Experience Much Ado About Nothing On The Air and YouTube
Published: October 02, 2020 | Author: Ashley H Pollock | Read Time: 3 minutes
Experience the Arts in a way you never imagined! SUU’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration is bringing back the days of live radio performances with Much Ado About Nothing on October 8 and 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. on SUU’s Thunder 91.1. The production can also be found on YouTube at https://bit.ly/2HQErBI on October 8, 9, and 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
Brian Vaughn, Artistic Director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Director of this production, shares, “Nothing compares to a ‘live’ theatrical experience. So while we are providing the play within an audio format, I was very interested in maintaining the spontaneous elements that can only occur within live engagement. This way the listener can hear the immediacy, nuance, and moment to moment honesty of the actors in very real time, as well as giving the actors the opportunity to fully invest in the depth of their characters. Acting is about living truthfully within any given circumstance, moment to moment. By keeping the immediacy of performing this play live, they are able to replicate what may be happening on a stage in real time only the audience is hearing it via audio. Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most wonderful comedies, it has such great characters, with the perfect amount of humor and drama, that it never
r ceases to please. So, no matter what format the play is being presented, it is impossible not to connect with the play and celebrate its reflection of our own human follies toward falling in love.”
Taylor Hall, playing Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, says, “Storytelling is one of the most important aspects of life, and good stories told well are small rebellions against the negativity and evil vibes in the world. Benedick takes a surprisingly extreme emotional journey for a comedy. He hates marriage like Scrooge hated Christmas, then loves marriage as Scrooge loved Christmas. The challenge of embodying such a roller coaster of a human - while only being able to communicate through voice - is a huge mountain to climb.”
Lena Conatser, playing Beatrice, explains, “This language and the text is so rich and romantic and funny that it makes you want to get up and connect with your castmates. Since we don't have the element of sight in the mix, we have worked really hard to make the language as understandable and interesting to listen to as possible. I have to make very clear and specific choices. It's been a really amazing learning experience.”
Conatser goes on to say, “My favorite thing about playing Beatrice is she is so confident and sure-footed and much smarter than me. She inspires me to fight for what I think is right and to support my friends. She is the coolest person in the whole world and I love her so much.”
Gather around your radio or computer, laugh along with the cast of Much Ado About Nothing, and experience the Arts in a way you never imagined! For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, please visit www.suu.edu/pva.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 26 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, music and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 700 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Theatre Arts and Dance Shakespeare College of Performing and Visual Arts