Midsommer Flight

UPDATED CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Adelinda, by Hannah Brand
In partnership with Expand the Canon
Directed by Midsommer Flight ensemble member
Joshua Pennington*

Staged Reading - One Night Only
Monday, September 14, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
The Understudy, 5531 N Clark Street

Adelinda is one of the selections from Expand the Canon, which uncovers and uplifts classic plays by women & underrepresented genders- and is a call to action to produce them. This year’s staged reading marks Midsommer Flight’s third annual partnership with Expand the Canon!

CAST-From Left to Right: Ahlora Victoria, Triniti Cruz, Siyi Wang, Alexander P. Garza, Hannah Mary Simpson, Brandon Beach*, Barry Irving*, Brynley Halverson

*= indicates flight crew member

Pay what you can Tickets are available in our bio!

UPDATED CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Adelinda, by Hannah Brand
In partnership with Expand the Canon
Directed by Midsommer Flight ensemble member
Joshua Pennington*

Staged Reading - One Night Only
Monday, September 14, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
The Understudy, 5531 N Clark Street

Adelinda is one of the selections from Expand the Canon, which uncovers and uplifts classic plays by women & underrepresented genders- and is a call to action to produce them. This year’s staged reading marks Midsommer Flight’s third annual partnership with Expand the Canon!

CAST-From Left to Right: Ahlora Victoria, Koshie Mills*, Siyi Wang, Alexander P. Garza, Hannah Mary Simpson, Brandon Beach*, Barry Irving*, Brynley Halverson

*= indicates flight crew member

Pay what you can Tickets are available in our bio!

Thank you, Chicago, for a great summer!

It’s been over a week since we closed As You Like It, and we are still reminiscing about our friends over in the Forest of Arden!

Thank you for both giving us some record-breaking audiences, but also allowing us to reach our summer fundraising goal of $12,000 AND our stretch goal of $15,000!! We are so appreciative of your support of us sharing joy each summer!

This isn’t the last you’ll hear from us at Midsommer Flight! Stay tuned for our Fall Series Announcement!

AYLI: CAST SPOTLIGHTS

Before we close, we must highlight our lovely wonderstudies of As You Like It! Swipe to meet each person!

Meet Siyi Wang (Understudy Audrey/Phebe)
Siyi Wang is a Shanghai-born actor and artist.
Professional credits include Hamlet (Ophelia) with Shanghai GVD Drama Company and Snow White (Evil Queen) at Shanghai Dream Box. At The Theatre School at DePaul, she was seen in We, The Invisibles (Jansen/ Namgal), The Moors (The Moorhen), and Julius Caesar (Calpurnia/Artemidorus). Other notable credits include Pride and Prejudice (Jane Bennet) at the University of North Texas. Siyi holds a BFA from UNT and Chongqing University, and is currently an MFA candidate at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Instagram: Siyi Wang | Web: siyiwang.my.canva.site

Meet Matt Keely (Understudy - Amiens / Charles / Jaques)

Matt is excited to work with Midsommer Flight for the first time! Chicago Credits: The Shakespeare Project of Chicago (The Witch, Richard II, King Lear), Williams Street Repertory (Avenue Q), Strawdog Theater (The Importance of Being Earnest, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins). Regional: Significant Productions - The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol, FL (Ada and the Engine). Additionally, Matt is a contributing writer for the satire site The Broadway Beat and is the bassist of the punk band Billionaire Fight Club. IG: Matthew Keeley

Meet MJ Handsome (US Rosalind and US Celia)

MJ Handsome is an actor and stage combatant originally hailing from Montgomery, AL. She received her BFA in Acting from The University of Michigan and most recently played Raina in The Mark with BWBTC here in Chicago. MJ got their theatrical start doing Shakespeare as a child and absolutely loves ole Billy.
They are incredibly passionate about de-mystifying Shakespeare for Black and Brown people, and she’s excited to be making her Midsommer Flight debut!

Meet Robert Wood Frank (Understudy for Silvius/Touchstone)

Robert is thrilled to be spending the summer with the Bard and with Midsommar Flight! He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota / Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program, and a recent transplant to the Chicago theatre scene. He’s always passionate about

AYLI: CAST SPOTLIGHTS

Before we close, we must highlight our lovely wonderstudies of As You Like It! Swipe to meet each person!

Meet Siyi Wang (Understudy Audrey/Phebe)

Siyi Wang is a Shanghai-born actor and artist. Professional credits include Hamlet (Ophelia) with Shanghai GVD Drama Company and Snow White (Evil Queen) at Shanghai Dream Box. At The Theatre School at DePaul, she was seen in We, The Invisibles (Jansen/Namgal), The Moors (The Moorhen), and Julius Caesar (Calpurnia/Artemidorus). Other notable credits include Pride and Prejudice (Jane Bennet) at the University of North Texas. Siyi holds a BFA from UNT and Chongqing University, and is currently an MFA candidate at The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Instagram: Siyi Wang | Web: siyiwang.my.canva.site

Meet MJ Handsome (US Rosalind and US Celia)

MJ Handsome is an actor and stage combatant originally hailing from Montgomery, AL. She received her BFA in Acting from The University of Michigan and most recently played Raina in The Mark with BWBTC here in Chicago. MJ got their theatrical start doing Shakespeare as a child and absolutely loves ole Billy. They are incredibly passionate about de-mystifying Shakespeare for Black and Brown people, and she’s excited to be making her Midsommer Flight debut!

Meet Robert Wood Frank (Understudy for Silvius/Touchstone)

Robert is thrilled to be spending the summer with the Bard and with Midsommar Flight! He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota / Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program, and a recent transplant to the Chicago theatre scene. He’s always passionate about studying and performing classical work such as Shakespeare, and can’t wait to share As You Like It with Chicago.

Meet Alexander P. Garza (US Duke Frederick / US Duke Senior)

Alexander P. Garza (US Duke Frederick/ US Duke Senior) recently performed as the understudy for Marcus/Ralph Crane in The Book of Will at Promethean Theatre. Additional credits include Guy in In a Word, James Armitage in Dark Matter: A Collection of Short Plays by Don Nigro, Pedro Tercero in House of the Spirits, Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Stephen Belber in The Laramie Project, and Jacob Marley in A Christmas Car

CANCELLED PERFORMANCE: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026 at 6PM!!!

Tonight’s performance of As You Like It is cancelled due to the rain! We hope to see you tomorrow at Touhy Park at 6pm! Stay dry!

Final weekend ahead!
Join us Friday and Saturday at Touhy Park at 6PM!

On Sunday, Come to our closing night picnic at 5PM to celebrate an amazing run, then stay for closing night!

You don’t want to miss this amazing show! Huge thank you once again to Chicago Park District for allowing to share joy once again this summer!

Photos by Steven Townshed | The Distant Era

AYLI: CAST/CREW SPOTLIGHT

Before the last weekend of our run begins, let’s get to know the person behind our fight choreography and our Orlando, Thomas Russell!

Thomas Russell (he/they) is a born-and-raised Chicagoan fight choreographer, actor, and stunt performer, and is happy to make their acting debut with Midsommer Flight! Other acting credits include Kairos (Red Theater),The S Paradox (Babes With Blades Theatre Company), The Wonder (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre), The Legacy of Sherwood Forest (Littlebrain Theatre), and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (2022-‘25). He’s choreographed violence with Babes With Blades, Midsommer Flight, The Gift Theater, TimeLine Theatre Company, and local colleges, high schools, and after school programs. He’s also an Artistic Affiliate with BWBTC and an ensemble member of the Point Theatre Project. Enjoy the show!

Make sure to not miss our last weekend of AS YOU LIKE IT! We will be performing at Touhy Park!

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR CLOSING NIGHT!

Hosted by Midsommer Flight’s Board of Directors, enjoy small bites and soft drinks, live music, and mingling with our Board Members and Staff, including Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf.

Picnic starts at 5 PM, with the 6 PM performance to follow. BYO chairs and blankets!

AYLI SPOTLIGHT

Meet our Charles / First Lord in forest / MarText / Second Brother, Connor O. Locklin!!!

Connor O. Locklin (Charles / First Lord in forest / Martext / Second Brother) is delighted to be working again with Midsommer Flight, having previously understudied the characters of Posthumous, Iachimo and Cloten in Cymbeline (2023). Other credits include Sandbox Theater Collective (Three Sisters), Stage Left Theatre (The Distrikt of Lake Michigun) Meat Machine (La Ronde), Surging Film and Theatrics (A Bronx Tale), Theatre Evolve (KRUGAZOR). He wrote, acted, and played traditional music in the upcoming short film ‘Along the Banks’ and co-wrote and acted in the short film ‘The Ill Conceived, Poorly Executed Housewarming Party of Amy & Jaime’. Connor is represented by Actors Talent Group.

Our show closes this weekend! Do not miss out on seeing us at Touhy Park Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!