Photo Flash: First Look Theatre for a New Audience's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at The Duke on 42nd

Maggie Siff plays Beatrice and Jonathan Cake Benedick in Theatre for a New Audience's new production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Arin Arbus, opened on February 17 at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

"I'm thrilled Maggie Siff, who played Kate last season in The Taming of the Shrew directed by Arin Arbus, now takes on the role of Beatrice opposite Jonathan Cake (Medea on Broadway) as Benedick. They are strong contrasts with a wonderful sense of comedy -- one is American, the other British; one sophisticated, the other rough-edged playing two former lovers whose wit and wariness are perfectly matched," said Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director of Theatre for a New Audience.

The production will be set in just before World War I in Sicily a patriarchal, Catholic society in which tradition and social ritual were central components of daily life. A maid's chastity, a man's honor were of the utmost importance. It was a moment in history when the entire world was on the brink of a new era. The world's understanding of the devastation of war and the roles of women were about to change.

Maggie Siff is acclaimed for her performances on stage, film and television, including Kate in The Taming of The Shrew, directed by Arin Arbus for Theatre for a New Audience last season. She is widely recognized for her TV roles on "Mad Men" and "Sons of Anarchy" and this year was nominated for a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in "Sons of Anarchy." In 2008, Ms. Siff and her "Mad Men" co-stars were nominated for the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Dramatic Series. She also received Philadelphia's Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in Ibsen's Ghosts.

Jonathan Cake has appeared on stage, film and television. He played major classical roles at the Royal Shakespeare Company, London's Shakespeare's Globe (Coriolanus), BAM and on Broadway (Jason in Medea opposite Fiona Shaw for which he won the Theatre World Award) and Lincoln Center Theater (Iachimo in Cymbeline). His films include Brideshead Revisited, True Blue and The One and Only and on television, "Desperate Housewives" and "Six Degrees."

Arin Arbus, Associate Artistic Director, Theatre for a New Audience. In 2009, Charles Isherwood, New York Times, called her "the most gifted new director to emerge." For Theatre for a New Audience she has directed Shakespeare's Othello (Lortel nomination Outstanding Revival) and Macbeth both with John Douglas Thompson; Measure for Measure with Jefferson Mays (Lortel Nomination Outstanding Revival) and last season's The Taming of the Shrew. She was a Playwrights Horizons Directing Resident, a Williamstown Workshop Directing Corps Member, a member of Soho Rep's Writer/Director Lab, and is a Drama League Directing Fellow, and a Princess Grace Award Recipient. She has directed at Houston Grand Opera, Woodbourne Correctional Facility, The New School for Drama, Intiman Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Theatre Outlet, Fringe NYC, Storm Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Juilliard and Williamstown Workshop.

Tickets are $75 and may be purchased via phone at 646-223-3010 or via the web at www.Dukeon42.org.

Spiff Wiegand (foreground) doubles as the musician. Kate MacCluggage as Margaret in the background. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Jonathan Cake as Benedick, and Matthew Amendt as Claudio. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Don Pedro (Graham Winton) woos Hero (Michelle Beck) in Claudio's name. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Graham Winton as Don Pedro. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Saxon Palmer as Don John. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Robert Langdon Lloyd, Matthew Amendt, and Graham Winton. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Jonathan Cake as Benedick. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Top: Kate MacCluggage, Elizabeth Meadows Rouse, Robert Langdon Lloyd. Bottom: Maggie Siff, Michelle Beck. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Maggie Siff as Beatrice. Photo by Henry Grossman.

John Keating as Verges, and John Christopher Jones as Dogberry. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Denis Butkus as Conrade and Paul Niebanck as Borachio. Photo by Henry Grossman.

John Keating (who also plays Verges) doubles here as the Friar. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Beatrice (Maggie Siff) comforts Hero (Michelle Beck). Photo by Henry Grossman.

Robert Langdon Lloyd as Leonato. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Jonathan Cake and Maggie Siff. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Peter Maloney as Antonio. Photo by Henry Grossman.

Matthew Amendt and Graham Winton. Photo by Henry Grossman.

John Christopher Jones, John Keating, Denis Butkus, and Liam Forde. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Maggie Siff and Jonathan Cake. Photo by Henry Grossman.