Name: “What a Dream!” - Gala 2026
Start: 2026-04-11T18:00:00
Location: The Newbury Boston

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company

Young lovers escape to a wonderland of freedom and desire, drawn together and torn apart by forces they can’t quite control in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s 30th Anniversary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare’s classic comedy is transported to a neon-lit festival escape, where rules dissolve and self-expression blossoms.  

The air pulses with music, mystery, and mischief as Puck (The Skivvies’ Nick Cearley) and his fairy band move like shadowy DJs of fate, remixing hearts with a single drop of enchanted nectar. Every corner of the festival grounds hums with temptation, transformation, and the electric thrill of love and community.

Directed by CSC Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler, this Free Shakespeare on the Common production runs July 22 through August 9, 2026, at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common, presented in partnership with the City of Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Parks and Recreation, and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Parkman Bandstand

Chaired by Paul & Melissa Karger, Alex & Lianne Leventhal, and Melissa Steffy & Jean-Rémy Behaeghel, our annual gala returns to The Newbury Boston on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Join us for a beautiful evening themed around the magical world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with performances and festivities in celebration of 30 years of Free Shakespeare on the Common!