Photos: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHIN' Opens This Weekend At A Noise Within

Hilarious, profound and all-around irresistible, William Shakespeare's quintessential rom-com, Much Ado About Nothing, gets the A Noise Within treatment as part of its "Daring to Love" season. Guillermo Cienfuegos directs for a February 11 opening at the company's home in Pasadena, where performances continue through March 12.

Claudio is pursuing the hand of the lovely young Hero. Meanwhile, Beatrice and Benedick want nothing of love. Beatrice and Benedick's verbal jousts are witty and sharp, each one calculated to wound. Yet, beneath their animosity lies a mutual attraction that neither dares confess - until circumstances force them to admit their true love. Filled with romance, intrigue and surprising plot twists, Much Ado About Nothing is the ultimate screwball comedy, a precursor to those famous movies of the '30s and '40s.

"Watching the journey these two people take, from hate and distrust to honest love, is just delicious," says ANW co-artistic director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. "These are formidable characters with their crackling wit, huge hearts and volcanic emotions. They have to struggle against the notion that to be in a relationship is to lose oneself, and that Yin and Yang is revelatory."

"It's scary to make yourself vulnerable - to love, and to allow yourself to be loved." agrees Cienfuegos. "I don't think there's a person in this world who can't relate to that. This play gets that message across in a very funny way."

Retaining Shakespeare's original setting in Sicily, A Noise Within moves the time period forward to World War II, just after the island's liberation from the Fascists by U.S. forces.

"It gives us a lot to play with in terms of set, costumes and music, which will be whimsical and great fun," Cienfuegos says. "It's also a fitting backdrop for the contrast of the play's broadly comedic elements with some of the darker aspects of the story."

Starring in the roles of Much Ado's four lovers are Erika Soto as Beatrice, Joshua Bitton as Benedick, Alexandra Hellquist as Hero and Stanley Andrew Jackson III as Claudio. The rest of the cast includes Rafael Goldstein as Don John, Wes Mann as Dogberry, Tony Pasqualini as Leonato, Nick Petroccione as Balthasar, Fredrick Stuart as Don Pedro, Randy Thompson as Friar Francis, Jeanne Syquia as Margaret and Michael Uribes as Borachio. Also featured in the ensemble are Alejandro Hernandez and Arely Vianet.

The creative team for Much Ado About Nothing includes scenic designer Angela Balogh Calin; lighting designer Ken Booth; composer and sound designer Christopher Moscatiello; costume designer Christine Cover Ferro; wig and make up designer Tony Valdés; properties designer Stephen Taylor; choreographer Joyce Guy; text coach Susan Wilder; and dramaturg Miranda Johnson-Haddad. The production stage manager is Chloe Willey.

A Noise Within has been called "an oasis for those who love classic stories" by the Los Angeles Times and is a leading regional producer based in Pasadena, California. ANW's award-winning resident company is committed to representing the entire community at its state-of-the-art, 324-seat performance space. In addition to producing world-class performances of classic theater, the organization runs robust education programs with the goal of inspiring diverse audiences of all ages. ANW believes in working hard on its anti-racist practice across the whole organization. By interpreting its mission to fully engage audiences through community and artist-centered work in multiple creative disciplines, ANW is striving to be a theater that better serves the entire community.

Lead sponsors for Much Ado About Nothing are James and Trevessa Terrile. Co-sponsors are Chris Burt and Tieu-My Nguyen, with post-show conversations sponsored by Patricia and Lawrence Sparks and student matinees sponsored by Leilani Jones Wilmore. The production is made possible in part by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division.

Performances of Much Ado About Nothing take place February 11 through March 12 on Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Feb. 11). There will be one additional, weeknight performance on Thursday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Post-performance conversations with the artists will take place every Friday during the run (Feb. 17, Feb. 24, March 3, March 10) and on Sunday, Feb. 19. An INsiders Discussion Group will be held on Tuesday, February 21, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Zoom ($38 per individual or $45 per household). There will be six student matinees at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15; Wednesday, Feb. 22; Thursday, Feb. 23; Tuesday, Feb. 28; Wednesday, March 1; and Thursday, March 2. Interested educators should email education@anoisewithin.org.

Tickets start at $25. Student tickets start at $18. Tickets to the preview on Thursday, February 9 will be Pay What You Choose, with tickets starting at $5 (available online beginning at 12 p.m. the Monday prior to that performance). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

A Noise Within is located at 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (626) 356-3100 or go to www.anoisewithin.org.