Though William Shakespeare set “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Athens, Greece, the Rose of Athens Theatre brings his ideas closer to home for locals in Athens, Ga.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a romantic comedy that follows two pairs of young sweethearts as they work to untwist the innumerable love triangles between them, only to find themselves in a forest among completely unhelpful and interfering immortals.

The cast includes the four lovers – Demetrius, Hermia, Lysander and Helena — a scheming King of the Fairies, his queen and his right-hand man and troublemaker, Puck.

Director Lisa Cesnik decided to put a modern spin on the play and set it in present day Athens, Ga. The play opened June 19, and surprised audiences expecting classic Shakespeare.

Contemporary clothing and occasional references to places of interest in town help to create an atmosphere the audience can relate to.

“It is important that the audience relate to the story,” Cesnik said. “And getting the audience involved is a big goal of ours at the Rose of Athens Theatre.”

Cesnik works with a small cast of professional actors who must take on multiple roles, as is custom at the Rose of Athens Theatre.

Bajo Sonubi, who plays Demetrius, is acting in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” after having done so in last year’s production of the play at the Rose of Athens Theatre.

“I am excited about this production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ taking on multiple roles allows me to use aspects of myself that I don’t get to use that often. I get to explore,” Sonubi said.

The Rose of Athens Theatre is following “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with its production of “The Taming Of The Shrew,” directed by Kristin Kundert-Gibbs.

The play follows Petruchio as he “tames” the rather outspoken and intelligent Kate. The play will also be more contemporary, set in the 1950s in Athens, Ga.

Gibbs has worked with Shakespeare’s plays before at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, as well as the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. Though she has never directed “The Taming of the Shrew,” she has acted in it several times and owes her love of theater to the play.

“It was the very first play I saw, and I loved it. I knew after that, that I was going into theater and I was only going to do Shakespeare,” Gibbs said. “I have a big fondness for the play.”

Gibbs’ vision of the play makes it more accessible for audiences in Athens. The setting involves a restaurant downtown much like East West Bistro.

“The Rose of Athens Theatre likes to do things pertinent to Athens, Ga. and the audience,” Gibbs said. “Shakespeare wanted his audience to relate to his stories, and I feel I am more closely capturing him by setting the play in a place the audience feels connected to.”

The Taming of the Shrew opens July 3.