Summer of Shakespear: Babbling Brook Players present “Much Ado About Nothing”

Montebello, NY—Babbling Brook Players presents “Much Ado About Nothing”. Performances will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 29, 30 and 31 on the lawn at the Clark Recreation Center (59 Campbell Ave, Suffern, NY 10901); August 5, 6 and 7 on the lawn at the Montebello Village Hall (1 Montebello Rd, Montebello, NY 10901). Bring your lawn chair or a blanket. In case of inclement weather the shows will be performed at the Town of Ramapo Senior Community Center located at 319 Haverstraw Rd (corner of Route 202 and Mayer Dr), Suffern, NY 10901.
Additional indoor performances will be held on August 11 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Shades Repertory Theater (64 New Main St, Haverstraw, NY 10927) and August 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose Hall on the campus of Green Meadow Waldorf School (307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY). Admission is free but a suggested donation of $20 is welcomed.
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic play by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. Much Ado About Nothing is generally considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, because it combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honor, shame, and court politics.

The play tells the tale of Don Pedro (Glenn Woertz) and his men who have returned from war to stay at Leonato’s (Derek Tarson) house. Benedick (Bryan Jahnke) continues a prickly relationship with Leonato’s niece, Beatrice (Emily Schepker). Both solemnly declare they will never marry. Claudio (Joe Cleary) falls in love with Hero (Gabrielle DeNola), Leonato’s daughter. Don Pedro agrees to woo Hero for Claudio, at a reception that evening. Don John (Kevin Vislocky), Pedro’s bastard brother, plots with his two followers, Borachio (Joe Stern) and Connie (Jessica Jones) to do some wickedness.

The play is directed by Liana Bekker and Matt Masiello.

From there the characters fall in love, create confusion, scheme and provide the audience with laughter.

The artistic design team includes: producer, George Bekker; stage manager, Margo Vlahinich; art designer Samantha Crohn; props, costume and stage set up by Peter Manos; choreography by Christine Cavanagh.

Babbling Brook Players was founded by George and Liana Bekker. It is a community theater company with the purpose of bringing Shakespeare and other classic plays to the parks in Rockland County.