A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison is a documentary by Bushra Azzouz. The Open Road was fiscal sponsor of the the film from April of 2020 to June of 2024. For more information about the film, go to the film’s website: amidsummernightsdreaminprison.com.
For inquiries about hosting a screening, contact Josh Underhill (josh@openheartsopenminds.org).
Here’s a trailer for the film:
A Little History:
In 2010, Johnny Stallings and Nancy Scharbach produced a production of Shakespeare’s play at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, Oregon–under the aegis of Open Hearts Open Minds. Bushra Azzouz and her crew went to the prison eight times, and filmed rehearsals, performances, dialogues with all the actors, and individual interviews.
In June of 2019 Bushra passed away from cancer. Before she died, she assembled a team of people to finish the film. Enie Vaisburd was the lead editor, and was responsible for the finished film.
The World Premiere of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison was August 7, 2022 at Cinema 21, in Portland, Oregon.
It was a Love-In! Bushra was honored.
Six actors from the original production at Two Rivers prison–William Foote, Aaron Gilbert, Allen Mills, Josh Underhill, Aaron O’Hara and Zeb Harrington–along with the play’s director, Johnny Stallings, participated in a post-show conversation with the audience.
Below are some highlights from screenings at festivals, universities and community gatherings in 2023 & 2024:
The film was shown at Portland State University on April 27, 2024. Following the screening there was a conversation with actors Aaron Gilbert, Josh Underhill and Celeste-Destiny Handler, and with the play’s director, Johnny Stallings.
photo by Ellen Thomas
photo by Ellen Thomas
We had a wonderful screening of Bushra Azzouz’s documentary film “A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison” at First Unitarian Church of Portland on January 6th. It was a Love-In! The showing of the film was followed by a Q & A with actors Josh Underhill, Allen Mills, Aaron Gilbert, Celeste-Destiny Handler & Jack Baird. Producers Ellen Thomas & Johnny Stallings were also part of the Q& A. Nancy Scharbach, Katie Radditz & Brenda Erickson organized a sumptuous Feast of Snacks! Medallions were awarded. The whole thing was organized by Katie Radditz. Thank you, Katie!
On November 1st, Johnny Stallings & Brandon Gillespie took the film to the University of California at Riverside. Johnny showed the film at University of Michigan on November 9th, and at Notre Dame University on November 14th.
Josh Underhill took the film to the Red Rock Film Festival in Cedar City Utah on October 14th. While in Utah, he made a surprise visit to Joseph Opyd’s mom, Sharon Lemm.
The film went to a lot of festivals in September of 2023:
Enie Vaisburd & Ellen Thomas showed the film at the Love & Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain, on September 19th. Brandon Gillespie & Sierra Slocum showed the film at the Local Sightings festival in Seattle on September 21st. Abe Green showed the film at the Montana International Film Festival in Billings on September 22nd. Aaron Gilbert & Tessa Talbot showed the film at the Klamath Independent Film Festival in Klamath Falls, September 23rd. Zeina Daccache showed the film at the Lebanese Independent Film Festival, on September 23rd.
Screening at the Glasshaüs, Beirut, Lebanon
Johnny Stallings just returned from showing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison” at the home of Vassiliki Katrivanou in Athens, Greece, on July 12th, and at the Glasshaüs in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 15th, hosted by Zeina Daccache. The screenings were followed by lively discussions.
Actor Aaron Gilbert and the play’s director, Johnny Stallings, went to New York to represent the film at the Socially Relevant Film Festival, on March 18, 2023. Here’s a link to a conversation that Johnny and other festival participants had with Nora Armani, the festival’s Artistic Director:
Actor Josh Underhill, along with Post Production Director Enie Vaisburd & Post Production Producer Ellen Thomas, went to Sebastopol with the film.
EVEN MORE GREAT NEWS!!! A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison got an Honorable Mention Award from the Paris International Film Festival!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison was shown at the Santa Fe Film Festival on February 19th, 2023. Actors Allen Mills and the play’s director, Johnny Stallings, were there to introduce the film. There was a good turnout for the film and audience members were, once again, very moved by the film.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison was shown at the Eastern Oregon Film Festival on October 22, 2022. The audience was deeply moved by the film. IT WON AN AWARD! Johnny Stallings, Josh Underhill and Todd Oleson were there for the Q & A.
Keep up-t0-date at the website for the film:
amidsummernightsdreaminprison.com.