Love, mischief and mistaken intentions take center stage this winter as University Theatre presents “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare. Directed by Jerry Ferraccio, the production marks the grand reopening of Robinson Theatre and runs Feb. 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and March 1.
Set in Messina, Italy, Shakespeare’s immortal comedy follows the joyful celebration surrounding Hero and Claudio’s engagement, alongside an elaborate prank designed to bring the bickering Benedick and Beatrice together. The festivities are threatened when Don John, the Prince’s villainous brother, conspires to ruin the marriage and throw the community into chaos. Meanwhile the well-meaning but awkward Constable Dogberry and his Watchmen work to restore order and allow love to prevail.
“It covers themes understandable to modern audiences,” said Ferraccio, guest director for the show. “It's fun and witty, and it ends joyfully. The banter between Benedick and Beatrice is delightful. It's full of funny moments and still has a serious plot that raises real stakes for the characters.”
A timeless Shakespearean comedy
Ferraccio says “Much Ado About Nothing” remains one of Shakespeare’s most accessible and rewarding plays for audiences new to The Bard – a name given to Shakespeare to indicate his status as a master storyteller – as well as longtime fans. The play blends sharp humor with emotional depth, inviting audiences to laugh while also engaging with themes of trust, reputation and forgiveness.
“I personally enjoy Shakespeare because there are always new discoveries, no matter how many times you read or rehearse a play, and each production is unique,” he said. “You can never see the same play twice.”
The guest director’s vision
Central to Ferraccio’s approach is a rehearsal philosophy that highlights intention and collaboration in performance.
“I think the rehearsal and performance of any play, but especially Shakespeare, needs to be undertaken with what I call ‘joyful labor.’ Too many people think Shakespeare performances are just learning lines and blocking. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each moment in a play must be crystal clear and in focus, or the audience loses the story, and it can take a long while to get it back on track,” Ferraccio said.
He notes that achieving this level of clarity requires time, precision and shared understanding among the cast and creative team.
“To do that, each actor must be absolutely clear on what they are saying and why. This takes hours of painstaking labor to pull a moment apart, clarify it and refine our approach, and then to integrate it into the production.”
Ferraccio stresses the importance of specificity in performance, particularly when engaging with the interpretive openness of Shakespeare’s plays. “There is great universality in Shakespeare's texts when read, but in performance an actor cannot play ambiguity. They must make choices that support a myriad of things including other actors' choices, the overall vision of the play as guided by the director and the production's physical aspects such as set, costumes, sound and lighting designs, props, etc. We're aiming for this in our production!”
Performance details and how to get tickets
The show features a cast of students: Harvey Parsons ’28 as Leonato; Loralee Van Londen ’29 as Hero; Bleu Jones ’27 as Beatrice; Maria Iakovidis-Oshima ’28 as Margaret; Moxley Cross ’28 as Ursula/Francis Seacoal; Dominic Reardon ’27 as Antonio/Verges; Dylan Podrabsky ’26 as Don Pedro; Mason Bruderer ’29 as Don John; Gavin Blackwell ’26 as Claudio; Trevor Tarantino ’26 as Benedick; Aiden Lopez ’29 as Balthasar/A. Watchman; Bren O’Donnell ’27 as Borachio; Avery Bryson ’27 as Conrade; Teddy Skyler ’27 as Friar Francis; Isla Snyder ’29 as Dogberry; Kate Wilson ’26 as George Seacoal; and Anesu Chipanera ’29 as Hugh Oatcake.
Student members of the production team include: Carina Bellendaine ’28, assistant director; Grace O’Brien Hickey ’28(GE) and Emma Kirby ’26, assistant costume designers; Jordan Hamlin ’26, lighting designer; Caroline Crawford ’28, properties designer; Shaun Leonard ’28(GE); Audrey Opsahl ’26, stage manager; and Evelyn Febus ’29 and Dakota Sitts ’27, assistant stage managers.
Faculty members of the production team include: Jerry Ferraccio, guest director; Janet Rose, production manager and lighting design advisor; Jeanette deJong, costume designer; Mary Jungels Goodyear, scenic designer; and Bradley Branam, sound and projection design advisor.
“Much Ado About Nothing” runs in Robinson Theatre Feb. 13, 14, 20, 21, 22*, 27, 28, and March 1st* (evenings at 7:30 p.m.; *matinees at 2 p.m.). Tickets are available through the University Theatre box office.
— By Harper Wells, College of Arts and Sciences