Cast and CrewPaul Terrien – Composer and Musician
Directed by Tom Reed Assistant Directed and Dramaturgy by ML Cogar Rebekah Heusel* - Stage Manager Bob Balderson as Antonio Todd Denning* as Benedick Mohammad ElBsat as Conrade Kelley Faulkner* as Beatrice David Flores as Leonato Ron Scot Fry as Verges Jennifer Glueckstein as Ursula Alejandra Gonzalez as Watch/Ensemble Di’Monte Henning as Claudio Logan Milway as Balthasar/Watch Emmit Morgans as Borachio/Friar Bividiana Murguia as Watch/Ensemble James Pickering* as Dogberry Michael Stebbins* as Don Pedro Candace Thomas as Hero Paul Terrien – Composer and Musician Jonathan Wainwright* as Don John Kat Wodtke as Margaret Ben Yela as Watch/Ensemble *Member, Actors’ Equity Association |
2017 ~ Much Ado About NothingJuly 6-22, 2017
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Much Ado About Nothing follows the sixteenth century popular tradition of stories of lovers mistakenly believing one another unfaithful. Shakespeare had plentiful source material on which to draw when he set his own version down in around 1598. The comedy achieved immediate and enduring popularity, offering a precursor to our modern day “screwball” romantic comedies.
The play features characters entangled by some combination of family, romance and competitive envy. Running the gamut from sly pranks and slapstick to heartbreaking betrayal, Shakespeare animates main characters Beatrice and Benedick’s roller-coaster relationship with particularly clever wordplay and complex emotions. |
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In Shakespeare’s day, the title word “nothing” and “noting,” as in to observe or to eavesdrop, were near-homophones, laying the groundwork for funny double and triple dialogue meanings from the very first moment of the play.
The simple premise of the title foretells of the great fuss arising from small moments seen and overheard. As these moments unfold, larger societal expectations, fears and stereotypes of the sexes are addressed, questioned and overturned. In particular, Beatrice’s obvious intelligence and yearning to be equal to the men around her – while refusing to marry because she cannot find a man equal to her – sets her up as an object of admiration for traits not usually deemed “ideal” in a woman of her era.
The simple premise of the title foretells of the great fuss arising from small moments seen and overheard. As these moments unfold, larger societal expectations, fears and stereotypes of the sexes are addressed, questioned and overturned. In particular, Beatrice’s obvious intelligence and yearning to be equal to the men around her – while refusing to marry because she cannot find a man equal to her – sets her up as an object of admiration for traits not usually deemed “ideal” in a woman of her era.
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The Crew of Much Ado About Nothing
Ron Scot Fry – Set Designer and Production Manager
Megan B Henninger ** – Sound Designer
Colin Gawronski – Lighting Designer
Christy Seibers – Costume Designer
Tania Taylor – Props Mistress
Desiree Stypinski – Assistant Stage Manager and Apprentice
Gennesee Spridco – Choreographer
Melissa Nilles – Assistant Sound Designer
Amber Jackson – Stitcher
Katy Lane – Wardrobe
John Hassig – Marcus Center Director of Programming
George Batayias – Marcus Center Technical Director
Mark Barnes - Marcus Center Event Services Director
Rick and Tony*** – Stage Crew, Lighting and Sound Board
Susan Scot Fry - Executive Director
Christie Manussier - Communications Director
Dr. Barbara Leigh - Community Outreach
Bridgett Gonzalez - Marcus Center Community Outreach Director
KimberLee Emmerich and Anna Dannaeker - MPS Arts Interns
**Member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829
*** Member of IATSE
Megan B Henninger ** – Sound Designer
Colin Gawronski – Lighting Designer
Christy Seibers – Costume Designer
Tania Taylor – Props Mistress
Desiree Stypinski – Assistant Stage Manager and Apprentice
Gennesee Spridco – Choreographer
Melissa Nilles – Assistant Sound Designer
Amber Jackson – Stitcher
Katy Lane – Wardrobe
John Hassig – Marcus Center Director of Programming
George Batayias – Marcus Center Technical Director
Mark Barnes - Marcus Center Event Services Director
Rick and Tony*** – Stage Crew, Lighting and Sound Board
Susan Scot Fry - Executive Director
Christie Manussier - Communications Director
Dr. Barbara Leigh - Community Outreach
Bridgett Gonzalez - Marcus Center Community Outreach Director
KimberLee Emmerich and Anna Dannaeker - MPS Arts Interns
**Member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829
*** Member of IATSE
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