New American Shakespeare Tavern Presents MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Now thru 3/30

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern presents Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Tony Brown, tonight, March 8-30, 2013.

Shakespeare's second-famous "battle of the sexes" play. Will Benedick, the ever-confirmed bachelor, admit his love for the equally witty and equally independent Beatrice? Will the young lovers Claudio and Hero survive the devious meddling of others? What do you want to bet there will be two weddings in the end?

Join the cast and crew members for a lively Question and Answer session on Sunday March 17 after the show!

Cast:

Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon - Matt Nitchie

Don John, his bastard brother - Marcus Durham

Claudio, a young Lord of Florence - JoNathan Horne

Benedick, a young Lord of Padua - Andrew Houchins*

Leonato, Governor of Messina - Troy Willis*

Antonio, his brother - Emmett Furrow

Borachio, follower of Don John - Vinnie Mascola

Conrade, follower of Don John - Jeffrey Stephenson

Dogberry, a constable - Drew Reeves*

Verges, his follower - Clarke Weigle

Sexton - Emmett Furrow

Friar Frances - Daniel Parvis

Hero, daughter to Leonato - Kathryn Lawson

Beatrice, niece to Leonato - Erin Considine

Margaret, gentlewoman attending Hero - Jennifer Acker

Ursula, gentlewoman attending Hero - Rachel Frawley

The Watch - Jacob York, Daniel Parvis, Chris Schulz

Musicians - Mary Ruth Ralston, Drew Reeves*, Chris Schulz, Clarke Weigle

Balthasar - Daniel Parvis

Much Ado Synopsis (The Pocket Companion to Shakespeare's Plays by J C Trewin): "Leonato, Governor of Messina, is host to Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon, who has come from suppressing a rebellion by his bastard brother, Don John. With Pedro are John, now "reconciled" to him; Claudio, a young Florentine lord, of whom John is bitterly resentful; and a Paduan lord, Benedick, said to be a confirmed bachelor and engaged in a "merry war" with Leonato's niece, Beatrice, apparently a confirmed spinster. Claudio loves Leonato's daughter, Hero; Don John swears to thwart him. After a masked ball the wedding of Claudio and Hero is planned. Borachio, Don John's follower, tells him that having seen that the Prince and Claudio are listening, he will exchange love vows by night with Hero's gentlewoman, dressed in her mistress's clothes, at Hero's bedroom window.

Pedro, Claudio and Leonato ensure that Benedick (hidden in a garden arbour) hears them discuss Beatrice's presumably passionate love for him. Hero and Ursula play a similar trick on the listening Beatrice (here the passion is Benedick's). On the night before the wedding Don John offers to give the Prince and Claudio proof of Hero's unfaithfulness. Later, Borachio heard boasting about his successful deceit to a drunken comrade, is arrested by the Watch and taken to Dogberry, the constable. Before Leonato can know anything, the wedding ceremony is due. In the church Claudio denounces Hero, who faints. The Prince proposed that Hero who be reported dead and hidden until the truth is known. Beatrice, much grieved, urges Benedick to kill Claudio. At length all is revealed and the penitent Claudio promises to marry a niece of Leonato, said to be the image of the "dead" Hero. She is, of course, Hero herself; Beatrice and Benedick, as expected, resolve their "merry war," and news comes that Don John has been taken prisoner."

Performance days & times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:30 PM. 10 AM most Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Ticket Prices:

All regular (non-preview) Thursday shows are $20 for adults and $15 for students

Friday night:
Main: $32
Box: $26
Balcony: $22

Saturday night:
Main: $36
Box: $30
Balcony: $24

Sunday night:
Main: $28
Box: $22
Balcony: $15

An 8% sales tax is added on top of all purchases made at The Shakespeare Tavern.

Discount Ticket Options: $15 for Previews (unless otherwise noted); Student/Educator prices: $5 off per price level per night except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Not valid on Saturday nights. $14 for 10am matinees. $3 off for Military, Seniors, Groups of 10 or more, except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Promotional discount offers are not valid closing weekend of a performance.

Purchase tickets online for most performances at www.shakespearetavern.com.