directing secrets, blending mythology, humor, and 21st-century vibes to humanize these iconic characters. It's a rollicking ride through the first scene, where ancient rules get roasted and possibilities explode like fairy dust.

• Empowering Hippolyta: Discover how Scott transformed the near-silent Amazon queen into a scene-stealer who laughs at ridiculous laws, rips pages from ancient tomes, and hands power directly to Hermia—proving warrior women don't just stand by, they stir the pot.
• Theseus and Hippolyta's Dance Disaster: Laugh along as Scott reveals his inventive staging of the duke and queen fumbling through a wedding dance lesson, turning stoic rulers into clumsy, self-deluded warriors who think they're pros, complete with textual justifications that make the bard's words dance off the page.
• Hermia's Bold Stand and Male Mayhem: Hear how Hermia owns her destiny, claiming her "virgin patent" amid fuming fathers and sniping suitors, creating juicy conflicts that highlight the smartest women in Shakespeare's comedies and poke fun at outdated gender norms.

Ready to get hooked on Shakespeare's timeless fun with a modern twist? This episode is your ticket to a world where the Bard's playground is open to all: diverse casting, bold reinterpretations, and endless laughs await!

Don't miss out: hit play now and subscribe to the Electric Secrets variety podcast for more Rustic Shakespeare episodes diving deeper into "Midsummer" (next up: Oberon, Puck, and Titania's fairy antics!), plus gems like Dedicated to the Craft for acting secrets and The Unforgettable Voice for vocal icons.

Produced by MonsterVox Productions, it's your all-access pass to audio adventures that'll keep you coming back for more bardic brilliance!

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About Scott

Scott Leon Smith has worked as a professional actor and director for nearly 25 years in a variety of genres. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at West Virginia University, where he studied under alumni of the prestigious American Conservatory in San Francisco. He honed his craft in Chicago as part of A Crew of Patches, a traveling theatre company that performed Shakespeare for students. Scott is CEO of Monstervox Productions, where he helps clients by providing specialized voice-over work for advertising, audiobooks, eLearning, & instructional videos.