Shakespeare’s comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” will be touring throughout the Midwest this spring, bringing Shakespeare in the Park to communities for free this May and early June.
The Stone Soup Shakespeare acting troupe will return to Harrisburg District Library 6 p.m. May 11, co-sponsored by the Shakespeare Reading Group and the Friends of the Library. This event is free to the public and features Harrisburg's own Laila Abdo in the cast. Attendees should bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Tour director, Jeri Frederickson of Chicago is setting this year’s performance in a punk world filled with rock ‘n’ roll, miscommunication and rash emotions.
Jeri Frederickson joins Stone Soup Shakespeare from Chicago and brings with her expertise in Shakespeare, poetry and new play development. She is excited to bring “Much Ado About Nothing” claiming “it delights and tickles my funny bone while also showing me just how outrageous perfectly rational people can be.”
The play itself has been recently popularized by director Joss Whedon in a black and white contemporary film. There also exists a slightly older, but much revered, 1993 version featuring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. In keeping with the spirit of the children’s story, Stone Soup, from which the company takes its name, audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, which will be collected and donated, to local food banks in the tour region. In addition to bringing food to donate we also encourage audiences to bring their own picnics to share with their friends and family while sharing in the evening of entertainment and community.
The cast includes: Laila Abdo (Don Pedro), Kim Curlee (Leonato), Emily Green (Hero/Dogberry), Ken Miller (Benedick), Ryan Negron (Claudio), Julia Stemper (Beatrice), Brittany Stock (Margaret/Priest) and Dan Wenzel Jr. (Don John).
Jeffrey Golde and Julia Stemper founded Stone Soup Shakespeare in 2010. Its mission is to bring free professional theater to areas without access to it. Developed during Stemper’s time studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the company continues to present theater events in both the US and UK. Stone Soup’s first tour was a production of Romeo and Juliet in 2011. It was seen in 3 states during a one-week tour and included professional actors from England, Scotland, New York, Chicago and the Southern Illinois region who have appeared off-Broadway, Regionally and on National and International tours. The subsequent tours have expanded the company’s reach and artistic partners, increased audience size and expanded its educational programs.
The 2015 tour is partially supported by the Carbondale Community Arts Southern Arts Fund and by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
