"The Worlds Behind the Worlds" documents the process of directing "A Midsummer Night's Dream," presented October 2008 in the McLeod Theater at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Specifically, this document details the development of the director's vision for the play from initial readings through post-production evaluations. The work is structured chronologically, beginning in Chapter One with a discourse on the director's initial response to the play followed by a preliminary statement of vision. The second chapter analyzes key research through which the preliminary statement of vision was filtered and discusses the director's conclusions. A revised statement of vision and concept is presented, followed by a proposed production process and projected results. Chapter Three explains the execution of this production process, and the final chapter consists of the director's evaluation of the production. Appendices follow including visual research, production documents, the director's approach to heightened language, a rehearsal journal, an external evaluation, and production photos.