The Public's Much Ado About Nothing

The Public's Much Ado About Nothing

Comedy | Nov. 22, 2019

This bold interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece features Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) and Grantham Coleman (“Buzzer,” “The Americans”) as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“American Son,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) directs with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown (“Choir Boy”). Set in contemporary Georgia with an election race underway, Great Performances: Much Ado About Nothing finds the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war, but not all is peaceful amid the merriment. Former rivals battle it out, revenge is sought and trickery runs amok in this timeless comedy of romantic retribution and miscommunication. Earning a New York Times Critic’s Pick, the play was recorded during its final weekend of Free Shakespeare in the Park performances, June 22-23, 2019.

The Public's Much Ado About Nothing

Comedy | Nov. 22, 2019

The Public's Much Ado About Nothing
This bold interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece features Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) and Grantham Coleman (“Buzzer,” “The Americans”) as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“American Son,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) directs with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown (“Choir Boy”). Set in contemporary Georgia with an election race underway, Great Performances: Much Ado About Nothing finds the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war, but not all is peaceful amid the merriment. Former rivals battle it out, revenge is sought and trickery runs amok in this timeless comedy of romantic retribution and miscommunication. Earning a New York Times Critic’s Pick, the play was recorded during its final weekend of Free Shakespeare in the Park performances, June 22-23, 2019.
Producers Thirteen, Great Performances, The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director), The Public Theatre
Original title The Public's Much Ado About Nothing
Directors David Horn, Kenny Leon
Writers William Shakespeare

Cast

Danielle Brooks

as Beatrice

Grantham Coleman

as Benedick

Chuck Cooper

as Leonato

Erik LaRay Harvey

as Antonio/Verges

Kai Heath

as Messenger

Jamar Brathwaite

as Ensemble

Jeremie Harris

as Claudio

Daniel Croix

as Balthasar

Tyrone Mitchell Henderson

as Friar Francis/Sexton

Lateefah Holder

as Dogberry

Billy Eugene Jones

as Don Pedro

Margaret Odette

as Hero

Hubert Point-Du Jour

as Don John

Jaime Lincoln Smith

as Borachio

Khiry Walker

as Conrade/Ensemble

Olivia Washington

as Margaret