Santa Cruz Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Opens 7/1

Santa Cruz Shakespeare opens its 2015 summer repertory season on Friday, July 1, 2015, at 8:00 pm with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in the Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen at the University of California. Performances run through August 30, 2015.

This production of Shakespeare's wittiest comedy has been set in 1940s California wine country and is directed by Laura Gordon. Scenic design is by Nina Ball, costume design is by B. Modern, sound design is by Rodolfo Ortega, and the co-lighting designers are Ray Oppenheimer and Kurt Landisman.

"We are especially excited about casting this year," says Artistic Director Mike Ryan, who filled half of all roles with women. "Gender equity is something in which I strongly believe and is central to our artistic aesthetic." For example, the patriarch of Messina in Much Ado, Leonato, will be played as a matriarch, Leonata. "Shakespeare was writing roles for an entirely male acting company, but there is no reason to suppose that he wouldn't want his plays to resonate as strongly as possible for a 21st century audience.

The cast features Ryan as 'Benedick" and Greta Wohlrabe, the star of last season's Merry Wives of Windsor, as 'Beatrice.' Other members of the cast include Patty Gallagher (Leonata), Suzanne Sturn (Antonia), Kipp Moorman (Don Pedro), Josh Saleh (Claudio), and Steve Pickering (Don John/Dogerry).

WHAT:
Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare, directed by Laura Gordon

WHEN:
Opening: July 3 playing through August 30.
Post-show discussions on August 1 and 15 (after matinee)
Evening performances start at 8:00 PM, matinee performances start at 2:00 PM.

WHERE:
Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen, UCSC Theater Arts Center: Empire Grade "West Entrance" to Heller Drive, to Meyer Dr.

TICKETS:
Online: www.santacruzshakespeare.org/tickets
By phone: 831-459-2159
Ticket Office Phone Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

TICKET PRICES:
$16 - $52 for single tickets.
Member tickets, group rates, student and senior discounts, and special preview prices are available. $20 Rush tickets are available one hour prior to performances.