Bits And Pieces 08.02.12

Love and Magic

    “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a tale of love and magic, will be presented by the Hamptons Independent Theatre Festival starting tonight, outdoors behind the Bridgehampton High School.

    The production, conceived and directed by Joshua Perl, stresses the “dream state” that Shakespeare might initially have envisioned for the play.

    The cast includes Gerard Doyle, a Broadway veteran, as Theseus and Oberon; Clodagh Bowyer, an established actress both in Ireland and New York, as Hippolyta and Titania, and various local and regional actors.

    The show will run through Aug. 19, Thursday through Sunday, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased at amnd.eventbrite.com.

Chinese Culture

    Those interested in Chinese culture will have the chance on Sunday to learn something about Chinese dance, literature, and musical instruments during a program presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Southampton Cultural Center.

    The program, “Revealing the Secrets of Ancient China: Profound Insight for Modern Life,” will begin at 5 p.m. and is free. Tysan Lerner, a former professional Chinese classical dancer trained by the Joffrey Ballet, will offer a slide-show overview of key dynasties, classic stories and characters of Chinese literature, and classical Chinese dance and musical instruments.

    The cultural center is on Pond Lane in Southampton.