Much Ado About Nothing

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Theatre and Drama / University Theatre Presents Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare April 16-26, 2026 Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre Directed by Baron Kelly About the Play The quintessential romantic comedy. Sparks fly when the mutually disdainful Beatrice and Benedick engage in their war of words against marriage and each other. Against the backdrop of the impending wedding of young lovers Hero and Claudio, the friends of Beatrice and Benedick scheme to bring the sharp-tongued antagonists into a “mountain of affection.” Deception, reversals, and outright villainy threaten to ruin the nuptials but love triumphs over all with wit, merriment, and charm. Content Advisory: This production contains themes of misogyny, emotional manipulation, and public shaming. It includes references to sex, deception, and staged death, as well as scenes of verbal aggression and implied threats of violence. Creative Team • Director: Dr. Baron Kelly o Professor of Acting UW-Madison Department of Theatre and Drama. Dr. Kelly is a four-time Fulbright Scholar who has worked nationally and internationally on Broadway, regional theatre, and in television and film. He trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is widely published author and sits on numerous editorial boards including The Harold Pinter Review and the Comparative Drama Conference. • Intimacy Director: Audrey Lauren Standish (UW-Madison Dept. of Theatre and Drama Teaching Faculty) • Fight Director: Whitney Derendinger (UW-Madison theatre alumni, Madison-based actor and fight director) • Stage Manager: Lucy Cowen (student, Theatre major) • Assistant Stage Managers: Zoe Heiser (student, Theatre major), Shuhan Li (student, Theatre major), Simran Mahal (student) • Scenic Designer/Technical Director: Rob Wagner (UW-Madison Dept. of Theatre and Drama Teaching Faculty) • Lighting Designer: Jove Stueber (student, Theatre major) • Costume Designer: Willa Peterson (student, Theatre certificate) • Sound Designer: Isabel White (UW-Madison theatre alumni, Madison-based designer) Cast • Don Pedro: Christian Carter (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Don John: Nikolas Valcin (student; Theatre major – Acting Option) • Benedick: Logan Vennemann (student, Theatre certificate) • Claudio: Dylan Juni (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Balthasar: Caleb Clark (student, Theatre certificate) • Borachio: Alan Tejada Montero (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Conradine: Catie Bair (student) • Leonato: Greyson Geiger (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Hero: Ella Price (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Beatrice: Malika Daikawa (student, Theatre major) • Margaret: Marissa Lutzow (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Ursula: Maria Kolb (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Dogberry: Andrew Thompson (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) • Verges: Mehmet Ercan (student, Theatre certificate) • Friar Francis: Christopher Conkle (student, Theatre major) • Sexton: Amelia Thupvong (student, Theatre certificate) • Ensemble/Watch: Amelia Bazett-Jones (student, Theatre major), Joseph Bolden (student, Theatre major), Will Grady (student, Theatre major), Noelle Sheen (student, Theatre major – Acting Option) For more information visit https://theatre.wisc.edu/ This production is made possible with support from the Anonymous Block Grant. Performances will be held April 16-26, 2026 in the Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre, Vilas Hall 821 University Avenue Madison WI 53706. Performance times are as follows: 4/16/2026 7:30 PM - Preview 4/17/26 7:30 PM 4/18/26 2:00 PM 4/18/26 7:30 PM 4/19/26 2:00 PM 4/23/26 7:30 PM 4/24/2026 10:00:00 AM - Student Matinee (contact Scot Shepley [email protected] for more information) 4/25/26 2:00 PM 4/25/26 7:30 PM 4/26/26 2:00 PM Ticket Prices: $28 Adult $23 Senior (62 +) $23 UW Faculty/Staff (ID) $10 UW Students and other College Students (ID) $10 Children (K-12) $17 Group Sales (10 tickets or more) To Order Tickets: 1. Call 608-265-2787 (Open M-F 2-6 PM) 2. Online www.artsticketing.wisc.edu 3. Walk up sales: Mitchell Theatre Lobby Box Office opens 1 hour prior to performances for walk up sales.

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