For a romantic evening out or a fun family cultural excursion, there is still a week left to enjoy the return of outdoor theater to Sundance. William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is playing Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through August 23rd.

The spectacular surroundings added another dimension to experiencing this classic romantic comedy. Sitting outdoors on the mountain as the stars appeared and inhaling the pine-scented air made it that much easier to immerse myself in the “wood near Athens” inhabited by fairies where many of the scenes play out.

When I arrived at Sundance at about 7:00 p.m., the canyon was cool and comfortable, but got considerably colder after the sun went down. A shuttle bus transferred theater-goers and other Sundance visitors from an upper parking lot down to the main area of the resort. After a quick stop at the box office to pick up my tickets, I headed over to catch a separate shuttle up the mountain to the amphitheater. The “shuttle” is actually a ride in a trailer outfitted with seats, pulled behind a tractor, and the short ride up the mountain is beautiful.

The show opened up with about a half an hour of theatrical improv by the Thrillionaires, a local comedy troupe, which was well-appreciated by the audience.

Although the audience Friday night was made up primarily of couples, even young children were enthralled with the colorful costumes and set and with the story of Demetrius, Hermia, Lysander, and Helena’s comedic love triangle being influenced by the fairies. And of course the donkey-headed “Bottom” also drew many laughs.

The setting of the Sundance Summer Theatre is a great way to introduce younger members of the family to theater in a somewhat less-formal setting. (Provided they are old enough, or young enough, to stay awake and happy until 10:00 p.m.) The families with younger children that I saw were well prepared with warm clothing, blankets, and plenty of snacks.

The cast and performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was impressive and the venue made something as simple as going to a play a true adventure.

BEFORE YOU GO:

• All tickets are general admission, so arrive early to choose your seats. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and seating is either on the built-in benches or on the grassy area behind (Bring a blanket.)
• Although there is no actual hiking required, it’s a good idea to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Not only will it help you maneuver the outdoor theater better, but you’ll be grateful you did when the sun goes down and your feet start to freeze.
• Dress appropriately. This is a theater experience where dressing up is not required. Do not forget to bring a jacket and an extra blanket or two as the canyon gets much colder than the valley.
• Consider taking a romantic moonlight lift ride after the show. Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased at the box office.
• Concessions and restrooms are available at the amphitheater.

Individual tickets to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are $15 per person, group rates are $13 per person for groups of 20 or more. For more information or to buy tickets, visit This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 866-550-8563.