About performance
Sworn to a life solo, Beatrice and Benedick are each determined to evade Cupid’s quiver of arrows, employing against one another rapier wit to defend against what everyone else already knows—that they are hopelessly, desperately in love! Romp, romance, and potential catastrophe collide in William Shakespeare’s fast-moving and irresistibly hilarious and energetic comedy, set in World War II-era Sicily.
“SHINES… GIDDY HIGH JINKS… The story — in all its madcap, reckless zeal — comes first… irresistible allure… How did [director Guillermo] Cienfuegos accomplish what some starrier productions have failed to do? His direction helped me appreciate the deeper Shakespearean meaning of the play’s merry ruses.”
-Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
“COULD JUST AS WELL BE CALLED ‘MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING SUPERB’ — NOT TO BE MISSED!”
-Anita W. Harris, LA Theatrix
““GO!... A FRESH TAKE… AN EXCEPTIONAL SHOW… jumps off the page… LA Theatre Bites recommended"
-Patrick Chavis LA Theatre Bites
“WOW!... SPARKLING… [a] Shakespearean bullseye”
-Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA
"WACKY, SMART, DELIGHTFUL AND ALTOGETHER FUN… made my puss hurt from smiling so loud… Don’t miss this.”
-Tony Frankel, Stage and Cinema
TRAILER & GALLERY
Much Ado About Nothing Production Photos
Header photo by Daniel Reichert. Pictured: Erika Soto and Joshua Bitton.
Sponsors
Producing Sponsors:
James & Trevessa Terrile
Sponsors:
Chris Burt & Tieu-My Nguyen
Student Matinee Sponsors:
Leilani Jones Wilmore
and
Z. Clark Branson Foundation
Post-Show Conversation Sponsors:
Patricia & Lawrence Sparks
Made possible in part by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division
Special Performances
Symposium
Join us 6:45pm for a free lecture by ANW’s Resident Dramaturg, Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad.
February 8, 2023
Pay What You Choose
Pay What You Choose tickets will be available to purchase online for as low as $5 starting at 12pm on the Monday before the performance with the choice to pay $5, $10, or $15 (excluding handling fee). Tickets can also be purchased at the Box Office after 2pm day of the performance. Cash only. Suggested price of $10.
February 8, 2023
February 9, 2023
Opening Night
Join us for a free post-show cast party after the 8pm performance.
February 11, 2023
Post-Show Conversations
After select Friday 8pm and Sunday 2pm performances, join us after the show for a conversation with the actors.
February 17, 2023
February 19, 2023
February 24, 2023
March 3, 2023
March 10, 2023
artists + cast
The Artists
Director: Guillermo Cienfuegos
Assistant Director: Rachel Berney Needleman
Stage Manager: Chloe Willey*
Assistant Stage Manager: Raven Chatt*
Scenic Designer: Angela Balogh Calin†
Costume Designer: Christine Cover Ferro
Lighting Designer: Ken Booth
Light Board Op: Jacob Padilla
Wig & Makeup Designer: Tony Valdes
Sound Designer: Chris Moscatiello†
Prop Designer: Stephen Taylor
Text Coach: Susan Wilder
Dramaturg : Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad
Choreographer: Joyce Guy
Run Crew: Bryan Tiglio
The Cast
Benedick: Joshua Bitton*
Don John/Verges/Understudy Benedick: Rafael Goldstein*
Hero: Alexandra Hellquist
Claudio: Stanley Andrew Jackson*
Dogberry/Antonio: Wesley Mann *
Leonato: Tony Pasqualini*
Balthasar/Ursula: Nick Petroccione
Beatrice: Erika Soto*
Don Pedro: Frederick Stuart*
Margaret: Jeanne Syquia*
Conrade/Friar Francis: Randy Thompson
Borachio: Michael Uribes*
Ensemble: Alejandro Hernandez
Ensemble: Arely Vianet
Understudy Beatrice: Kodi Jackman*
Understudy Don John/Verges/Borachio : Will Block*
Understudy Hero: Carene Rose*
Understudy Claudio: Mitch Connelly
Understudy Dogberry: Bert Emmett*
Understudy Leonato: Edgar Landa*
Understudy Balthasar/Ursula: Mitchell Lam Hau
Understudy Don Pedro: Justin Blanchard*
Understudy Margaret: Nicole Ohara
† Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
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