By merging the classic play by Shakespeare with the rich, emotive storytelling of the opera adaptation by Benjamin Britten, this educational resource brings new life to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students will not only grasp the beauty of Shakespeare's language, but will explore the interplay between words and music, understanding how the opera enhances the characters, the emotions, and the magical world of the play, and how composers and artists like Britten, adapt literary works, adding new layers of meaning to its themes.

Table of Contents

• Lesson Plans & Materials
• Learning Resources
• Learning Resources
• Additional Industry Resources

Lesson Plans & Materials

Lesson #1: Exploring Story Adaptation

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Lesson #2: Responding to Key Scenes

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Lesson #3: Production Design Adaptation

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Supplemental Materials:

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Learning Resources:

Literature:

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare): FREE PDF

Opera Videos:

• Act I, Scene 2: “I know a bank"
• Act II, Scene 1: Puck “makes an ass” of Bottom
• Act III, Scene 2: Pyramus and Thisbe
• Act III, Finale & Puck’s Epilogue
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten): Opera starts at 1:42
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten): DVD (2004)

Films:

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1996)

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Additional Industry Resources:

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Libretto Vs. Script
• The Atlanta Opera’s SIDEBAR | A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Tradition & Innovation

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