Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a titillating comedy in which two of his best characters, the intelligent, witty Beatrice matches wits with the droll, cynical Benedick. Their duel of love, a verbal sparring match, engages us throughout a love story involving Beatrice’s cousin Hero and Benedick’s friend Claudio that goes awry when Hero is falsely accused of betrayal. It takes the comic Constable Dogberry and his hilarious troops to uncover the truth. And it takes true love for Benedick to believe in Beatrice’s loyalty to Hero and to commit himself to her course of action. Much Ado may seem to be about nothing, but it is essentially about the attractions of a woman’s mind and character on a perennial bachelor. It is a lighthearted romp rooted in the depth of the battle of the sexes.
Director: Bryna Wortman
Cast size: 4 Women, 20 Men
Required: Prepare a 1 to 2 minute monologue from a Shakespeare Play (preferably a comedy) expressing strong thoughts and/or feelings or presenting a strong point of view. Please read the entire play prior to your audition. Copies of the script are available in the URI Theatre Office. Be prepared to read sides at the auditions; definitely at callbacks.
Auditions: Sunday, Feb. 3 from 1-6 pm, G Studio (Juniors & Seniors)
Monday, Feb. 4 from 4-8 pm, J Studio
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your audition.
Callbacks: Sunday, Feb. 10 from 1-6 pm in Robert E. Will Theatre.
Rehearsals: Tuesday through Friday evenings 6-10 or 7-11 pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons 1-5 PM, possibly Sunday evenings. Limited
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, February 26. Full rehearsals begin Tuesday, March 5.
Performances: Thursdays – Saturdays, April 18-20 and 25-27 at 7:30PM
Sundays, April 21 and 28 at 3PM