'A Midsummer Night's Dream' comes to downtown Laconia

LACONIA ― Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre in Laconia, is getting ready to kick off its 2026 season with a dynamic adaptation of Shakespeare’s rom-com "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at the Colonial Theatre.

The show kicks off on Friday, Feb. 13, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 15. 

Adapted and directed by Joel Iwaskiewicz, this version of "Midsummer" is set in Athens, Louisiana, complete with American folk music and an ensemble of dancing fairies. This is "Midsummer" (in winter) like you’ve never seen it.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a romantic comedy that follows four young Athenians who flee to the forest to escape arranged marriages and unrequited love. In the woods, they become entangled in the magical world of Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies. Hilarity ensues. Attendees don’t have to be a fan of Shakespeare to enjoy this joyous, fast-paced, and musical adaptation that is a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s weekend.

“What I love about Shakespeare, and I think this is really the core reason why we keep coming back to it, is because it's almost like a coloring book," said Joel Iwaskiewicz. "The outline is there, but everything else is blank. Everything else is up to you. There are minimal stage directions, and there are no notes as to what exactly a costume or setting looks like. You just have the text to work with, and then you're free to run and play. So when I approach Shakespeare, I'm always asking myself, what have we not seen yet?”

This production kicks off Powerhouse’s 2026 season, sponsored by Grappone Automotive, Meredith Village Savings Bank, and LaValley Middleton Building Supply, and is part of the Colonial Series sponsored by the Platinum Group and BNH.

Powerhouse’s popular Colonial Series consists of 5 productions: "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (February), "The Magician’s Elephant" (May), "Shrek the Musical" (August), "Peter and the Starcatcher" (October), and the annual production of "A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost Story" (December). tickets are now available for all shows and Powerhouse special events via coloniallaconia.com and powerhousenh.org/showstickets or at the Colonial Theatre Box Office.

"Midsummer" is sponsored by The Laconia Daily Sun, The Stonewood School, and Franklin Savings Bank.

Powerhouse’s production promises to be a one-of-a-kind Shakespearean experience through Iwaskiewicz’s creative, musical concept and the design talents of Emily Nelson on costumes, Julie Hart on props, and Tyler Soucy on lighting. Sound effects and music are created by Iwaskiewicz himself, who also designed the woodland set with Bryan Halperin. The humidity may be stagnant in the bayou, but this production will be dynamic and energetic.

For all the details on Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, auditions, and other events in the 2026 season, check out powerhousenh.org or email info@powerhousenh.org.