Whole Foods Market Partners with Present Company for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, 4/18-5/11

The Whole Foods Market flagship store has become a quintessential meeting and gathering place in downtown Austin with events ranging from yoga classes at sunset to family­ friendly film screenings, and now, live theatre. Whole Foods Market is partnering with local Austin non­profit, Present Company, for 12 performances of Much Ado About Nothing running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, April 18 through May 11.

After several successful bi­annual productions of Shakespeare at the Farm, hosted at East Austin's urban Rain Lilly Farm, Present Company is expanding their presence and their mission to revitalize the art of theatre by bringing free, professional productions off the conventional stage and into unexpected locations in the community - i.e. your local grocery store.

"This partnership with Whole Foods Market has deep anthropological roots," said Stephanie Carll, co­artistic director of Present Company. "Street theatre was and is still what many communities utilize to educate, deliver news and information, and entertain - and it usually occurs in the heart of the community: the marketplace."

While the performances will be free, attendees will have the opportunity to donate to Present Company at the event or at the registers of the downtown Whole Foods Market store. Each performance will begin at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or mat for seating, and to arrive early to pick up snacks and beverages from the store, where picnic themed dinners will be available for the event. For more information, visit presentcompanytheatre.com.

Shakespeare at the Market: Much Ado About Nothing is directed by Present Company Co­Artistic Director, Lindsay Doleshal, and features the local talents of:

Sergio Alvarado (Don Pedro)
Laura Artesi (Margaret/Sexton)
Mateo M. Barrera (Balthazar/Verges)
Lowell Bartholomee (Leonato)
David Boss (Don John)
Stephanie Carll (Beatrice)
Ky Christopher Cleveland (Borachio/Rabbi)
Jennifer Coy (Dogberry)
Dan Dalbout (Claudio)
Samuel Grimes (Benedick)
Saige Hilton (Ursula/Watchman)
Craig Kanne (Antonio/Watchman)
Ben McLemore (Conrade)
Cassadie Petersen (Hero)
Hondo Powell (Messenger/Watchman)

About Whole Foods Market: Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"TM captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community

support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company's more than 73,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 15 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2012, the company had sales of $11.7 billion and currently has more than 340 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

About Present Company: Present Company is a non­profit theatre collective sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance. Founded in 2010, Present Company aims to produce accessible, vital, and immediate theatre of the past, present and future, in unexpected ways and unexpected places throughout Austin. The creators of the magical Shakespeare on the Farm series at Rain Lily Farm, Present Company strives to make moving theatrical art that broadens our hearts and minds, and helps to sustain the cultural community of Austin. Visit www.presentcompanytheatre.com.

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