ASC at The New American Shakespeare Tavern Presents MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, 4/7-29

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern presents

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING!

Much Ado About Nothing is directed by Tony Brown. There is $12 General Admission Preview on Thursday, April 5 and a $15 General Admission Preview on Friday, April 6. The productions Runs April 7-29, 2012.

Shakespeare’s second-famous “battle of the sexes” play. Will Benedick, the ever-confirmed bachelor, admit his love for the equally witty and equally independent Beatrice? Will the young lovers Claudio and Hero survive the devious meddling of others? What do you want to bet there will be two weddings in the end?

A part of The Shakespeare Evolution Series

Join the cast and crew members for a Question and Answer session on Sunday April 15 after the show!

The Cast Includes:

Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon- Matt Nitchie

Don John, his bastard brother - Jacob York

Claudio, a young Lord of Florence - JoNathan Horne

Benedick, a young Lord of Padua - Andrew Houchins*

Leonato, Governor of Messina - Troy Willis*

Antonio, his brother – Jeff Watkins

Borachio, follower of Don John - Vinnie Mascola

Condrade, follower of Don John - Mary Ruth Ralston

Dogberry, a constable - Drew Reeves*

Verges, his follower - Clarke Weigle

Sexton – Jeff Watkins

Friar Frances - Daniel Parvis

Hero, daughter to Leonato - Kathryn Lawson

Beatrice, niece to Leonato - Erin Considine

Margaret, gentlewoman attending Hero - Jennifer Acker

Ursula, gentlewoman attending Hero - Rachel Frawley

The Watch - Jacob York, Daniel Parvis, Chris Schulz

Musicians - Mary Ruth Ralston, Drew Reeves*, Chris Schulz, Clarke Weigle
Balthasar - Daniel Parvis

Synopsis from The Pocket Companion to Shakespeare's Plays by J.C. Trewin:

Leonato, Governor of Messina, is host to Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon, who has come from suppressing a rebellion by his bastard brother, Don John. With Pedro are John, now “reconciled” to him; Claudio, a young Florentine lord, of whom John is bitterly resentful; and a Paduan lord, Benedick, said to be a confirmed bachelor and engaged in a “merry war” with Leonato’s niece, Beatrice, apparently a confirmed spinster. Claudio loves Leonato’s daughter, Hero; Don John swears to thwart him. After a masked ball the wedding of Claudio and Hero is planned. Borachio, Don John’s follower, tells him that having seen that the Prince and Claudio are listening, he will exchange love vows by night with Hero’s gentlewoman, dressed in her mistress’s clothes, at Hero’s bedroom window.

Pedro, Claudio and Leonato ensure that Benedick (hidden in a garden arbour) hears them discuss Beatrice’s presumably passionate love for him. Hero and Ursula play a similar trick on the listening Beatrice (here the passion is Benedick’s). On the night before the wedding Don John offers to give the Prince and Claudio proof of Hero’s unfaithfulness. Later, Borachio heard boasting about his successful deceit to a drunken comrade, is arrested by the Watch and taken to Dogberry, the constable. Before Leonato can know anything, the wedding ceremony is due. In the church Claudio denounces Hero, who faints. The Prince proposed that Hero who be reported dead and hidden until the truth is known. Beatrice, much grieved, urges Benedick to kill Claudio. At length all is revealed and the penitent Claudio promises to marry a niece of Leonato, said to be the image of the “dead” Hero. She is, of course, Hero herself; Beatrice and Benedick, as expected, resolve their “merry war,” and news comes that Don John has been taken prisoner.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:30 PM. 10 AM most Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Ticket Prices:

Seating areas: Main Floor Seats, Box Seats (on floor) and Balcony Seats

Regular Ticket Prices:

Thurs night:
Main: $24
Box: $20
Balcony: $15

Friday night:
Main: $32
Box: $26
Balcony: $22

Saturday night:
Main: $36
Box: $30
Balcony: $24

Sunday night:
Main: $28
Box: $22
Balcony: $15

An 8% sales tax is added on top of all purchases made at The Shakespeare Tavern.

Discount Ticket Options: $12 tickets for Thursday Previews, $15 for Friday Previews (unless otherwise noted);. Student/Educator prices: $5 off per price level per night except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Not valid on Saturday nights. $14 for 10am matinees. $3 off for Military, Seniors, Groups of 10 or more, except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Promotional discount offers are not valid closing weekend of a performance.

Purchase Tickets Online for most performances at www.shakespearetavern.com.

For information on:

The Shakespeare Club Program and Flex Pass: call or email The Tavern Box Office at 404.874.5299 or boxoffice@shakespearetavern.com or visit www.shakespearetavern.com.

Education Programs and Workshops: call or email Laura Cole, Education Director at 404-874-5299, X58 or laura@shakespearetavern.com

Volunteer Opportunities: call or email Suzanne Mercer, Volunteer Coordinator at 404-874-5299, X59 or suzanne@shakespearetavern.com

The Shakespeare Tavern is handicapped accessible. Please let the box office know if you have any special needs that we should be aware of in order to make your Shakespeare Tavern experience the very best we can. The handicapped entrance ramp/parking is located directly behind our building. Once you turn onto Renaissance Parkway from Peachtree Street, you will turn right onto Courtland Street. The Tavern’s back entrance will be immediately on your right once you clear the building on the corner and the traffic poles. The turn comes up quickly, so please drive slowly. Handicapped parking is directly in front of the ramp, behind our building.

The New American Shakespeare Tavern is located at 499 Peachtree Street, NE, just four blocks south of The Fox Theater and directly across the street from Emory University Hospital Midtown.

Parking: In the evening, recommended parking is in the Emory University Hospital Midtown Parking Deck located directly across the street from the front doors of The Shakespeare Tavern on Peachtree Street. Regular parking price is $5.

DO NOT park on Pine Street or in the empty parking lots on Pine Street. Your car might be booted if you park in these lots.

The Tavern opens one hour and fifteen minutes before the performance for food and beverage service. Chef for a Night provides a British-pub-style menu for dinner. The Tavern has a beer, wine, coffee, tea, and soft drink bar that serves Bass and Guinness on tap.

Seating is done on a “first come, first served” basis within each designated section. Table seating is limited however all seats can accommodate food and beverages. For reservations or more information, call or email The Tavern Box Office at 404.874.5299 or boxoffice@shakespearetavern.com or order tickets on-line at www.shakespearetavern.com.

The Shakespeare Tavern is a registered 501 ( C ) 3 non-profit organization and is a member of The Actor’s Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers.

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company (ASC) at The New American Shakespeare Tavern is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. Major support is provided by the Fulton County Commission under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. Major support also is provided by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. But, PRIMARILY, ASC is funded through the generous support provided by people just like you through the Shakespeare Club, the Royals and the Exceptions.

Photo credit: Jeff Watkins

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