WATCH: ‘Midsummer in Newtown’ Trailer

Midsummer in Newtown, directed by Lloyd Kramer, examines the power of art to heal.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a theater production comes to Newtown, Connecticut, seeking to cast local children in a rock-pop version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The project is aimed at healing the hearts and minds of a community devastated by the school shooting that occurred just over one year prior to production.

From auditions and read-throughs to dress rehearsals; we witness the children find their voice, build their self-confidence, and ultimately shine on opening night. In parallel, we see a grieving family honor their daughter through the creation of a jazz album dedicated to her memory. The film culminates in a moving performance by Jimmy Greene and the pensive words of Nelba Márquez-Greene.

Midsummer in Newtown is a testament to the transformative force of artistic expression to pierce through the shadow cast by trauma, and to the resilience of a community that is fighting to not be defined by tragedy.