UNI HIGH'S PRODUCTION of "Shakespeare in Hollywood" was a rousing success. The play opened on Thursday, Nov. 6, and was performed twice more, on Friday and Saturday. A comical romp through 1930s Hollywood, the play by Ken Ludwig featured characters who were famous or powerful figures of the day, from studio boss Jack Warner and his brothers to film legends Dick Powell and Jimmy Cagney.

Directed by fine arts teacher Barbara Ridenour, the comic fantasy imagined what might have happened if two of Shakespeare's characters, Oberon and Puck, accidentally arrived in Hollywood just in time to be cast as themselves in a film version of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

After weeks of rehearsals and a grueling tech week final preparation, the curtain opened … and hilarity ensued. The play flew off all three nights without a hitch and was one of the funniest shows Uni has put on in recent years, mostly thanks to the amazing cast. For a complete list of actors and crew members, see the final section of this photo essay.

Look for more photo coverage of the play in the coming days, and check out the play diaries of cast members Joy Shapley, Lor Sligar, and Lauren Piester.

Gargoyle photos by Sindha Agha. Click any photo to create your own slideshow.

Senior Hannah Leskosky, as chorus-girl-turned-star Lydia Lansing, delivered her lines with a thick Brooklyn accent.

Film censor Will Hays (junior Ethan Schiller) is attacked by a
magic flower and falls in love with himself.

The real Oberon (sophomore Dillon Price) and Puck (senior Sarah Lake-Rayburn) are enamored of their eyeshadows … oops, sunglasses.

James Cagney (senior James Smith) and Joe E. Brown (sophomore Ollie Goldbart) portray the traditional Shakespeare characters Pyramus and Thisbe.

Senior Lauren Piester performs her fairy dance bedecked with
vines and ivy along with the rest of the fairies.

Infamous gossip columnist and radio personality Louella Parsons
(senior Lor Sligar) interviews director Max Reinhardt (senior Rob
Diehl) at the premiere of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Hollywood.

Oberon (sophomore Dillon Price) reprimands Puck (senior Sarah
Lake-Rayburn) for accidentally transporting them to Hollywood
instead of back home.

Jack Warner (junior Zack Goldberg) chuckles to himself, thinking
about the chorus girl Lydia Lansing.

Warner instructs Daryl (senior Nish Nookala) on keeping Lydia Lansing in line.

Oberon is outraged when Will Hays condescends to him.

Jumior Anna Gooler plays Olivia Darnell, an up-and-coming actress.

Olivia is frustrated to realize she knows none of her lines … and
her director, Max Reinhardt, will be there any second.

Oberon and Olivia find themselves star-cross'd lovers.

Lydia Lansing, under the influence of the magic flower,
confesses her love for Daryl.

Studio mogul Jack Warner phones the other Warner Brothers about his latest project, a film version of "A Midsummer's Night Dream."

FALL PLAY '08 CAST & CREW

"Shakespeare in Hollywood," a comedy written by Ken Ludwig, was performed Nov. 6 to 8 in the North Attic Playhouse. Fine arts teacher Barbara Ridenour directed the production.

• Louella Parsons — Lor Sligar (sr)
• Max Reinhardt — Rob Diehl (sr)
• Dick Powell — Ben Daniels (sr)
• Jack Warner — Zack Goldberg (jr)
• Daryl — Nish Nookala (sr)
• Lydia Lansing — Hannah Leskosky (sr)
• Oberon — Dillon Price (so)
• Puck — Sarah Lake-Rayburn (sr)
• Olivia Darnell — Anna Gooler (jr)
• Will Hays — Ethan Schiller (jr)
• Joe E. Brown — Ollie Goldbart (so)
• Jimmy Cagney — James Smith (sr)
• Ensemble — Adam Joseph (so), Rodney LeNoir (fr), Lauren Piester (sr), Joy Shapley (sr), Sierra Marcum (sr), Daniel Wilson (jr)
• Stage Manager — Tianna Pittenger (jr)
• Choreography — Karolina Kalbarczyk (sr)
• Lights and Sound — Natsuki Nakamura (sr)