A Midsummer Night's Dream

Enter the enchanted land of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a lush forest besieged by quixotic love triangles and feuding fairy kingdoms, awash with magic at every turn.

A perennial fan-favorite since its performance at SPAC’s grand opening in July 1966, New York City Ballet’s beloved story ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to mark 60 years of world-class dance and unforgettable summer traditions.

A full-length adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most cherished comedies, and inspired by the music of Mendelssohn, Balanchine captures the play’s infinite colors: the bumbling comedy of the Rude Mechanicals, the feisty feuding between Titania and Oberon, the romantic confusion of the young lovers chasing each other through the Athenian forest, and of course the mischief-making Puck — in a ballet of myriad pleasures.

Featuring a large cast of children from the Capital Region, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first wholly original full-length ballet Balanchine choreographed in America and is one of the most popular ballets in NYCB’s repertoire.

Permitted items:
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc.)
- Blankets and breathable ground coverings
- Umbrellas (personal-sized only on the amphitheater lawn)
- Lawn chairs (must not exceed 43" in height when opened; on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26" when opened)
- Tents (note: tents of any size will NOT be permitted on the Amphitheater lawn or immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage)

Items not permitted:
- Metal utensils
- Plastic tarps
- Lawn chairs over 43" in height when opened
- Tents on the Amphitheater lawn or immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage
- Grills, cooking equipment, or any flame that uses a liquid, gas, or gel accelerant
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Professional audio or video recording equipment
- Cameras with detachable lenses
- Bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, etc.
- Pets (except ADA approved service animals)
- Illegal drugs or substances
- Weapons of any kind

Items listed are subject to change or vary on show day.

Ground rules:
- Security procedure: all bags will be inspected, and all patrons will be searched via metal detectors. Bags include but are not limited to coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and other containers. Any item that is not permitted should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted on the SPAC grounds in designated areas only. Please dispose of cigarette butts properly.
- Guests are welcome to bring items such as blankets and umbrellas but please consider others around you; if your items are disruptive, you may be asked to remove them.
- Reentry is permitted for SPAC-produced events; obtain a reentry wristband from staff at the gates before exiting.
- SPAC has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, report concerns immediately to SPAC staff or security personnel.

Amphitheater house rules for classical performances:
- "House" refers to seating inside the amphitheater; these rules apply to SPAC-produced events.
- Beverages are permitted in the amphitheater, but food is not.
- Guests arriving after the performance begins will not be seated until the earliest appropriate opportunity at the discretion of House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence all mobile devices prior to the start of the program. If an emergency requires device use, step outside the theater.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.