Shakespeare Theatre Company Extends MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Through 1/7

Though originally scheduled to only run through January 1, The Shakespeare Theatre Company will extend performances of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, through January 7, 2012. Director Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) brings this battle of the sexes to life at the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW). MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING opened on November 25 and has been receiving unanimous critical praise. This extra week of performances is expected to accommodate an increasing demand from the public.

Public performances will take place regularly during the week, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. Two additional student matinee performances will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday; both student matinee performances are already sold out. For tickets and more information, call 202-547-1122 or visit the website at ShakespeareTheatre.org.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is set on a sugar cane plantation in hot and sultry 1930s Cuba. McSweeny was inspired by a previous production of Much Ado directed by his co-artistic director Vivienne Benesch at the Chautauqua Theater Company. He was so taken by the concept that he decided to further explore the setting. "It's an interesting challenge to return to STC so close on the heels of The Merchant of Venice and with such a different play as Much Ado," says McSweeny. "I don't think anyone would claim that Shakespeare's Sicily and Cuba in the '30s are identical, but if you scratch the surface the parallels ring true: including proximal low level civil conflicts, a society with a strong religious influence, a native sense of machismo, heat, and above all, sexiness. And then there's that great Cuban music and dancing which we will utilize for its maximum celebratory impact."

A classic tale of matched wits and love, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING explores the trials and tribulations of romance. The audience will fall in love and laugh along with this play filled with fun, loveable and devious characters. Everyone can see that Beatrice and Benedick are meant for each other except Beatrice and Benedick. Hero and Claudio, themselves newly betrothed, conspire to trick them into announcing their feelings and falling for each other. Meanwhile, a bitter and troublesome Don John schemes to destroy Claudio and Hero's engagement by besmirching Hero's honor.

The mission of the Shakespeare Theatre Company is to present classic theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their work through a 21st-century lens.

 

 

 

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