Jeremy Dubin as Benedick & Miranda McGee as Beatrice. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.
CINCINNATI, October 28, 2016 — Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues their 2016-2017 mainstage season with Shakespeare’s beloved comedy MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, playing November 18- December 10, 2016. This production is directed by CSC Artistic Associate Sara Clark and features the entire Cincinnati Shakespeare Resident Ensemble including Jeremy Dubin, Miranda McGee, Geoffrey Barnes, and Billy Chace. This production is sponsored by Frost Brown Todd and Messer.
Beatrice (Miranda McGee) and Benedick (Jeremy Dubin) are perfect for each other – it’s a pity they can’t stand each other. Their friends make it their mission to tame the pair’s warring wits and trick them into falling hopelessly in love. Meanwhile, the conniving Don John (Geoffrey Barnes) schemes to slander the honor of Hero (Maggie Lou Rader), Beatrice’s virtuous cousin, and destroy her coming marriage. Only the combined wit of Beatrice and Benedick – as well as a well-timed intervention by the bumbling constabulary, led by Dogberry (Billy Chace) – can save the day. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING features zingy repartee, dastardly villains, and warm-hearted romance, and it’s the perfect choice for a chilly winter night!
“It’s a dream come true to play Beatrice on this stage,” says Miranda McGee. “I’ve always identified with her. I feel like everything she goes through as a character, with her sharpness and then her softening as she finds love, I’ve gone through as a person. Also, I’ve grown so much as a performer in my time with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and I’m so excited to play this role in front of the audience that has watched me grow up.” Director Sara Clark says of the play, “It’s smart and sexy, charming and delightful, rife with opportunities for shtick but not reliant on them. The play is a beautiful confection, with some actual substance in its middle.”
The production is set in the time period following the Revolutionary War and features modern design pops in costume and prop pieces to keep the show fun, festive, and fresh. The production is a great choice for the whole family.
Performances of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING are scheduled from November 18- December 10, 2016 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. No show on Thanksgiving Nov. 25, show added Saturday Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. There is no performance on Sunday Nov. 20. Preview performances are on Wednesday Nov. 18 and Thursday Nov. 19 at 7:30pm and tickets are $25.
The theater is currently located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$38 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$42 on Fridays and Saturdays. Previews are $25. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased one hour before a show with a valid student ID. This production is a part of this season’s subscription package. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Currently located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. In the summer of 2017, the theater will relocate to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in OTR. CSC’s repertoire is made up of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theater Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached over 50,000 young people and underserved community members each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the classics!
About The 2016-2017 Season:
This season is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Production dates and information on the season are available online at www.cincyshakes.com.
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