SecondStory Repertory Presents Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare’s romantic romp just in time for Valentine’s day!

SecondStory Repertory is proud to announce its upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing showing February 4th through February 26th, 2011, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM on Feb 13th and 20th.

Beatrice and Benedick can’t stand each other – all they do is bicker and gossip. So you just know they’re going to wind up in love. The question is, how? That’s the secret in one of the great romantic comedies of all time!

Much Ado about Nothing is directed by Corey McDaniel who was last seen at SecondStory in the cast of The Turn of the Screw. Corey’s direction has recently been featured at Bainbridge Performing Arts, the Driftwood Players, and will be highlighted in Romeo & Juliet with GreenStage this summer.

Much Ado about Nothing features the talented cast of Daniel Wood (The Real Inspector Hound with SecondStory Repertory) as Benedick, Lorrie Fargo (Romeo & Juliet with GreenStage) as Beatrice, Colin Madison (White Christmas with Tacoma Musical Playhouse) as Claudio & Rosalynn Le (Top Girls with Sound Theatre) as Hero. Rounding out the cast is Josh Krupke (A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream with Ghostlight Theatricals)  as Don Pedro, Mok Moser as Leonato/First Watch, Matthew Gilbert (Macbeth with GreenStage) as Don John/Dogberry, Jalyn Green (Born Yesterday at SecondStory Repertory) as Balthaszar/Verges, Kris Hambrick (A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream Burien Little Theatre) as Ursela/Conrad, Peter Nolte as Borachio/Friar Francis, Erica Neils as Margaret/Sexton, John Clark (Fool for Love with Stone Soup Theatre) as Antonio/Second Watch, and James Lynch (Thunderbolts and Dunderheads with Redwood Theatre) as Messenger.

SecondStory Repertory’s production team for Much Ado About Nothing features scenic design by Mark Chenovick (Children of Eden, Sleeping Beauty), lighting design by Rob Falk (Children of Eden, Sleeping Beauty), and costume design by Janessa Styck.

SYNOPSIS

This classic tale by William Shakespeare, first published in 1600, weaves together two stories: the benevolent luring of Beatrice and Benedick into mutual declarations of love and the villainous luring of Claudio into the mistaken belief that his love, Hero, is unchaste. Fortunately the interference of a comical, bungling constable sets the wheels in motion for a happy ending. By deftly intertwining the two plots, Much Ado About Nothing mingles lightheartedness with a certain haunting sadness.

PERFORMANCES

Tickets for Much Ado about Nothing can be purchased online at www.secondstoryrep.org or by calling 425.881.6777 during box office hours (Tuesday-Saturday 1pm-5pm and two hours before every performance). Shows run February 4th through February 26th, 2011, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM on Feb 13th and 20th. A pay-what-you-can-preview will be held Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 8pm. Ticket prices are $25 general admission and $19 students/seniors/educators. Microsoft Prime Card and groups of 10 or more get 10% off ticket prices. Groups of 20 or more get 20% off ticket prices.

ABOUT SECONDSTORY REPERTORY

SecondStory Repertory has produced a full, year-round eclectic season of musicals, comedies, dramas, and children's theater since 1999, all in its intimate, 86-seat theater, next to Borders Books, upstairs in Redmond Town Center. It is much-loved for its musical productions like Fiddler on the Roof and Anything Goes as well as for its children's theater and comprehensive education programming. It is unique on the Eastside for its location, intimacy, and its dedicated troupe of professional actors, directors and designers.  More than 150 productions have been presented at SecondStory to date.