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On a pier in Port De Toulon, France, not long after World War II, Leonato, the governor of Messina, awaits the arrival of the victorious Prince, Don Pedro of Aragon. He tells his daughter, Hero, that a distinguished young soldier named Claudio is accompanying the prince. Leonato’s niece, Beatrice, asks about a soldier named Benedick, with whom she has some history. Don Pedro arrives and steps off his ship with his brother, Don John, whose past transgressions he’s recently forgiven. Benedick and Claudio step off the ship with Borachio, who has a quick aside with his old flame, Margaret, Beatrice’s trusted servant. Beatrice and Benedick sling a few quick insults at each other before Don Pedro tells his soldiers that Leonato has invited them to stay for a month at his villa. As they leave the port, Claudio confides in Benedick that he’s in love with Hero. Benedick tells Don Pedro, who encourages the match. In the limousine on the way to Leonato’s villa, Don Pedro offers to help Claudio woo Hero at the upcoming masquerade ball. A few minutes later, in the kitchen of the villa where a feast is being prepared, Leonato’s sister, Antonia, tells him that her dresser told her that her driver overheard Don Pedro telling Claudio that he loves Hero. That evening, Don John broods in a guest house as his friend, Conrade, tries to cheer him up. When the drunken Borachio arrives to say he heard Don Pedro talking to Claudio about how to woo Hero, Don John seizes the opportunity to make some mischief.

The PLAY ON PODCAST SERIES, “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING”, was written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and translated into modern English verse by RANJIT BOLT. All episodes were directed by BRENDON FOX. Radio play by CATHERINE EATON.

Executive Producer: MICHAEL GOODFRIEND

This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA AGREEMENT.

The cast is as follows:

TRACIE LANE                              as    BEATRICE

REG ROGERS                              as    BENEDICK

TÉA GUARINO                             as    HERO

ZION JANG                                   as    CLAUDIO

CARMAN MATTHEW LACIVITA as    DON PEDRO

ALEJANDRA ESCALANTE        as    MARGARET and CONRADE

DEMOSTHENES CHRYSAN      as    LEONATO

DEE NELSON                               as    ANTONIA

BRIAN OWEN                               as    DOGBERRY

STEPHEN MICHAEL SPENCER as    BORACHIO

EVAN ZES                                     as    NAVAL CADET, OATCAKE and SEACOAL

LUIS MORENO                             as    DON JOHN and THE SEXTON

MARY BACON                              as    DEACON FRANCIS and VERGES                        

Casting by THE TELSEY OFFICE: KARYN CASL, CSA.

Voice and Text Coach: JULIE FOH

Original music composition, Mix and Sound Design by LINDSAY JONES. Vocal arrangement and music direction by STEPHEN MICHAEL SPENCER. Sound engineering and mixing by SADAHARU YAGI. Mix Engineer and Dialogue Editor: LARRY WALSH. Podcast Mastering by GREG CORTEZ at New Monkey Studio. Coordinating Producer: TRANSCEND STREAMING (KYRA BOWIE and LEANNA KEYES).

The Play On Podcast Series “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” is produced by NEXT CHAPTER PODCASTS and is made possible by the generous support of THE HITZ FOUNDATION. Visit NEXTCHAPTERPODCASTS.COM for more about the Play On Podcast Series. Visit PLAYONSHAKESPEARE.ORG for more about Play On Shakespeare.

Subscribe to Play On Premium for ad-free episodes and join our Patreon for exclusive merchandise and early commercial-free releases. Go to nextchapterpodcasts.com for our Bonus Content, where you’ll find interviews with the artists, producers and engineers who brought it all to life. And remember: “The world must be peopled!”

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