Much Ado About Nothing

"For man is a giddy thing…" — William Shakespeare

— Mark Brotherton

William Shakespeare wrote Much Ado About Nothing around 1598. Since then, the play has been performed and adapted countless times, from stage productions set in India (starring Judi Dench and Donald Sinden, 1976) to Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 film adaptation (starring Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton). While Much Ado has a much more diverse history now, its original casts were almost exclusively white men. In 2015, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissioned 36 playwrights to adapt Shakespeare’s plays into modern English through their Play On! project. Of these playwrights, over half were women and over half playwrights of color. The hope was that their new “translations” would inspire audiences and readers to revisit Shakespeare’s works with greater appreciation and understanding. It is with these same goals in mind that Theatre UCF presents a virtual reading of British playwright Ranjit Bolt’s English language translation of Much Ado, a refreshing take on Shakespeare’s original.

When looking at Theatre UCF’s Fall 2020 season as a whole, Much Ado About Nothing seems out of place. How does a 400 year-old romantic comedy fit into a season that otherwise explores and exposes the uncomfortable reality of the world we live in? However, if we closely examine Much Ado in context, we can unearth the play’s potential to serve as social commentary in 2020. Firstly, this show provides us the opportunity to question traditional gender roles and how they are still pervasive today. By using Ranjit Bolt’s modern translation rather than Shakespeare’s original text, the omnipresence of patriarchal values  stare us in the face even more obviously. While Beatrice is a unique female character, given her security in herself and her disregard for social norms, Much Ado is hardly a feminist piece. Director Mark Brotherton’s decision to gender-flip the role of Don John adds another layer of intersectionality and complicates a character that already harbors a lot of resentment and dissatisfaction - and perhaps provides a stronger dramatic motive for Don John’s feelings. From the extreme emphasis and importance of Hero’s virginity to the symbolism of Don John’s illegitimate existence, the differing standards to which society holds different groups of people are clear. This theme — how people with power treat people without it — is evident across Theatre UCF’s season, whether it is based on their race, their gender, or any other aspect of who they are.

Producing and translating Shakespeare in 2020 presents an opportunity to look within ourselves and our society and the many ways that humans are still very much the same. Love, gossip, pride, honor and the patriarchy play large roles in both our world and the world of the show. Although Much Ado’s comedic title refers to a big fuss over nothing, there is a lot to contemplate and reexamine through a 2020 lens. While Shakespeare might feel like ancient history, the themes of Much Ado About Nothing are far from a thing of the past.

— Mia Strickland

Reese Abrahamoff (Verges, U/S Conrade, U/S Dogberry, U/S Sexton, U/S Second Watchman (Seacoal)) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is his Theatre UCF debut. Other theatre credits include Spring Awakening (Moritz) and Newsies (Crutchie). He will also be seen in Project Spotlight’s production of T19-EC (Max). Instagram: reese.abrahamoff

Lyssi Antrim (U/S Hero) is a sophomore in the BFA Acting program. She was last seen on the Theatre UCF stage in The Rover (Masquerader, u/s Florinda). Some of her other favorite credits include Pippin (Catherine), The Bald Soprano (Mrs. Smith), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaff). She also works in entertainment at Walt Disney World.

Andre Braza (Sexton, U/S Leonato, U/S Antonio) is a freshman in the MFA Acting program. He most recently performed in Celebrate TYA’s staged reading of El Viaje de Beatriz (Zeno, Izquierda).

Alexa Comeau (Hero) is a senior Musical Theatre student. She was previously in Theatre UCF’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble), Of Thee I Sing (Ensemble), Titanic: The Musical at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2019 (Mme Aubart) and the student-produced staged reading of new work Claire’s Johnny (Counselor, Swing) and Terence Lee’s MFA thesis project of Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince). She also makes magic as a performer at Walt Disney World.

Jonathan Gardon (Messenger, U/S Verges, U/S First Watchman) is a freshman in the BFA Acting program. This is his first Theatre UCF credit. He will be seen in Project Spotlight’s production of Escape from Reality (Carlos). Instagram: @jonathan.gardon

Alyssa Góngora (U/S Ursula) is a second-year BFA Acting student. She has previously performed with Theatre UCF in El Wiz (Burjita Buena) at Pegasus PlayLab 2019. Other theatre credits include Second Circle (Rachel Layton) in Project Spotlight’s one act play festival, Steel Magnolias (Shelby Eatenton), and Hamlet with nontraditional casting (Horatio). Instagram: @alyssa.gongora

Athena Jean-Étienne (Beatrice) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. She was previously in Theatre UCF productions of Blood at the Root (Raylynn), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble), Titanic: The Musical (Ensemble/S Caroline Neville), and Hot Mikado (U/S Katisha). Some of her favorite theatre credits include Into the Woods (The Witch), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmerelda).

Christopher Hancock (Claudio) is a junior in the BFA Acting program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble), Titanic: The Musical (Bellboy) and Of Mice and Men (Curly). He is also a part of the sketch comedy group Quadruple Stuffed Oreos.

Melissa Manrique (Ursula) is a third-year student in the BFA Acting program. This is her first mainstage production for Theatre UCF. Previous theatre credits include Claire’s Johnny (Claire) and Sheba (Lenaya). She also directs. Her most recent directing credit is T19-EC, a one-act produced by Project Spotlight.

Tori Micaletti (U/S Beatrice) is a first year in the MFA Acting program. Previous theatre credits include Heathers (Heather Macnamara), Junie B in Jingle Bells Batman Smells (May), A Peter Rabbit Tale (Flopsy/Nutkin) and Kiss Me Kate (Ensemble, U/S Lois).

Gabriella Montuoro (U/S Margaret) is a second-year transfer student in the BFA Acting program. She was previously in Theatre UCF’s #GodHatesYou (Grace). Previous credits include Rumors (Chris), The Polar Express Train Ride (Steward 1) and Noises Off (Brooke Ashton).

Paul Pelletier Jr. (Second Watchman (Seacoal), U/S Messenger) is a sophomore in the Acting BFA program. His Theatre UCF debut was The Rover (Risky, U/S Don Antonio) and has done multiple shows with Project Spotlight, including The Graduation Party (Cory) and We’ll See (Kyle, Sam, Nathan, Evan). Instagram: @pablo_le_spam

Sammy Pontello (Leonato) is a fourth-year transfer student in the B.A. Theatre Studies program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include Urinetown (Cladwell), A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble, U/S D’Ysquith Family), #GodHatesYou (Rabbi Cohen) and Titanic: The Musical (Pitman/The Major/4th Man, U/S Ismay). Other credits include Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri with UCF Opera and The Arkansaw Bear with Celebrate TYA. Instagram: fantasticsamm

Giuseppe Michael Pipicella (Don Pedro, U/S Benedick) is in his first year of the MFA Acting program. His past credits include Diana of Dobson’s, Hedda Gabler and Doctor Faustus at UNCW; Billy Elliot, Fun Home, and The Laramie Project in Wilmington, NC; and The Children’s Hour at Rose Bruford in England.

Andres Procel (Conrade, U/S Don Pedro, U/S Borachio) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Acting program. Prior Theatre UCF credits include Blood at the Root (U/S Colin), The Rover (Officer, Masquerader, U/S Don Pedro, U/S Page to Belvile) and Sweat (U/S Stan).

Joseph Quintana (Friar Francis) is in the MFA Acting program and has collaborated under theatrical, operatic, and musical stages alike. Studying violin at an early age gave him the discipline to explore other mediums of entertainment. This musical background led to further development in the vocal arts and earned collaborations with El Paso Opera, Austin Opera, Chicago Lyric, and the Zach Theatre. He is often sought for new and devised work and innovative interpretations of classical and contemporary theatre.

Hayley Sanz (Margaret) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. She was last in Theatre UCF’s production of Hot Mikado (Swing). Other theatre credits include Titanic: The Musical (Kate Mullins/Madeleine Astor), Into the Woods (Little Red) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive).

Will Sippel (Dogberry) is a junior in the BFA Acting program. Previous roles at Theatre UCF include Urinetown (Mr. McQueen), #GodHatesYou (Joshua), Sweat (U/S Jason), and Of Mice and Men (U/S Candy). Will is also a member of Theatre UCF’s improv and sketch comedy troupe Quadruple Stuffed Oreos, and was the playwright of Project Spotlight’s The Underground Game.

Drew Stark (Borachio, U/S Don John, U/S Friar Francis) is a first-year in the MFA Acting program. He premiered in the Celebrate TYA production of El Viaje de Beatriz (Narrator). Professional credits include Young Frankenstein (Frederick), CATS (Rum Tum Tugger), The Diary of Anne Frank (Mr. van Daan) and Damn Yankees (Applegate). A fight director/choreographer, he was awarded two grants by the Mississippi Arts Commission. @drewstarkactor

Jameson William Stobbe (First Watchman, U/S Claudio) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is his first Theatre UCF credit. Some of his favorite previous theatre credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear) and Noises Off! (Frederick Fellowes). He loves to create and edit funny videos with his friends that you can find on his Instagram, @jamesonstobbe.

Kent Miller Stowers (Antonio) is a senior in the BA Theatre Studies program. This is his debut in a Theatre UCF production, though many Knights may recognize him for his performance with the UCF a capella group the Crescendudes and his interactive performance for social change work as the “UCF Jedi.” A fan of theatre both musical and absurd, he plans to pursue teaching after graduation. Twitter and Facebook: @UCFJedi

Sterling Street (Benedick) is a first-year in the MFA Acting cohort. A few of his favorite professional theatre credits include: Into The Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Gabe Green), Peter and The Starcatcher (Cpt. Robert Falcon Scott), and It's a Wonderful Life (George Bailey). sterlingstreetactor.com

Emily Williams (Don John) is a third-year transfer in the BFA Acting program. Her previous work with Theatre UCF includes The Rover (Masquerader, U/S Lucetta), Sweat (U/S Tracey), and The Last Paving Stone (U/S Dolor, Rama, Hizzonor). She is also a member of the improv and sketch comedy group Quadruple Stuffed Oreos. Instagram: @EmilyWillilliams.

Megan Ianero (Stage Manager, she/her) is a second-year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management program. This is her second production with Theatre UCF after working on Sweat last year. Her other professional credits include Incognito (Assistant Stage Manager), Wakey, Wakey (Assistant Stage Manager), Stalking (Stage Manager) and Dike (Assistant Stage Manager) at Urbanite Theatre.

Isa Jones (Assistant Director) is a junior double majoring in the BFA Acting and Digital Media programs. With Theatre UCF, she was part of Blood at the Root (Asha) this season. Other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia) and Into the Woods (Little Red). She has directed Vagina Monologues for UCF Victim Services, We’ll See with Project Spotlight, and a short film, Mean It. Instagram: @isaajoness

Autumn Kreidler (Co-Sound Designer) is a third-year in the BFA Design and Technology program. Her previous Theatre UCF credits include Titanic: The Musical (A2), They Must Be Women Now! (Lighting and Sound Designer), #GodHatesYou (Assistant to the Sound Designer/Sound Board Operator), Water by the Spoonful (Assistant Master Electrician), and The Rover (Assistant Sound Designer).

Madalyn Nave (Assistant Stage Manager) is a second-year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management program. In their first year they were the Production Assistant in Water By The Spoonful at Theatre UCF. Prior to UCF, they received their A.A. degree at Daytona State College, where they stage managed the college’s production of Avenue Q in spring of 2019. They also were the assistant stage manager for Beth Marshall Presents’ girl. at the Orlando Fringe Festival the summer of 2019.

Jordan Simon (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore in the BFA Stage Management program. Her previous work with Theatre UCF includes Water by the Spoonful (Board Operator) and the UCF Celebrates the Arts 2019 festival (Production Assistant).

Mia Strickland (Dramaturg) is a senior in the B.A. Theatre Studies program. She has worked at Orlando REP, Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center, and Ruth Eckerd Hall. Following graduation she will be pursuing an M.A. in Arts Administration.