National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party Series Returns with “The Playhouse”

From July 1 to August 28, the National Building Museum and Folger Theatre will transport guests to the enchanted forest of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Set in the main halls of the National Building Museum, guests will travel back in time to ancient Greece and enter the immersive Shakespearean world of fairy mayhem, lovers’ mix-ups and magic aplenty. 

“We have this big, crazy bombastic space, but it’s usually empty when our visitors are here because we don’t use it for exhibitions except for the summer,” National Building Museum Vice President for Exhibitions and Collections Cathy Frankel says about the upcoming installation. “So, building something new and creative makes people look at this space differently and sort of takes you out of yourself.”

Titled “The Playhouse,” the “Midsummer” takeover will mark the return to the NBM Summer Block Party series inside the building after a two-year pandemic hiatus. Prior to Covid-19 measures, the museum dedicated to architecture, engineering and design built installations every summer based on a theme, like BIG Maze (2014) and Fun House (2018). With people desperately wanting to shake off the pandemic confinement, “Midsummer’s” whimsical theme is all the more fitting. 

“‘Midsummer’ was chosen pre-Covid, but I’m thrilled that it’s what we’re doing, because it is the best [Shakespeare] play for a younger audience. It’s delightful,” Frankel says. “People are looking for some escapism.”

Jacob Ming-Trent as Bottom for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Photo by Peggy Ryan.

The Main Stage

Originally built by University of South Carolina, a massive stage for outside theatre shows will be the exhibit’s focal point. Set in the center of the Corinthian order main room, the stage will host a large part of the exhibit’s programming, including learning how to sword fight (don’t panic, foam weapons only), Shakespeare hip-hop performances, poetry workshops — and of course multiple shows of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Known as Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, “Midsummer” has a slew of characters caught in multiple entangled love stories that only grow more complicated when a love spell is thrown into the mix.

“The Playhouse” production of “Midsummer” will roughly cut the run time of the play in half, to a 90-minute, no intermission show as a way to adjust to modern time’s shorter attention spans.

“We wanted to find the moments in the play that welcomed the audience in,” Folger Theatre Associate Director of Programming and Director of Producing Beth Emelson says. “The emotions on stage need to match the size of the space, so we found the moments that would resonate the most with an audience, and if I hadn’t told you that we took parts away, you would not know.”

Additional updates to the production involve casting. “We live in the era of the one race play,” actor Jacob Ming-Trent says, who plays the comically ego-driven Nick Bottom in the production. “The cast is a completely diverse group. It’s wonderful. People are cast in roles that maybe they wouldn’t traditionally play.”

Since Folger Theatre is undergoing major renovations through 2023, they partnered with multiple venues and locations like Round House Theatre and Theater J to host their productions in the interim. Their unique partnership with the National Building Museum allows participants to explore aspects of a production and the story beyond the show itself.

“A Knavish Lad.” Photo courtesy of Folger Theatre.

Immerse Yourself

The installation in the West court of the museum will be a 20-foot, three-dimensional diorama of the pop-up book, “A Knavish Lad” by Joanna Robson come to life, which depicts scenes from “Midsummer.” Attendees can travel through the magical forest for Instagram photo ops, or to act out scenes from the play. There will also be a scavenger hunt where visitors select a character from the play and explore the main exhibit and neighboring exhibits in the museum as they fulfill the quest. 

On the opposite end of the main floor, patrons will be able to peak behind the curtain. 

“There’ll be groups that are going on behind-the-scenes tours,” Frankel notes. “So going to the East court, it will essentially be the backstage of the stage. Visitors will go back there with all the costumes. They can learn more from the tour guides about how the stage is made, how things happen backstage and learn a little bit more about ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’”

Learning from the costume and production designers was crucial component for the National Building Museum when creating the exhibit and working with Folger. 

“I think there’s an expectation from our visitors to talk about the built world,” Frankel says. “[In past Summer Block parties] it’s really amazing how much our visitors love the process.”

Which is why through all of June visitors of NBM will witness the installation and stage being built.

“It’s really important for people to understand that these things don’t just appear overnight,” Frankel says. “There are lots of people, lots of partners involved. So much of what we’re trying to do at the museum is trying to educate people about the built environment and build their vocabulary so they can be a participant in it. Buildings are alive. They change over time.” 

So, whether it is the play itself, the myriad of activities, the installations or how it all comes together that piques your interest, “The Playhouse” covers a range of interests and educational opportunities. 

As Emelson notes, “I know this is such a trite thing to say, but I honestly think that there’s something for everyone.”

“The Playhouse” at the National Building Museum can be explored  July 1 to August 28.  “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens on July 12. To see show times and learn more about Folger Theatres’ upcoming season, visit here or follow them @folgerlibrary.

National Building Museum: 401 F St. NW, DC; nbm.org // @nationalbuildingmuseum

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Nicole Schaller