RLT Artistic Director Patrick Torres to Direct MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Opening 2/13

Patrick Torres, RLT's 14th Artistic Director, makes his directorial debut in Raleigh with Much Ado About Nothing, opening February 13th in the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre.

Torres brings a unique combination of professional and artistic achievement to this role. After receiving his BFA from Texas State University and MFA in Directing from the University of Southern Mississippi, he served as Directing Fellow and Teaching Artist at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC, and Associate Artistic Director at Young Playwrights' Theater. For the last three years, he was Program Director at the Austin, TX nonprofit, Creative Action. While at Young Playwrights' Theater, Patrick developed and directed a program that won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama and The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He was named a Young Leader of Color in 2008 by Theatre Communications Group.

"I chose Much Ado About Nothing not only because it's my favorite of Shakespeare's comedies, but also because it has never been produced at RLT. My vision, as the new artistic leader. is to honor this theatre's past while producing new projects that propel us into the future," said Torres.

Much Ado About Nothing is a part of the inaugural "Wherefore: Shakespeare in Raleigh" series. "Wherefore" is a convergence of arts organizations presenting work written or inspired by William Shakespeare from January through June 2015. It is sponsored by WUNC and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit http://www.visitraleigh.com/wherefore/. Other upcoming productions in this series include Seed Art Share's A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Raleigh Rose Garden (May 28 - June 6) and Bare Theatre's Macbeth in the Stephenson Amphitheatre at RLT (June 19 - 27).

The opening night sponsor of Much Ado is Crescent Cameron Village, which offers the pinnacle of refined apartment living. It is located only blocks from RLT.

RLT will announce the 2015-16 season, the first planned by Mr. Torres, the week of February 9th.

Tickets for all events at RLT can be purchased by calling the box office (919)-821-3111, Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m., or by visiting the theatre's website at www.raleighlittletheatre.org. Much Ado About Nothing runs from February 13 through March 1. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 3:00 p.m. There will be a student matinee on Wednesday, February 18.