The Public's Much Ado About Nothing

The story

This bold interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece features Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) and Grantham Coleman (“Buzzer,” “The Americans”) as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“American Son,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) directs with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown (“Choir Boy”). Set in contemporary Georgia with an election race underway, Great Performances: Much Ado About Nothing finds the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war, but not all is peaceful amid the merriment. Former rivals battle it out, revenge is sought and trickery runs amok in this timeless comedy of romantic retribution and miscommunication. Earning a New York Times Critic’s Pick, the play was recorded during its final weekend of Free Shakespeare in the Park performances, June 22-23, 2019.

Cast & crew

Danielle BrooksBeatrice

Grantham ColemanBenedick

Chuck CooperLeonato

Erik LaRay HarveyAntonio/Verges

Kai Heath

Kai HeathMessenger

Jamar Brathwaite

Jamar BrathwaiteEnsemble

Jeremie HarrisClaudio

Daniel CroixBalthasar

Tyrone Mitchell HendersonFriar Francis/Sexton

Tiffany Denise HobbsUrsula

Lateefah HolderDogberry

Billy Eugene JonesDon Pedro