"Engaging and insightful." --Booklist
Much Ado, written by award-winning journalist Michael Lenehan, gives
readers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the lauded American
Players Theatre's 2014 production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado
About Nothing.
Wall Street Journal drama critic Terry Teachout has called the
APT--based in the unassuming town of Spring Green, Wisconsin--"the best
classical theater company in America." It's also one of the most
successful, with an annual budget of $6 million and ticket sales of more
than 100,000 each season.
Performing almost entirely outdoors, rain or shine, on the "Up the Hill"
stage, the company has established a reputation for authentic,
accessible, entertaining shows--and Much Ado was no exception, selling
nearly 23,000 tickets during its five-month run. Through Lenehan's keen
reporter eyes, Much Ado explores the evolution of this complicated
stage production, from casting to costumes to curtain call. In doing so,
it provides readers with a deeper sense of the company's astonishing
artistry and craft, a peek into the intricate technical logistics
involved with outdoor theater, and a refreshing perspective on one of
the Bard's most famous plays.
Lenehan weaves together firsthand observations and literary analysis
with interviews with key members of the APT's artistic ensemble and
production staff--including lauded director David Frank, lead actors
Colleen Madden (Beatrice) and David Daniel (Benedick), and set and
costume designer Robert Morgan--to paint a remarkable portrait of one of
our most treasured artistic institutions.
Educational resources for Much Ado can be found here
