Photos: Frog and Peach Present MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Shakespeare's comedy "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING," one of his most popular comedies, concerns a pair of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are due to be married in a week. To pass the time before their wedding day, they conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for one another. The prince's illegitimate brother, Don John, however, jealous of both Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, plans to sabotage the coming wedding.

The cast for "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING" is: David Arthur Bachrach (Antonio), Anny Baquero (Margaret), Ross Beshear (Benedick), Kyle Cheng (Oatcake), Nick Ciavarella (Seacoal), Lenny Ciotti (Claudio), Dennis Demitry (Friar), Eric Doss (Dogberry), Eric Dysart (Verges), Michael Piazza (Borachio), Vivien Landau (Ursula), Kaitlin Large (Beatrice), Dan Lendzian (Conrade), Moti Margolin (Don Pedro), Jean-Francois Ogoubiyi (Sexton), Harry Oram (Balthazar), Hannah Owens (Hero), Joseph W. Rodriguez (Don John), and Kevin G. Shinnick (Leonato). The set and lighting design is designed by Jak Prince, the costumes by Laura Taber Bacon, and the choreography is by Tom Knutsen. Jenna Lazar serves as Associate Producer. Frog & Peach Theatre Company (www.frogandpeachtheatre.org), co-founded by Ted Zurkowski and Lynnea Benson-both Actors Studio alumni, is dedicated to staging Shakespeare's plays in shorter format (under two and a half hours) and enjoyable for audiences of all ages.

The final weekend schedule for "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING" will be: Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. All tickets will be $18.00. The box office number for tickets is 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com.

PHOTOS BY: Jim Baldassare