Members of the cast of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” practice the play at Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake. Performances start at 7 p.m. Friday. (Photo provided — Mark Kurtz)

SARANAC LAKE — Shakespeare’s most popular play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will be set outdoors at the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, beginning Friday, July 21 and running through Aug. 3.

The play, featuring magic, lovers and fairies, is directed by Karen Lordi Kirkham, Pendragon’s managing and artistic director.

Kirkham first directed Midsummer for Pendragon in 1996 and has had a long history with the theatre since then. “It was one of my first shows here, fresh out of theater graduate school. I remember the thrill of working on this piece with actors I had watched growing up as a summer audience member. They went from being onstage idols to friends. After college, I decided to pursue theater as a career and wrote to founder Bob Pettee to see if I could come and direct. He said ‘yes!’ and as the saying goes ‘the rest is history!'”

Pendragon is adding a new page to that history by collaborating with Dewey Mountain to stage Midsummer literally in the woods. “In what was the coldest production meeting on record, we gathered on one of those below zero days at the site in March- imagining where the platform would go, the green leaves on the trees, and calculating where the summer sun would be setting. I realized after casting the show, that we would be using a mix of area children and actors from our pool of professional locals, many of whom are now in New York City pursuing acting careers.

The cast includes: Robert Pound, Olivia Zeis, Rachel Kemp, Sam Balzac, Lucky Cerruti, Mark Mainvillle, Liv Paulson, Christabelle Kirkham, Sarah Benamati, Anna Day, Walter Kirkham, Sam Madden, Walter Kirkham, Thomas Kline, Matt Sorensen, Sean Orman, Maddie Nicholson and Kirkham herself as Titania. Original music will be provided by Janet Spahr on the “hang”, a mystical sounding instrument from Switzerland.

Kirkham says she is particularly excited to be carrying on the tradition of having local talent inspire the next generation. “I know that first production of Midsummer inspired me dedicate my professional life thus far to Pendragon and to return to this beautiful place and community year after year. I hope people enjoy this summer’s attempt to bring those two elements together in a new way and let’s hope the fairies work their magic and it doesn’t rain!”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens Friday night at 7 p.m. with a reception, sponsored by Adirondack Health, following the performance. Show times are July 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, Aug. 2, and 3 at 7 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees July 23 and 30.

All tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling Pendragon’s box office at 518-891-1854 or “at the door” with check or cash only.

Patrons are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and call the theatre ahead if rain is in the forecast to confirm performances.