Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
Directed by David M. Jenkins
Mar. 13 – Apr. 7, 2013
Thu. – Sat. 8pm, Sun. 4pm
Tickets: $28
Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Considered one of the most popular and charming of Shakespeare’s comedies (and one of the very few where the female lead doesn’t have to dress up at some point as a dude), Much Ado About Nothing features the classic couple Benedick (an arrogant and confirmed bachelor, played by Ned Averill-Snell) and Beatrice (his favorite sparring partner, played by Roxanne Fay).
While the feisty couple hides their infatuation beneath witty barbs, young love blossoms as Hero (Betty-Jane Parks) and Claudio (J. Elijah Cho) race to the altar. When the just Don Pedro’s (Matt Lunsford) wicked brother Don John (Michael C. McGreevy) conspires to break up the wedding, will false accusations and misunderstandings prevent the young couple’s happy ending? Will Dogberry (Spencer Meyers) and his misfit watch save the day? Witty wordplay, passionate poetry and clever plot twists make this the perfect romantic evening to share love and laughter.
Jobsite is presenting Shakespeare’s text of Much Ado About Nothing, a distinction the company learned needed to be made in 2011 when producing The Taming of the Shrew – some fans assumed it was a modern language re-telling as the company did with the mob-musical Pericles. The Much Ado script has been shortened slightly and some of the smaller characters have been combined to be played by a single actor, not at all uncommon in the modern theater. Conceptually, the production is set in a timeless fantasy land reminiscent of films such as Terry Gilliam’s Baron Munchausen or Neil Gaiman’s Stardust.
Jobsite’s production is surrounded by a few interesting coincidences. In July of this year, filmmaker Joss Whedon’s (The Avengers, Serenity) anticipated black and white indie project turned full-blown studio release of Much Ado hits screens. Jobsite Producing Artistic Director David Jenkins (who directs) at first considered his casting of Beatrice and Benedick as slightly non-traditional, as the roles are typically filled by younger actors than he hired, but in December his thunder was stolen when it was announced that this year Vanessa Redgrave (75) and James Earl Jones (81) will play the famous pair at London’s Old Vic.
In addition to Shrew and the Popp-Paonessa-Gobioff adapted Pericles, Jobsite has had success with Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and of course their multiple sold-out engagements of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) dating back to 2001.
Student Performances
Teachers: we have a daytime performance of Much Ado About Nothing on Mar. 28 at 11am at a greatly reduced student group rate.
Media
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Gallery
Previews
Cast & Crew
- David M. Jenkins – Director
- Matthew Ray – Stage Manager
Cast
- Ned Averill-Snell – Benedick
- J. Elijah Cho – Claudio/Conrade
- Jason Evans – Borachio/Antonio
- Roxanne Fay* – Beatrice
- Matt Lunsford – Don Pedro/Verges
- Michael C. McGreevy – Don John/Watchman
- Spencer Meyers – Balthasar/Dogberry/Friar Francis
- Alvin Jenkins – Leonato/Watchman/Sexton
- Betty-Jane Parks – Hero/Watchman
- Katrina Stevenson – Margaret/Watchman
Crew
- Tierra Bonser – Dramaturg
- Greg Newcomb – Poster Artist
- Brian M. Smallheer – Scenic/Lighting Designer
- Dave Steinweg – Sound Desginer
- Katrina Stevenson – Costume Designer
Patron Reviews
- Great show, great cast. See it! – Clare Ward-Jenkins
- Loved the production, acting, costumes, set, direction. Bravo! Tampa friends, don't miss this one! – Susan Oliver
- Great cast! A fantastic afternoon of theatre! – Eric Swearingen
- Shakespeare is a genious! I have seen his plays at the National Theatre of London and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and I can say that the Jobsite Theatre actors are remarkable! Please go and see it at the Jobsite Theater! – Patrizia LaTrecchia
- Lots of fun ... 🙂 – Giles Davies
- Had a great time at this show! Don't miss it. – Tom Wood
- Bravo to Ned Averill-Snell, Michael C. McGreevy, Katrina Stevenson, Matt Lunsford, Spencer Meyers, Jason Vaughan Evans and the rest of the cast of Jobsite Theater's rendition of Much Ado About Nothing! Well done, my friends, well done! – Bob Westphal
- Saw a show for the ages!! Much Ado About Nothing was amazing! All the actors were brilliantly funny and honest! If you haven't seen it go go go!! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew! Nothing better than watching wonderfully done Shakespeare! – Sarah McAvoy
- Saw it last night. Fay and Averill-Snell will knock you socks off. – MT Clarity
- Tonight's preview of "Much Ado About Nothing" gave us TONS to talk about in the car. Great job, @jobsitetheater cast! Have a wonderful run. – Desirée Fantal
- Go see Much Ado at @jobsitetheater if you can. Beautifully done! #ilovegoodacting – @JantheDiva
- Really good production. Fine direction. Ned Averill-Snell is a treasure. – Kerry Glamsch
- Shout out to Jobsite Theater and the cast of Much Ado... Especially Roxanne Fay and Ned Averill-Snell- you both were amazing!! Love to you all! – Amy Elizabeth Gray
- Much Ado About Something!! In the immortal words of David Bowen, "My God--It's Full of Stars!!" 😉 – Jeanne M Adams
- Much Ado was entertaining Shakespeare at its best...great cast, quick pacing...fastest three hours I've spent in a long time. And the Moots loved it too! – Rick Stutzel
- If you love Shakespeare, if you love to laugh, if you love love. Go see Much Ado About Nothing. It is probably some of the best Shakespeare I've seen in my life. Lovely, hearty and with the most hilarious cast. Only $10 for student/senior rush tickets and only 2 weekends left to see it. – Sara Rotunda
- Great show tonight! Bravo to everyone involved with Jobsite's Much Ado! Huzzah! – Colleen Cherry
- What a wonderful evening of theatre. Jobsite Theater brought Much Ado About Nothing to Home Resource in Sarasota. The parking lot, to be exact, where we had rain, homeless people, and an audience member who tried to leave the parking lot in her car while the show was going on. IT WAS BRILLIANT nonetheless. Catch it up in Tampa this weekend – Lauren Wood
- Saw Much Ado About Nothing last night in the @jobsitetheater. Great job by all! #shakespeare #muchado#straz – Krystin Olinski
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