Holly High School presents: Much Ado About Nothing

Holly High School Theatre Department will present William Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing on January 21, 22, and 23 at 7 pm in the auditorium at Holly High School at 6161 E. Holly Road, Holly, MI 48442.

Students have worked to design a visually stunning production in Steampunk style. Steampunk clothes and gadgets are woven into this production, using Shakespeare’s original script. Steampunk style takes Victorian times and gives them a science fiction twist. To produce Shakespeare in an age of steam powered gadgets has been a great undertaking, and the theatre department is excited to welcome you to this show.
From the beginning to the end of the play, two love stories are intertwined. One story follows the formal, romantic relationship between Leonato’s daughter, Hero (a young woman), and Claudio (a young officer). Claudio realizes, after returning from war, that he is deeply in love with Hero and wants to ask her father for permission to marry her. His commander, Don Pedro, helps Claudio propose marriage, with some momentary confusion about who the suitor is — Don Pedro or Claudio.

The other couple, Beatrice (Hero’s cousin) and Benedick (another officer), work hard to give the impression that neither is the least bit interested in the other. From the beginning of the play, Beatrice and Benedick tease and insult one another mercilessly and repeatedly deny that they will ever marry anyone, let alone marry one another. However, the audience can tell almost immediately that they don’t entirely believe their own disclaimers. Their friends arrange for them to overhear conversations revealing how much each is loved by the other.

Meanwhile, the defeated Don John, a self-proclaimed villain, is eager to carry out serious mischief against his brother and Claudio, who helped defeat him. Dogberry (a comically bumbling constable) and his men on night watch stumble on Don John’s conspiracy against Don Pedro and arrest John’s men.
Tickets for all performances are available online at Showtix4u.com or can be purchased at the door. All tickets are $5. For more information, group sales, or to purchase tickets in person, please contact, Laura Legant at Laura.Legant@has-k12.org.