Much Ado About Nothing at Electric Company Theatre

Electric Company Theatre will present Shakespeare’s classic Much Ado About Nothing in a pop-up style Italian restaurant called “Leonato’s Trattoria” in the Muckenthaler Cultural Center’s Center Circle Courtyard October 21 - November 13. A ninety-minute cutting of the comedy will take place under the cafe lights with dining and viewing-only ticket options available. In this modern-day take, Leonato’s villa in Messina is now Leonato’s Trattoria in Oceanside California, his household are now the waiting staff, the soldiers returning from war are returning to Camp Pendleton, and the famous masquerade ball scene is now an 80’s night party at the restaurant. 

Much Ado About Nothing will be directed by ECT Co-Artistic Director Brian Johnson with choreography by Emily Taylor. Co-Artistic Director Callie Prendiville Johnson adapted the script, and will play Beatrice opposite Bobby Gonzalez as Benedick. 

About the story: Claudio loves Hero and Hero Claudio and nothing seems capable of keeping them apart. Claudio's friend Benedick loves Beatrice and Beatrice Benedick, but (because neither will admit it) nothing seems capable of bringing them together. Only the intrigues of a resentful prince force Benedick to prove his love for Beatrice. ECT’s Much Ado About Nothing is a bittersweet take on this classic love story, set amid the hypertension of an Italian restaurant.

There will be two tables in the center of the courtyard that will receive a pre-fixe Italian meal throughout the course of the show (Show and Dinner Ticket) and then a row of chairs around the perimeter of the courtyard that will be viewing only tickets that do not include the meal (Show Only Ticket). The entire play will take place in the courtyard.

Directed by Brian Johnson, adapted by Callie Prendiville Johnson, choreography by Emily Taylor, stage managed by Kayla Beining, costume design by Tana Carmichael, scenic design by Brian Johnson. In the event of rain, the show will go on and will be performed in the gallery of The Muck. 

The cast includes: Bobby Gonzalez as Benedick, Callie Prendiville Johnson as Beatrice, Aaron Hunt as Leonato, Wesley Chavez as Don Pedro, Jonathan Herrera as Claudio, Emma Camille Ignacio as Hero, Walter Gray IV as Dogberry, Roberto Williams as Don John, Patrick Peterson as the Friar, Jose Orozco as Verges, Aura Rico as Margaret, Michael Reehl as Conrade, and Emily Taylor as Ursula. 

Much Ado About Nothing  will be performed at 7:00pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings October 21 - November 13 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center: 1201 N Malvern Ave, Fullerton CA 92833. Tickets are available for purchase for $50 plus fees for a Show and Dinner Ticket or $35 plus fees for a Show Only Ticket at electriccompanytheatre.org. 

Authors

• William Shakespeare

Tony Awards and Nominations for Much Ado About Nothing