What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Tree House #25
Stage Fright on a Summer Night
The show must go on!
That's what Jack and Annie learn when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to Elizabethan England. There they meet William Shakespeare himself—one of the greatest writers of all time! But Mr. Shakespeare's having a hard time with some of the actors in his latest show. Are Jack and Annie ready to make a big entrance? Or will it be curtains for Shakespeare?
That's what Jack and Annie learn when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to Elizabethan England. There they meet William Shakespeare himself—one of the greatest writers of all time! But Mr. Shakespeare's having a hard time with some of the actors in his latest show. Are Jack and Annie ready to make a big entrance? Or will it be curtains for Shakespeare?
70 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
368 people are currently reading
2758 people want to read
About the author
Mary Pope Osborne
526 books2,636 followersMary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
May 22, 2012
I love this! It's also one of my favorites! This book made the first introduction of A Midsummer Night's Dream to me and the second introduction that made me read the play is the Sister's Grimm series. It is just so adorable!
Jack and Annie went to the time of Queen Victoria I and participated in one of Shakespeare's plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream. They met and talked to William Shakespeare and eventually got what they need, his letter.
Jack and Annie went to the time of Queen Victoria I and participated in one of Shakespeare's plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream. They met and talked to William Shakespeare and eventually got what they need, his letter.
February 27, 2022
Featured in grandma reads chapterbook sessions.
Where would we be without Mary Pope Osborne???? I shudder to think of it! Coming up many of my crew have read her Magic Tree House books and their Fact Tracker companion books and not only increased their reading skills, but also learned history, science and cultural aspects of life as a human.
February we've been working on getting more in our heads about the life and work of Wm. Shakespeare, and this little book helped get us further along our path.
Thank you, Mary!
Where would we be without Mary Pope Osborne???? I shudder to think of it! Coming up many of my crew have read her Magic Tree House books and their Fact Tracker companion books and not only increased their reading skills, but also learned history, science and cultural aspects of life as a human.
February we've been working on getting more in our heads about the life and work of Wm. Shakespeare, and this little book helped get us further along our path.
Thank you, Mary!
September 2, 2019
Jack and Annie travel to Elizabethan England and get recruited by William Shakespeare to perform for his production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. They also rescue a bear.
As far as plot goes, the best moment here is Jack's battle to overcome his stagefright, which was, in his mind, as terrifying a peril as they had ever faced. Jack gets a great moment here when he finally "steps into the light".
Another fun aspect of this book was all the use of bits of Shakespeare's dialogue that the author managed to slip into the story. She provides a handy reference guide at the end for readers who might have missed some. I also loved that the actor playing Puck at the Globe never has a name. He is just Puck. Because of course he is!
Definitely one of the most fun installments in this series. I read this with the Kiddo, who also enjoyed it, particularly anything involving the bear.
As far as plot goes, the best moment here is Jack's battle to overcome his stagefright, which was, in his mind, as terrifying a peril as they had ever faced. Jack gets a great moment here when he finally "steps into the light".
Another fun aspect of this book was all the use of bits of Shakespeare's dialogue that the author managed to slip into the story. She provides a handy reference guide at the end for readers who might have missed some. I also loved that the actor playing Puck at the Globe never has a name. He is just Puck. Because of course he is!
Definitely one of the most fun installments in this series. I read this with the Kiddo, who also enjoyed it, particularly anything involving the bear.
February 4, 2020
Great adventure!
March 25, 2025
J’avais oublié à quel point c’était bien !
June 22, 2011
My favorite of the series so far; the story of Jack and Annie's turn at the Globe Theater was less formulaic than some of the previous installments. The time travellers were never in any serious danger but perhaps that is what made the plot develop more organically? I was amused by the sporadic inclusion of lines from Shakespeare's plays, and by the resolution of the subplot involving a tame bear.
May 12, 2019
A pleasant surprise! A touch of magic (the tree house, of course), adventure, curious kids, and a generous dose of history. The tidbits of info are ones that kids will remember because they're age appropriate, e.g.,
- the Thames is stinky
- the Queen's teeth are black
- actors could read their lines from 'rolls'
- fights between bears and dogs were a form of entertainment.
They may even remember the name Will Shakespeare.
I will continue to pick up books in this series for the kids. Another year, and they'll love the stories. I would like to find the first several volumes so they can at least start the series from the beginning.
- the Thames is stinky
- the Queen's teeth are black
- actors could read their lines from 'rolls'
- fights between bears and dogs were a form of entertainment.
They may even remember the name Will Shakespeare.
I will continue to pick up books in this series for the kids. Another year, and they'll love the stories. I would like to find the first several volumes so they can at least start the series from the beginning.
March 13, 2014
“Stage Fright on a Summer Night,” is about two young kids that are brother and sister. The boy’s name is Jack and the girl’s name is Annie. These two kids are very adventurous and love being outdoors. At night before they both have to go to bed they both go outside and go to their treehouse. When they both are in the treehouse, Jack gets out a magical book and starts reading. After he starts reading the treehouse starts spinning and then goes back into time to whatever article he was reading from out of his book. In this story he was reading for a Shakespearean poem and the tree house started spinning and Jack and Annie woke up in the 1600s in Europe. They get down out of the treehouse and start exploring the area. After exploring for about an hour, they came across this big theatre that only costed a penny to watch one play. They both dug into their pockets and neither had a penny. Jack then started reading from his book about the theatre when a man heard him reading. His name was William and he was an actor in one of the plays. William had asked Jack and Annie if they wanted to be in a play and Jack and Annie both agreed to joining the play. William took both Jack and Annie around to the back of the theatre to the dressing room, so they could all get ready for the upcoming play. Jack and Annie had to do a speech and sing in front of many people. After the play was over, Jack and Annie left the play when William found them leaving the theatre. William called to them and gave them a scroll for being apart of the play. Jack and Annie both left then and went back to the treehouse. When they got to the treehouse Jack made a wish to go back home and then the treehouse started spinning and then everything went quiet and still. They both got up and looked at the scroll that William had given them. The scroll was a play written by William and he signed it at the bottom. His full name was William Shakespeare. When Jack and Annie saw that it was signed by William Shakespeare they were amazed. They left the scroll in the treehouse to keep it hidden and ran back to their house and went to bed.
This book starts off in the present day during the summer with two very young children that go outside during the night just before bed. They go into their magic treehouse and go back in time to the early 1600s in Europe. The weather in Europe in 1600 was hot and the air smelled very bad. The story goes on and the day gets late in Europe after the play Jack and Annie both leave Europe in their magic treehouse and go back to their home in the present day. When they get back it is like time had stopped and it was still dark outside the treehouse. Jack and Annie ran inside and went to bed.
The characters in "Stage Fright on a Summer Night," are two young kids than love adventure. They can travel back in time in their treehouse by reading out of their special book. When they had arrived in Europe they met a man named William. He was a very nice man, tall, skinny and smelly. He had given them a free pass to the play but he also let them perform in the play as well.
The authors message in this story is that no matter how big the adventure may seem, always try your best to achieve the goal that you have. If someone says that you can not do something that does not mean you can not do it. Put all the effort you can into your adventure, you can achieve any adventure ahead of you.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves reading about adventure.This book has many twists and turns, and is a very easy read. It is also easy to follow and understand. The author does a good job at describing what is going on and what the conditions are like throughout the story. I recommend this book to very young children, or young adults looking to pass the time.
November 9, 2016
Großartiges Kindeebuch über Theater, Shakespeare und Königin Elisabeth. Geschichte Kinderleicht vermittelt, total toll!
January 25, 2019
Carli’s review: I noticed the lion mask was missing because Danny the Dancing Bear was wearing it. One thing I pictured was Danny the Dancing Bear in his cage and the mean owner. I wonder why Annie wanted to save Danny the Dancing Bear. My favorite part of the story was when the groundlings threw rotten fruit everywhere!
September 1, 2022
Revisiting some old favorites while I try to knock out a reading challenge. I think I've read this one before, but I didn't remember it. Definitely wasn't my favorite out of the series. Fairly boring in comparison to my vague memory of the others, but cute.
December 28, 2017
our friend Will, I guess no child gets it :D #Shakespeare
wonderful books!
wonderful books!
May 14, 2022
Jack and Annie visit Shakespeare's England and have a chance to perform in one of Will's famous plays.
Listened to the audio and read along with my 7yo.
Listened to the audio and read along with my 7yo.
August 25, 2024
Read to me by Rebecca on one of my sick days. Not only was the narration amazing but the story was riveting. A great introduction to Shakespeare for early readers.
December 30, 2024
I love the midsummer nights dream vibe, and how they casually met Shakespeare, the bear somewhat derailed it though
December 10, 2015
Stage Fright On a Summer Night Review
PERSONAL RESPONSE
When I read this novel, I realized Will’s feelings instead of the obvious theme which the author wanted to tell us. When Will met Jack and Annie, he was having a hard time in his life, so the appearance of Jack and Annie like the sunshine let his life become brighter. Jack and Annie helped Will find success. In my opinion, I should learn that the Will’s insistence of the arts, because he insisted he needed to find actors in order to finish the show successfully. And we also should learn that when we see a person in trouble, we should come to help him. Probably we will brighten someone’s world because of a causal little thing.
THE PLOT
Jack and Annie wanted to learn the magic in the magic tree house. Morgan, who is the magical librarian of Camelot. He tells them there is a magic can turn daytime into night. Morgan whisks them back to Elizabethan England. There they met Queen Elizabeth and Will. Will is having a hard time with some of the actors in his latest show. They didn’t have enough actors to finish the show. At that time, Will met Jack and Annie, he found they had the amazing talent in performance. Will asked them to help him finish the show. In the end Jack overcame fear, finished the show, and after that he and Annie were comfortable on the stage. They also make friends with Will and they found the magic now, it’s a theatre magic. And in the end they realized Will was William Shakespeare. He was a great writer in the world.
RECOMMEND
Stage Fright On A Summer Night is a book which combines history. Therefore, when we read this book we also can learn some history about the Elizabethan England. After I read this book, we can know some funny things which we don’t know before, for example Queen Elizabeth's teeth were black because she ate too much sugar. Children are easily fascinated by the plots in the novel, so I think this novel is for the children in elementary school. When the children read this book, they also can learn some history, and the interesting history will let the children be interested in this book and the famous people in the history, thus arouse the interest of study. I think this book is for the children in elementary.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
When I read this novel, I realized Will’s feelings instead of the obvious theme which the author wanted to tell us. When Will met Jack and Annie, he was having a hard time in his life, so the appearance of Jack and Annie like the sunshine let his life become brighter. Jack and Annie helped Will find success. In my opinion, I should learn that the Will’s insistence of the arts, because he insisted he needed to find actors in order to finish the show successfully. And we also should learn that when we see a person in trouble, we should come to help him. Probably we will brighten someone’s world because of a causal little thing.
THE PLOT
Jack and Annie wanted to learn the magic in the magic tree house. Morgan, who is the magical librarian of Camelot. He tells them there is a magic can turn daytime into night. Morgan whisks them back to Elizabethan England. There they met Queen Elizabeth and Will. Will is having a hard time with some of the actors in his latest show. They didn’t have enough actors to finish the show. At that time, Will met Jack and Annie, he found they had the amazing talent in performance. Will asked them to help him finish the show. In the end Jack overcame fear, finished the show, and after that he and Annie were comfortable on the stage. They also make friends with Will and they found the magic now, it’s a theatre magic. And in the end they realized Will was William Shakespeare. He was a great writer in the world.
RECOMMEND
Stage Fright On A Summer Night is a book which combines history. Therefore, when we read this book we also can learn some history about the Elizabethan England. After I read this book, we can know some funny things which we don’t know before, for example Queen Elizabeth's teeth were black because she ate too much sugar. Children are easily fascinated by the plots in the novel, so I think this novel is for the children in elementary school. When the children read this book, they also can learn some history, and the interesting history will let the children be interested in this book and the famous people in the history, thus arouse the interest of study. I think this book is for the children in elementary.
July 31, 2021
Spannend, interessant und Cool
In dem Buch das magische Baumhaus Band 23 - Das Geheimnis des alten Theaters von Mary Pope Osborne geht, es um Anne und Philipp im alten England. Die beiden reisen mit ihrem magischen Baumhaus ins alte England. Philipp spielt plötzlich in einem Stück von William Shakespeare mit, ohne es gewollt zu haben. Ob Anne auch im Theaterstück mitspielen darf, obwohl sie ein Mädchen ist und das damals verboten war, wer weiß ?
Die Geschichte war spannend und hat mir gut gefallen. Anne und Philipp haben wie immer gut und verständlich gehandelt. Sehr gerne höre oder lese ich wieder ein Teil von das magische Baumhaus.
In dem Buch das magische Baumhaus Band 23 - Das Geheimnis des alten Theaters von Mary Pope Osborne geht, es um Anne und Philipp im alten England. Die beiden reisen mit ihrem magischen Baumhaus ins alte England. Philipp spielt plötzlich in einem Stück von William Shakespeare mit, ohne es gewollt zu haben. Ob Anne auch im Theaterstück mitspielen darf, obwohl sie ein Mädchen ist und das damals verboten war, wer weiß ?
Die Geschichte war spannend und hat mir gut gefallen. Anne und Philipp haben wie immer gut und verständlich gehandelt. Sehr gerne höre oder lese ich wieder ein Teil von das magische Baumhaus.
Read
January 10, 2021I read this in second grade and the only thing I remember is that Shakespeare wore tights.
September 12, 2017
My Review:
The question that always goes through my mind every time I read a Magic Tree House Book: Why, in every Magic Tree House book, does Jack and Annie's parents let them play outside in the dark? How long will it be until they discovers what their children do? :P
Anyways I've always loved this series. It just was perfect for me. I remember reading one for a book report...that has nothing to do with this what-so-ever
In general, this book is great! I just can't imagine a kid growing up without reading a Magic Tree House book. This book has great historical facts (as do they all) and is entertaining. The only thing that might "scare" some people off would be the mentions of learning magic. I don't really recall any real magic at all in the whole series, but I could be wrong.mostly I am since it's been years since I've read one with Morgana and Merlin
I'm contemplating reading the whole series again... and I'll most likely come across some that I never read.
Anyways totally recommend it for all ages.
So pretty much the only thing that people might not like is the mention of magic.
This review was written in my own words and opinions.
The question that always goes through my mind every time I read a Magic Tree House Book: Why, in every Magic Tree House book, does Jack and Annie's parents let them play outside in the dark? How long will it be until they discovers what their children do? :P
Anyways I've always loved this series. It just was perfect for me. I remember reading one for a book report...
In general, this book is great! I just can't imagine a kid growing up without reading a Magic Tree House book. This book has great historical facts (as do they all) and is entertaining. The only thing that might "scare" some people off would be the mentions of learning magic. I don't really recall any real magic at all in the whole series, but I could be wrong.
I'm contemplating reading the whole series again... and I'll most likely come across some that I never read.
Anyways totally recommend it for all ages.
So pretty much the only thing that people might not like is the mention of magic.
This review was written in my own words and opinions.
March 8, 2019
The kids and I will be watching this play next week, so we read the book in preparation. We haven't read any other Magic Treehouse books, and while they gave a very brief history of the other books in the series, this is book 25, so we were lost as to who Morgan was and how they learned about the magic treehouse. But it was a cute story. My kids didn't like it as much as other chapter books we read together.
Read
October 17, 2021One of my coworkers found out that I didn’t grow up reading Magic Treehouse like she did, she recommended that this be my first 😊
December 30, 2021
داستان اینبار در لندن ۱۶۰۰ یعنی زمان حکومت ملکه الیزابت اول میگذرد و دربارهی اولین سالنهای تئاتر در انگلستان قدیم است.
بچهها در داستان با ویلیام شکسپیر آشنا میشوند و شاهد اجرای نمایشنامه
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
در THE GLOBE THEATER هستند.
بچهها در داستان با ویلیام شکسپیر آشنا میشوند و شاهد اجرای نمایشنامه
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
در THE GLOBE THEATER هستند.
July 25, 2022
Interesting story both a fun and educational read.
April 1, 2023
I appreciate they talked about the stinky
The stuff with Dan made me really sad I just did not need it thanks
The stuff with Dan made me really sad I just did not need it thanks
Read
July 10, 2024my personal favourite one
January 15, 2025
Amazingggggggggggggggg
June 13, 2018
I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Jack and Annie went on stage. Jack and Annie were on the stage because two fairies were lost and Will needed two people to be fairies (Will was the one who wrote the play - he was William Shakespeare).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews