NYSX Tackles Fake News in Timely MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Urban Stages

New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX), a theatre company that boldly popularizes Shakespeare for diverse, contemporary audiences, is having its way with Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing." Ross Williams' timely adaptation, in which friends and rivals traffic in fake news to advance their agendas, takes up residence at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, from Friday, February 17 through Sunday, March 5. The Off-Off-Broadway opening is set for Sunday, February 19 at 3pm.

Shakespeare's beloved comedy, written in 1598-99, in which matters of state are dangerously marred by the hedonism and self-seeking of several power-lusting influencers, is clearly ripe for this stylishly contemporary adaptation. Williams' pared-down version, set in a world in which technology and virtual reality provide a fitting meta-context, focuses on the speed at which information travels, and the danger of jumping to conclusions based on that info.

According to Williams: "The connection point for contemporary audiences is the fake news cycle. The characters in the play hear things and believe them without questioning, and eventually the results are catastrophic. We are definitely embracing the comedy of the show, but there is a palpable reference to our current cynicism about the news, and our apparent eagerness to twist the facts to suit our needs."

Of course Shakespeare filled his comedy with a host of mistaken identities, ironic deceptions, mask wearing, spying, and acts of infidelity for the fun of it. Williams takes it a step further by setting the play, with the design team, in "a sort of high-fashion, Silicon Valley playground in which the more nefarious tricks of deceit and conceit are bolstered by social media and the Internet." (It may be worth noting that Shakespeare played off the double meaning of 'nothing' -- both the absence of something and the act of noting (pronounced the same) i.e. trading in rumor and gossip.)

"Much Ado About Nothing's" cast of nine includes Carey Van Driest* as Beatrice, Devin Haqq* (Benedick); Cory O'Brien-Pniewski* (Claudio); Kim Krane* (Hero); Christopher Randolph* (Leonato); Amanda Barron* (Antonia); RJ Foster* (Don Pedro); Sam Leichter* (Don John/Dogberry); and DeAnna Supplee (Borachio) (*members of Actors Equity).

The production design team includes Jason Lajka (scenic design), Jason Fok (lighting), Elivia Bovenzi (costumes), and Matt Otto (sound). Gabriela Gowdie is the production stage manager. Charles Graytok is the producer; Ian Potter is the technical director/props master; Shane Breaux is the dramaturg.

In March, NYSX tours this production and its current ShakesBEER Pub Crawl (featuring the same cast) to locations outside NYC, which will mark the launch of its new community engagement initiative, "Intersections." The model, which will be offered first in Texas and Alabama, is designed to integrate various factions of a community -- local businesses, colleges and high schools, and social groups -- to create a mini Shakespeare festival that engages all members of a community regardless of their comfort with theatre or Shakespeare. The work will target students and professionals, white-collar and blue-collar workers, art lovers and Shakespeare neophytes -- all with the goal of promoting fun and entertaining social interaction.

"Intersections," a one-week Bard immersion, incorporates a number of events, including a ShakesBEER Pub Crawl; a 48-hour film contest in which local artists create films of a Shakespeare sonnet; and two performances of the new staging of "Much Ado About Nothing."

NYSX's latest edition of its popular community-building, immersive "ShakesBEER" pub crawls performs again on Saturday January 21 at 3pm, in four bars in the Financial District. NY Shakespeare Exchange's widely acclaimed The Sonnet Project, which pairs filmmakers from around the world with actors to film short films based on all 154 Shakespeare sonnets, now has a remarkable catalog of films (just under 120 so far) that can be viewed at www.sonnetprojectnyc.org.

In the fall, NYSX presented a highly praised modern dramatization of Shakespeare's epic poem, "The Rape of Lucrece." Last season, NYSX's unusual ensemble staging of "Hamlet" -- called "Hamlet10" -- featured 10 actors -- representing a spectrum of ages, ethnicities and gender orientations -- all playing the role of the Danish prince at once.

"Much Ado About Nothing's" exclusive three-week engagement at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street (between 7th & 8th Avenues), performs from Friday February 17 at 7:30pm to Sunday March 5 at 3pm. (13 performances.) The schedule is Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat at 7:30pm and Sun at 3pm. Tickets, which are $25, are available by phone by calling 917/428-0065, or online at www.shakespeareexchange.org.