Arkansas Tech’s Speech, Theatre and Journalism Department will present Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” this spring.

The original story is believed to have been written around 1595.

The plot centers around four young lovers each involved in a complicated relationship. The main lovers are Lysander and Hermia who each love each other, and the other two are where the story gets complicated. Another man by the name of Demetrius is also in love with Hermia and has official backing from the law to maker Hermia his own.

To further complicate matters is a young woman named Helena who loves Demetrius even though he is mean, and has no feelings of love for her.

Also involved in the mess is a troupe of amateur actors who have a play to perform for the Duke of Athens.

Just when things can't get more complex a pair of feuding fairy lovers happen to be in the area. King Oberon and Queen Titania are having a quarrel because Titania has a child she won't relinquish to Oberon, and Oberon has been having his way with other women.

When Lysander and Hermia decide to elope through the forest the fairies are in, things take a turn for the worst. Demetrius and Hermia follow each for their own reasons, and Oberon orders his mischievous servant Puck to mess with the lovers in various ways ultimately planning on getting to Queen Titania.

This classic tale will be presented Feb. 26-28, as well as on March 10-13. The shows on Feb. 26-27 will be night shows starting at 8 p.m. The last February show taking place on the 28th will be at 2 p.m.

The March shows are all matinees for local schools with the exception of the last show on the 13th. It will be an evening show to begin at 8 p.m. The costumes and set for the show will have to be imaginative for the setting and subject matter of fairies, and lovers running through the woods.

One of the cast members, Jonathan Curlin, a freshman journalism major from Ozark, said, “I can't even cut my hair. It has to grow until the performance is over.”