Much Ado About Nothing
Photography by Scott Levy

THE HUNGER ARTISTS THEATRE COMPANY OPENS
ITS 11th SEASON WITH A RAT PACK-INSPIRED
VERSION OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

January 12-February 11, 2007

FULLERTON, CA – The Hunger Artists Theatre Company raises the curtain on its 11^th season with an all-new, Rat Pack inspired interpretation of William Shakespeare’s “skirmish of wit” Much Ado About Nothing, adapted and directed by Glendele Way-Agle January 12-February 11, 2007.

Amber Scott and Ellis LaVere Davis as the dueling would-be lovers Beatrice and Benedick, head an all-star cast including Tony Acero, Katie Chidester, Leonard Joseph Dunham, Jeremy Gable, James Grant, Scott Manuel Johnson, Darcy Lythgoe, Jason Lythgoe, Garrett McDonald, MaryAnne Mosher and Tony Viramontes.

Scenic design for Much Ado About Nothing is by Sandi Sullivan. Leslie Barry designs

Costumes are by Cassendre de la Fortrie, with choreography by Susy Davis. Christina Acero and Glendele Way-Agle provide sound design. Acero serves as production stage manager, with Jessica Lynch as Assistant Stage Manager.

Performances for Much Ado About Nothing will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 7 pm. There will be a special $5 Thursday evening performance on February 8, 2007 at 8 pm

General admission tickets for Much Ado About Nothing are $18; senior and students (with valid ID) may purchase tickets for $15.  To reserve tickets, please call 714-680-6803. Patrons are encouraged to go to the company’s website at www.hungerartists.net for special discount offers. Tickets may be reserved online by emailing hungerartists@yahoo.com .  

First published in 1600, Much Ado About Nothing shares many characteristics with modern romantic comedies, and it remains one of Shakespeare’s most enduringly popular plays on stage. The play follow two pairs of lovers. Although the romance between Claudio and Hero ostensibly forms the main plot, the action is in fact primarily concerned with their counterparts, Benedick and Beatrice, whose love-hate relationship and witty bickering develops over the course of the play, forming a richly Shakespearean comic meditation on family, respect, deception and power.

Family, respect, deception, power: These might sound like descriptors for The Sopranos or The Godfather, but when director Way-Agle recognized them as key themes in Much Ado About Nothing, she decided those themes might fit well (and be more palatable to wider audiences) in Las Vegas … set in the swinging 1960’s era of The Rat Pack.

“Not only is it the concept a seamless fit, it’s also a lot of fun,” explains Way-Agle. “Governor Leonato becomes a ‘boss’ … the Duke and his men become the Rat Pack … and Las Vegas becomes the backdrop – hence all the partying, all the riches, and the shot-gun wedding of Claudio to Hero fits right in. This upbeat concept also allows for some fun additions, including making full use of the Rat Pack’s crooners.”

“The Hunger Artists are very excited to present this all-new adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing,” says Artistic Director Jeremy Gable. “From the world premiere production of Kristina Leach’s The Medea Project to our wildly successful adaptation of Marat.Sade, Glendele has shown that she has a gift for directing bold new interpretations of the classics. I am sure this stylish new production will be full of wit and insight.”

For more information about Much Ado About Nothing or The Hunger Artists Theatre Company’s 11th season, please visit www.hungersartists.com . Programming, dates and times are subject to change.

CAST               

Beatrice ……………… Amber Scott

Benedick …………….. Ellis LaVere Davis

Hero …………………. Darcy Lythgoe

Claudio ……………… Jason Lythgoe

Don Pedro …………...  Scott Manuel Johnson

Don John/Dogberry …. Jeremy Gable

Leonato/Watchman …. Leonard Joseph Dunham

Margaret ………….…  Katie Chidester

Ursula/Sexton …….…  MaryAnne Mosher

Borachio ………….…  James Grant

Verges/Friar ……….... Tony Viramontes

Balthasar/Conrad …....  Garrett McDonald

Watchman ……….….   Tony Acero