A disco ball is hanging above the stage at Red Hook High School’s Performing Arts Center. 
Students clad in sequins, sparkles, wigs and at least one oversized fake mustache have taken over the space.
It’s all in the name of William Shakespeare, and you can see why for free this weekend.
Roughly 25 Linden Avenue Middle School students on Friday and Saturday will perform Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the high school. The shows begin at 7 p.m. each night and are open to the public.
While the show will use Shakespeare’s original words, one setting will be unique – a disco in 1978. 
The unique performances are the latest product of the Red Hook Central School District’s partnership with the Red Hook Education Foundation to bring Shakespeare productions into the Mill Road Elementary and Linden Avenue Middle schools each year.
Under the leadership and direction of Cindy Kubik and Emily Houpt, students learn about Shakespeare and perform his plays. Everyone who auditions gets a part and all become familiar with the Bard’s language and lasting influence. 
Earlier this school year, Mill Road’s fourth- and fifth-grade students performed versions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as well, though without the disco twist. Shakespeare’s comedy is set in Athens and features interconnected stories revolving around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta.
Between cast and crew, about 25 students have been rehearsing the play twice a day after-school. The performances are full productions, with lights, costumes, sound and music. 
“They worked incredibly hard,” said Houpt, the show’s director, who expects the performances to stretch roughly 90 minutes, including intermission. 
The group walked through a full dress rehearsal at the high school Thursday in advance of their first -- and perhaps most challenging – show Friday morning, when they perform for the entire sixth grade in advance of the public shows. 
“I can’t tell you how brave I think they’re being performing for their classmates,” Houpt said.
Visit the Performing Arts Center at the high school Friday and Saturday evenings for the free shows.