Summer’s StageMischief and magic meet in the MU Quad.

For 20 years, “Bard in the Quad” has brought Shakespeare to the Memorial Union steps each summer, drawing packed audiences. “It’s a joyful thing to be a part of,” said Elizabeth Helman, senior instructor in theatre arts, who has directed the series since 2009. Outdoor performances come with challenges — weather, acoustics, costume changes and bugs — but Helman has learned to prepare actors with a “Bard Bag” of essentials. “For newbies, they often don’t realize the physical scale of the space,” she said. “They’re used to smaller, indoor venues, and I explain they need to scale up their performances.” Last summer’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the series’ third staging of the play. The Memorial Union provided the backdrop, with dramatic lighting showcasing its nearly century-old architecture. MU Director Deb Mott said it was an easy yes when Bard creator Scott Palmer, MAIS ’94, first proposed the series: “There was never a question,” she said. “It’s a partnership I’m so grateful for as it allows students to create magic,and is a place where the community can come lose themselves in stories.”