Bellevue Little Theatre Presents MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 W. Mission Ave., in Bellevue, will present William Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing" for three week-ends beginning Friday Feb. 3 and closing Sunday Feb. 19. The production begins at 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday evenings and 2 PM on Sunday.

Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 402-291-1554 Monday thru Saturday between 10 am and 4:30 PM. Tickets are $18.00 for adults, $16.00 seniors, and $10 for students.

Suzanne Withem is directing this production, with Mary Trecek serving as producer. Stage manager is Adia Matousek; set designer is Thomas Miller, assisted by Wesley A. Houston; lighting designer is Joey Lorincz; props designer is Robin Helwig; costume designer is Zach Kloppenborg.

Cast members are
Beatrice: Emma Rasmussen
Benedick: Beau James Fisher
Claudio: Joshua Lloyd Parker
Hero: Elise O'Neil
Don Pedro: Jeremy Earl
Don John: Jon Roberson
Leonata: Mary Trecek
Antonia: Ember Krumwied
Borachio: Craig Bond
Margaret: Allison Buell
Ursula: Rebecca Shinkle
Dogberry: Ted J. Lane
Verges: William Rogers
Sister Francis: Bridget Mueting

'Much Ado About Nothing' is a well-known classic Shakespearean comedy, but director Withem has moved the setting to the small but thriving frontier town of Messina in 1890. The women of Messina are no strangers to hardship and loss but are resilient and capable. The loss of men folk has left the management of the family business to the women---who find excitement and romance with the arrival of Don Pedro and a crew of handsome cowboys to their small town.

Excitement, romance and conflict provide the backbone of the story with deception leading to tragedy but also to love. As with all of Shakespeare's comedies, there is a happy ending, but not before tricks are played during the night and guns are drawn at high noon---but in the end it is all 'Much Ado About Nothing'. The production provides the audience with an unusual twist on a Shakespeare classic.