Podcasts about Much Ado About Nothing

Summer Shakespeare productions are a long-standing tradition in the U.S., and now the Triad has a theater company dedicated to bringing the Bard's plays to North Carolina Audiences. Piedmont Shakespeare Company is in its second season with performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” taking place in venues from Winston-Salem to Burlington. On this Piedmont Arts episode, executive director David McGraw talks about the importance of Shakespeare in the modern day and the beauty of summer Shakespeare.

In this special bonus episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas launches an experimental new monthly format: a London events guide covering what's actually on in the city this month. June is arguably London's finest month — 16 to 17 hours of daylight, the longest evenings of the year, and an events calendar absolutely bursting at the seams. Jonathan walks through everything worth knowing about June in London: the major royal events including Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot, the blockbuster summer exhibitions at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Royal Academy, the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A, and more, plus what's on in London theater from Shakespeare's Globe to the West End, live music at Wembley and the Roundhouse, and practical tips for surviving — and thriving in — a London heat wave. If this episode proves popular, Jonathan will make it a monthly fixture. Let him know what you think in the comments. Links Royal Events ~Trooping the Colour — Official Info~ ~Royal Ascot~ ~Wimbledon Tickets & Ballot~ ⠀Exhibitions — Book Ahead ~Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern~ ~Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (opens June 16)~ ~Anish Kapoor Retrospective at Hayward Gallery (opens June 16)~ ~Marilyn Monroe at National Portrait Gallery~ ~Barbara Hepworth at the Courtauld Gallery (from June 1)~ ~Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A~ ~Wes Anderson Exhibition at the Design Museum~ ~James McNeill Whistler Retrospective at Tate Britain~ ~The Queen's Fashion at The King's Gallery~ (sold out through 2026 — book 2027 dates now) ~Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit at Young V&A~ ~Hokusai: 36 Views of Mount Fuji at Dulwich Picture Gallery~ (closes June 30) ⠀Theater ~A Midsummer Night's Dream at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (from June 20)~ ~Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe (from June 11)~ ~To Kill a Mockingbird — New West End Adaptation (opens June 25)~ ~Cyrano de Bergerac — West End (opens June 13)~ ~Buy West End Tickets via Anglotopia's Link~ (supports Anglotopia) ~TKTS Booth at Leicester Square — Half-Price Day Tickets~ ⠀Long-Running West End Shows The Lion King Hamilton Wicked Les Misérables Matilda Mamma Mia Six Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (almost always sold out — book well ahead) Sinatra — The Musical ⠀Live Music Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium (from June 12) Olivia Dean at the O2 (from June 12) Orville Peck at the Roundhouse, Camden ⠀Practical Resources ~National Gallery Extended Summer Hours (from July 1)~ ~Londontopia London Events Calendar~ ~Argos UK — Buy a Fan on Arrival~ ~Anglotopia June London Events Article~ (link to article) ~Friends of Anglotopia Club~ ⠀ Takeaways June is arguably London's best month to visit — 16 to 17 hours of daylight, reliably pleasant weather, and the richest events calendar of the year, though it is also peak tourist season with hotel prices running 20 to 40 percent above spring rates. Trooping the Colour — the monarch's official birthday parade — is the major royal event of the year in 2026. Even without a ballot ticket to Horse Guards Parade, you can experience the procession on the Mall and the balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace by arriving very early and staking out a good spot. Every major summer blockbuster exhibition in London requires advance booking — some, like The Queen's Fashion at The King's Gallery, are already sold out through 2026. Book tickets as soon as you finish listening, even if your trip dates aren't confirmed yet. The Frida Kahlo survey at Tate Modern, the James McNeill Whistler retrospective at Tate Britain, and the Marilyn Monroe exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery are Jonathan's top three must-book exhibition picks for the month. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition — the world's largest open submission art show, running since 1769 — is a uniquely chaotic, democratic, and wonderful experience where everything on the walls is for sale and any artist can enter. Shakespeare's Globe is staging Much Ado About Nothing from June 11, and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre opens A Midsummer Night's Dream on June 20 — watching Shakespeare outdoors on a long June evening is one of the quintessential London summer experiences. London generally does not have air conditioning in older buildings, hotel rooms, or most tube lines. The first thing you should do after arriving in summer is buy a fan — Jonathan recommends going straight to Argos, Britain's version of a catalog store, for an affordable one. The tube's older lines (Central, Piccadilly) get brutally hot in summer due to London clay absorbing and retaining heat underground. The Elizabeth line is fully air conditioned and runs east-west across the city — use it as much as possible in a heat wave. The National Gallery is experimenting with extended summer evening hours, staying open until 7 PM most evenings and until 9 PM on Fridays from July 1 — Jonathan's suggestion: have an early dinner, then walk over for a free evening of world-class art. Don't try to pack too much in. Pick three or four things you genuinely care about, build your days around those, and leave time to wander, sit in Green Park with a deck chair, or walk along the Thames in the long evening light. June in London is as much about the atmosphere as the attractions. ⠀ Soundbites "The light is the headline for June. You get sixteen to seventeen hours of daylight. Twilight stretches from around eight PM to nearly ten PM. You can have a full day of exploring, sit down for dinner, and still walk home along the Thames and have some daylight." — Jonathan on why June is London's best month. "If you've ever wondered what the best month to visit London is, a lot of people will quietly tell you it's this one." — Jonathan on June in London. Plan your day around it. Get up stupidly early — three, four, five in the morning — get your spot on the Mall and soak up the atmosphere. It'll be like a party atmosphere." — Jonathan on how to experience Trooping the Colour without a ticket. "The Queen's Fashion at The King's Gallery is sold out for the rest of the year, and I know a lot of people are gonna be really disappointed when they try to get tickets and they simply can't." — Jonathan's warning on the most in-demand exhibition of the summer. "The walls are packed from floor to ceiling and everything is for sale. It's chaotic and wonderful. And it's a great way to see up-and-coming artists and established artists side by side." — Jonathan on the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. "Shakespeare under the open sky in one of London's loveliest parks on a warm June evening — it doesn't get dark till ten PM anyway. Enjoy some champagne, enjoy some theater out in the green. That's my top theater pick for the month." — Jonathan on Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. "The first thing you should do after you land is go to what the British call an ironmonger — a hardware store — and buy a fan. Don't skimp. It is essential for Americans traveling in Europe." — Jonathan's number one summer travel tip. "The London clay is a heat sink. It absorbs heat and then it doesn't let it back out. So the tube gets really hot in the summer. If you are prone to heat issues, avoid the tube except the Elizabeth line, which is fully air conditioned." — Jonathan on navigating London in a heat wave. "I sat there in the rain in the 40s, got soaking wet. And I — not exaggerating — almost got hypothermia. It was July. I could not warm up when I got back to the hotel because the heating wasn't on and there weren't enough blankets because it was July." — Jonathan's cautionary tale about British summer weather. "Argos is exactly like Service Merchandise — you go in, there's a big catalog, you pick your thing, and it comes out on a conveyor belt. Get a fan. Don't even look at the weather forecast first. Just trust me — you're going to need a fan." — Jonathan's most practical London summer tip. ⠀ Chapters 00:21 Introduction — Jonathan launches the experimental monthly London events format 01:15 The Feel of June in London — Long days, the light, and why June is special 02:20 June Weather — What to expect, heat waves, and the maritime humidity problem 03:45 Peak Tourist Season — Crowds, hotel prices, and why June still beats July 05:00 Trooping the Colour — What it is, how to see it without a ticket, and Jonathan's tips for getting a good spot 08:30 Royal Ascot — Fascinators on the tube, the royal procession, and how to get tickets 10:00 Wimbledon — The ballot, resale tickets, strawberries and cream, and what to do if you can't get in 11:30 How to Book Exhibitions — Why advance booking is non-negotiable and the Queen's Fashion sellout warning 13:00 Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern — Jonathan's pick and why Tate Modern is worth seeing for the building alone 14:30 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (June 16) — The world's largest open submission art show 15:30 Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery (June 16) — The Cloud Gate connection and why it's worth seeing 16:15 Marilyn Monroe at the National Portrait Gallery — Just opened, book fast 17:00 Barbara Hepworth at the Courtauld Gallery — And why Somerset House is worth a visit anyway 17:45 Schiaparelli at the V&A — Fashion exhibitions and why the V&A excels at them 18:15 Wes Anderson at the Design Museum — A treat for film fans 18:45 James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain — A sellout show, book immediately 19:30 Wallace & Gromit at Young V&A — The Aardman exhibition Jonathan is hoping to catch in August 20:15 Closing This Month — Mikalojus Čiurlionis at the Royal Academy (closes June 21) and Hokusai at Dulwich (closes June 30) 21:00 Theater — Why June is the best time for London theater 21:30 Regent's Park Open Air Theatre — A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jonathan's top pick of the month 22:00 Shakespeare's Globe — Much Ado About Nothing from June 11 22:30 New West End Openings — To Kill a Mockingbird (June 25) and Cyrano de Bergerac (June 13) 23:00 Long-Running Shows — Lion King, Hamilton, Wicked, Six, Les Mis, and how to get discount tickets 24:00 Live Music — Harry Styles at Wembley, Olivia Dean at the O2, Orville Peck at the Roundhouse 25:00 Practical Tips: Heat — Does London have air conditioning? (Mostly no) 26:30 The Fan Imperative — Buy one at Argos, the British Service Merchandise 28:30 Pack for All Weathers — The July outdoor concert near-hypothermia story 30:00 Humidity and Heat — Why British summer heat hits differently than dry American heat 31:00 Use the Long Days — 17 hours of light, late museum hours, rooftop bars, evening walks 32:00 National Gallery Extended Hours — Stay open till 7 PM, Fridays till 9 PM from July 1 33:00 Don't Overpack Your Itinerary — Pick three or four things, leave time to wander 34:00 Wrap-Up — Londontopia events calendar, listener feedback request, Friends of Anglotopia Video Version

Musk v Altman was nominally about OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit entity, and how it went about that change. But really, the suit seems mostly to have been about Elon Musk being mad at Sam Altman — or at OpenAI, for being successful without him — and wanting him punished in some way. Verge reporter Liz Lopatto spent the last month covering the trial, in all its chaos, and joins Decoder to ask: In a courtroom full of untrustworthy, unreliable people all fighting with each other, did anyone even have a reputation left to lose? Read the full interview transcript on The Verge. Links:  Elon Musk loses his case against Sam Altman | The Verge Musk v. Altman proved AI is led by the wrong people | The Verge Musk v. Altman accomplished nothing but airing dirty laundry | The Verge Elon Musk's worst enemy in court is Elon Musk | The Verge Behold, the Elon Musk jackass trophy | The Verge Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Northfield Arts Guild Executive Director Michael Johnson and Performing Arts Manager Pauline Jennings discuss upcoming events at the Guild, including the current run of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing in July, the current exhibition in the Up Gallery titled Esperanza en Accion, the High School Honors Art Show, and more. 

PS+ Plus increases have (predictably) gone up, of course, because we're in late-stage capitalism.But it likely won't cost you a dime...Join our FREE DISCORD and talk PlayStation with the PSD+ community:https://discord.gg/pEDZDp4kTGOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/@PlayStationDailyPodcastOUR INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/psdailypod/Intro music is "A Cup Of Liber-Tea" which is the main theme from the Helldivers 2 soundtrack.Outro music is the "Super Earth National Anthem" which is a special promotional track for the Helldivers 2 game.

In 1290, Jews were expelled from England, only to return in 1656, three-and-a-half centuries later. William Shakespeare published his works between 1589 and 1613. Except for perhaps a smattering of crypto-Jews, 275 years prior to his birth, 40 years past his death, there was no Jewish presence in England. Dr. Stephen Greenblatt, in his introduction to the Norton Shakespeare, notes that Elizabethans were fascinated by Jews and Judaism. We are going to explore the bard's roll in this phenomenon, the inordinate number of Talmudic and Mishnaic references in his writings, along with his possible Jewish roots. More importantly, let's address the phenomenon of why a nation that never encountered a Jew was so intrigued, and what that might mean for us today.

 Listen to the Show Right Click to Save GuestsJarrott Productions DestinationAustin Shakespeare Much Ado About NothingBroadway in Austin The Wiz What We Talked About Book of Mormon Outer Critics Circle Awards Hamlet & Othello Participation Fees? B-Roll in performances? Paranormal Activity Adrienne Warren in Proof Rent 30th anniversary concertThank you to Dean Johanesen, lead singer of "The Human Condition" who gave us permission to use "Step Right Up" as our theme song, so please visit their website.. they're good! (that's an order)  

All's Well That Ends Well: Michael Bradshaw Flynn On Bringing Back the BardFifteen years ago, staging Shakespeare in Scranton sounded improbable to plenty of people, especially to some New York theater types.The original production was intended as a one-time public performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Nay Aug Park. Organizers hoped a modest audience would turn out for the celebrated Bard.Instead, more than 1,000 people packed into the park. In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau speaks with Scranton Shakespeare Festival co-founder Michael Bradshaw Flynn about the unlikely evolution of the festival from a free outdoor performance into a permanent arts organization producing musicals, Shakespeare, new works, and youth programming in downtown Scranton and Northeast Pennsylvania.Flynn discusses balancing a career between New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania, working on Broadway productions including The Front Page, It's Only a Play, and The Nance, (with Nathan Lane) and why regional theater still matters at a time when arts organizations across the country face shrinking audiences and financial instability.The conversation traces Flynn's early immersion in theater through Arts Alive, the Scranton Cultural Center, and local summer stock programs, as well as the influence of a family steeped in storytelling traditions.Now entering its 15th season under the theme Faith, the Scranton Shakespeare Festival will present Much Ado About Nothing, Carousel, Henry V, Saint Joan, Jesus Christ Superstar, youth ensemble productions, and a 15th anniversary gala.For more information, visit https://www.scrantonshakes.com/@Scranton Shakespeare Festival@Michael Bradshaw Flynn@Lisa Champeau@WVIA

Send us Fan MailOnStage Colorado is growing. In this monthly episode, Alex Miller and Toni Tresca announce the launch of On Screen Colorado, a new sister site dedicated to covering Colorado's film and TV landscape — from Sundance's arrival in Boulder in January 2027 to the 20+ festivals already happening across the state each year.The guys also catch up on recent reviews from the OSC crew — including Much Ado About Nothing at Platte Valley Players, English and Somewhere at the DCPA, Mary Jane, Furlough's Paradise, Jagged Little Pill and We Are the Tigers. Plus, Alex sits down with playwright Mia Burnett and Veritas Productions founding artistic director Nancy Evans Begley to talk about Burnett's new play Divine Bull Transformation, opening May 15 at Denver's Mizel Center. And as always, the episode wraps with the top 10 Colorado headliners worth checking out in the coming weeks.For more Colorado theatre coverage, subscribe to the Theatre Blast newsletter at onstagecolorado.com.

Today on Art of the Cut we speak with Andrew Marcus, the editor of The Devil Wears Prada 2.Andrew has edited Howard's End, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA, Much Ado About Nothing, the 1994 Frankenstein movie, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Remains of the Day, American Psycho, and Under the Tuscan Sun, among many others.Our discussion today is about the freedom he has in the editor's cut, the importance of calibrating the amount of set-up of a joke, and building montages that were not in the script.If you'd like to read along with this inteview and see images from the film, the trailer and clips, visit the BorisFX blog site.borisfx.com/blog/aotc

Alyssa and David muster all their theatre kid energy to talk about The Merle Reskin Theatre which was a hot topic in the news a few weeks ago and inspired silly outrage.   Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.  Show Notes: WBEZ: Cash-strapped DePaul closes the curtain on Downtown's historic Reskin Theatre DePaul University Facility Living New Deal: Merle Reskin (former Blackstone) Theater Renovation – Chicago IL Block Club Chicago: DePaul Unveils $72 Million Theater School Building WTTW: Cultural Connections DePaul Theatre School TimeOut Chicago: Merle Reskin Theatre Broadway World: Merle Reskin Theatre Alyssa's review of "God of Hell" Caryl Churhill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy a classic story in English and learn 8 uses of ‘trick'. For more great language tips and programmes visit bbclearningenglish.comSubscribe to our newsletter! Receive weekly tips and read a message from your favourite presenters: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersWant to find more programmes at this level? Try this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/hard_courseAnd if you find this podcast a bit too difficult, why not try our podcast where we have real conversations in easy English? Find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english or search for 'Learning Easy English' on your favourite podcast app.

Mason Alexander Park is a groundbreaking trans actor redefining what leading roles look like both on stage and on screen including Cabaret, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Netflix's The Sandman and now, Oh Mary!  From a young age, Mason was taught to think for themselves - and that's shaped a life and career built on doing things their own way. No labels, no boxes. In this chat with Josh, Mason opens up about identity, gender, growing up feeling “different,” and why labels don't always fit. Sharp, witty and eye-opening, this conversation explores the freedom to change, to question, and to become who you are on your own terms. Catch Mason starring in Oh, Mary! on the West End -now playing, with tickets available at www.ohmaryplay.com______________________________________________

This episode is a recording from the Start Network's Assembly, which took place in October 2025. Lars Peter Nissen was invited to moderate a panel exploring what leadership looks like when success is contingent on the agency of others — when you cannot exercise direct control but must inspire, build rapport, and create the conditions for a group of individuals to deliver results.Rather than drawing on leaders from within the humanitarian sector, the panel brings together professionals from two very different fields — football management and musical theatre — to explore what their craft can teach humanitarians about leading through networks, trust, and collective action.Note: This episode was recorded live at the Start Network Assembly. The sound quality reflects the live setting.GuestsNatalie Brown: Board Director at Banbury United Football Club and the first Black female board member in UK football. Natalie has a background in media, marketing, and community development, and has worked with Arsenal, The Prince's Trust, and Mind. She founded the #PlayBrave initiative to help women build confidence on and off the pitch.Huw Evans: Associate Musical Director on Oliver at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End. Huw is an accomplished conductor and multi-instrumentalist who has worked on shows including Much Ado About Nothing, Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma, and Come From Away. He trained at King's College London.Moderated by Lars Peter Nissen, Director of ACAPS and host of Trumanitarian. Introduced by Lucy Puentes of the Start Network.Key ThemesBuilding from the ground up: Natalie shares how she rebuilt Banbury United's women's team after inheriting a fractured setup where the manager had left just before the season. After a disheartening first attempt, she “flipped the script” — launching open training sessions for women over 40, which rapidly grew into a multigenerational squad with players aged 16 to 66. Her approach centred on changing the narrative, leading with spirit, and building a movement rather than just a team.The duet between leading and following: Huw describes conducting as a constant negotiation between setting the tempo and following the performer. With 12 musicians split across three separate spaces, a 30-person cast, and four child actors rotating in the lead role, he conducts via camera monitors — relying on connection, adaptability, and trust rather than direct control. Leadership in live performance, he says, is about creating the conditions for harmony rather than forcing it.Trust, small gestures, and knowing people's namesBoth panellists emphasise that trust is built through small, consistent actions. Huw takes pride in greeting every deputy musician before the show. Natalie describes how players joined her team simply because they liked who she was and what she stood for. Both draw a direct parallel to humanitarian coordination — where leading a cluster meeting of 50 strangers via camera is not so different from conducting an orchestra through a monitor.Releasing control: A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the difficulty — and necessity — of letting go. Huw describes the terrifying moment of relinquishing control in a live performance with 2,000 people watching. Natalie reflects on having built the women's team so personally that she now needs to step back and let others carry the vision. Both see this as essential to sustainable leadership in networked settings.The power of diversity and emergence: Lars Peter draws the conversation toward metaphor, arguing that biology — not physics — offers the better model for thinking about networks. The emergent quality of a network, like a heart pumping blood from cells and valves, produces outcomes that are qualitatively different from the sum of the parts. Just as a football team needs more than 11 goalkeepers, or an orchestra more than 12 horn players, humanitarian networks need genuine diversity of skills and perspectives.Resilience and learning from mistakes: Huw shares a candid story of pressing the wrong button during a click track, causing pre-recorded and live children to sing out of sync. His advice: pick yourself up, stay calm, and keep going with integrity. Natalie talks about the power of small daily steps — just 15 minutes of focused effort each day — as a way to sustain momentum when things feel overwhelming.CreditsHost: Lars Peter NissenRecorded at: Start Network Assembly, October 2025Session title: Choreographing Chaos: Leadership in a World of NetworksPanel introduced by: Lucy Puentes, Start NetworkGet in touch: info@truemanitarian.orgSupport the podcast: Visit truemanitarian.org and click “Support the Pod”

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Click the Link to Join on Spotify: https://ishortn.ink/tfdeakyverse Subscriptions also available on Apple Podcast & YouTube Platforms.-----Some encounters don't announce themselves with screams or shadows. They arrive quietly—in the shape of a woman standing in a doorway, footsteps with no one to make them, or a figure from another century passing by as if nothing is wrong. These are the kinds of moments that linger long after the lights are back on, when you're left wondering whether what you saw was impossible… or simply unnoticed until now.In this episode, multiple firsthand accounts blur the line between history and the present, sleep and waking, the living and the dead. These stories don't beg to be believed, and they don't try to explain themselves. They just exist—unchanged, unresolved, and unsettling in the way only true experiences can be. Watch with the lights on.We'll see you on the inside...SUPPORT THE SHOW, BECOME A MEMBER: https://www.youtube.com/@freakydeakypod/membership-----TIME STAMPS:0:00 - Someone Else Saw It Too…0:54 - Spooky Ghost Podcast Intro, GO!1:50 - Welcome In, Weirdos2:40 - Consider Becoming a YouTube Member!6:50 - EPISODE STARTS HERE, YUH BABY7:10 - STORY 1: Not The Demon at All, Actually11:24 - DISCUSS. 15:00 - Reset / Pick a Fight With Enterprise Rental Car 15:31 - STORY 2: Doorway Creep18:00 - Much Ado About Nothing 20:31 - Does Anyone even use these timestamps..? 22:21 - Scott Tries to Rage Bait the Feminists25:58 - Butterscotch Gang Intermission26:24 - Shoutout Jeremy28:26 - STORY 3: The Ol' Bat31:45 - weird bits here 35:05 - STORY 4: They Might Be Romans36:13 - Scott is Defeated By The Word "Voluminous" 39:00 - DISCUSS?? 39:20 - What is a Jerkin? 42:00 - STORY 5: The Babysitter's Dilemma43:00 - Why Do I Hate the Word "Mum" So Much? 45:38 - Scott Tries To Ragebait The Algorithm into Boosting Our Content Via the Sensitive Topic of Racial Slurs (And Fails Miserably, fr)0:00 - The end. Sorry._____________________________________________+BUY A $9 SHOUT-OUT: https://holler.baby/thefreakydeaky+PRODUCERS: Eric Long, Daniel Heng, Anthony M, Marlene Olmos+SUBMIT YOUR (TRUE) STORY:—Email: thegang@thefreakydeaky.com —Voicemail: 801-997-0051+WEBSITE & MERCH:—Website: www.thefreakydeaky.com—Merch: www.thefreakydeaky.com/store+JOIN THE DISCUSSION:—TFD Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/tfdfb —Instagram: https://bit.ly/2HOdleo —Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ebSde6

So I look away for one second, and suddenly Matthew Morrison is our next Bobby Darin in Just in Time?! We'll talk about ALL the tea, but first we gotta break down seeing Jake Shane (!!!) in All Out!Broadway News:

It was recently announced that Jamie Lloyd's acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will transfer to Broadway in the next season later this year.The production, which will once again star Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, will play at an as yet unannounced theatre, and is rumoured to be a precursor to the much talked about Broadway transfer of Evita starring Rachel Zegler.Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts about each of these productions as well as all of the rumoured details he's heard so far...•00:00 | introduction03:03 | Much Ado about Nothing09:45 | further details16:51 | Evita transfer?25:01 | conclusionAbout Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiddleston and Atwell to bring ‘Much Ado’ to NYC; Mr. Shue to join ‘Just in Time’ Patreon: BroadwayRadiohttps://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@broadwayradio.com and include the episode name. 1) Jamie Lloyd’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ to play Broadway this fallhttps://deadline.com/2026/02/tom-hiddleston-hayley-atwell-much-ado-about-nothing-broadway-1236729230/ 2) Matthew Morrison to join ‘Just in read more

The twenty-eighth episode of SMFMS Bookends, the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf. Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from our Much Ado About Nothing episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to our series, "On Becoming: The Art and Craft of Personal Storytelling." In this series, we take a close look at personal essays written by real students, talking about why we love them, what makes them work, and how they came to be. On Becoming speaks not just to the craft of writing, but to what I believe the personal statement is at its best: a record of becoming, the often messy, hopefully meaningful process of finding yourself… through the process of storytelling. In this episode, we slow things down and focus on a single essay, which the author calls "Much Ado About Nothing." Together, we take this essay apart, looking at the storytelling choices on the page, the deeper ideas underneath them, and how the essay captures a moment in the student's becoming.  Dr. Greg Ungar is a professor at the University of Denver. Greg grew up in California and spent six years working on the assembly line at General Motors before finding his way to college, where reading (and thinking) changed the direction of his life. Greg went on to study philosophy and theatre arts at UC Berkeley, and later earned advanced degrees across a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, criminal justice, acting, and theatre and drama. He's someone who has spent a lifetime thinking deeply about identity, work, class, performance, and what it means to make meaning out of lived experience.  We hope you enjoy.    Play-by-Play: 3:23 – Why do Ethan and Greg love reading stories and poetry together?  5:34 – Do college essays need a title?  6:47 – Greg reads the essay, "Much Ado About Nothing"  12:03 – What does Ethan love about this essay?  13:25 – What did Greg notice while reading?  19:23 – How does the author use structure to keep the reader engaged?  25:02 – How can humor be used in college essays?  30:58 – How does the author show different roles and identities throughout?  40:24 – Closing thoughts   Resources: "Much Ado About Nothing" Essay College Essay Essentials  College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

Young lovers, and soon to wed, Hero and Claudio conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles, Benedick and Beatrice, to wed as well.Support the showOETA - Home

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our seventy-six episode and Valentine's Day Special, we go back to basics with a Shakespeare romcom: Much Ado About Nothing (i.e., a lot of fuss about a vagina). We lament the lack of effort given to masquerade balls, Daniel makes endless fart jokes (to Abby's increasing annoyance), grow weary of the Beatrice and Benedick schtick, and give some massive side-eye to Claudio and Hero's twisted relationship.Cover art © Catherine Wu.Episode Theme: Philip Pickeet & Musicians of the Globe, excerpts from 'Nutmeg & Ginger', https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inleiding_Nutmeg_%26_Ginger_(audio).mp3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** “There is great reward and great risk in love”: Actors Reg Rogers and Tracie Lane talk about their relationships with the roles they play, the work they do, and the lives they lead in the every-shifting sands of showbiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gyles has been an admirer of this guest since the 1960s: it's the great actor, Sir Derek Jacobi. Ever since he was recruited into Sir Laurence Olivier's bold new National Theatre at the Old Vic, Jacobi has been at the forefront of British acting talent. Gyles has seen him on stage many times - in Olivier's famous production of Othello, in Much Ado About Nothing, in Cyrano de Bergerac. You may also know Derek from his brilliant TV work - in I, Claudius and Last Tango in Halifax... he's also the voice of In The Night Garden. In this warm and rambling conversation, Derek tells Gyles about his young life in Leytonstone in East London, where his father owned a confectioners shop. He tells him about his childhood love of dressing up and his early exposure to theatre, when he was picked to go up on stage at the Palladium. He tells Gyles about his experience of stage fright and about his happy marriage. This is a wonderful episode with a great, and charming, man. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deep, wide-ranging conversation, host Tom Alverez sits down with acclaimed Indianapolis actor and arts leader Ryan Artzberger to explore a life shaped by theater, family, and community impact.From the Midwest to Juilliard (and Back Again)Ryan shares his journey from growing up in Cleveland to studying at Juilliard, encouraged by a tough-love professor who saw his raw talent. After graduating in the mid-90s, he chased work in New York—waiting tables, walking miles to jobs, soaking up the city's creative energy—before finding long-term artistic roots in Indianapolis.A Pillar of Indiana Repertory TheatreRyan reflects on nearly three decades with the Indiana Repertory Theatre, including 63 productions and 23 performances of A Christmas Carol. He talks about standout roles (especially John Proctor in The Crucible), working with renowned directors, and how IRT became his artistic home.Acting Philosophy: Truth Over TricksRather than forcing emotions, Ryan believes in surrendering to the moment—embracing the unexpected, letting chaos create authenticity, and trusting impulse. Whether on stage or on camera, his approach centers on honesty, listening, and humanity.New York vs. IndianapolisThough he once thought he'd “die in Brooklyn,” Ryan explains how Indianapolis became the home he never knew he wanted—offering balance, family life, and a vibrant (often underrated) talent pool.Indy Shakes & Shakespeare for EveryoneNow Executive Artistic Director of Indy Shakes, Ryan discusses free Shakespeare in the Park at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheater in Riverside Park. He breaks down the $9M restoration project, the picnic-friendly, come-as-you-are vibe, and why Shakespeare was never meant to be elitist.Equity, Access & Community EngagementA major focus of the conversation is inclusion—expanding opportunities for artists of color, building partnerships with Latino and Riverside neighborhoods, creating internships and apprenticeships, and rethinking who theater is for. Ryan is passionate about making Shakespeare reflect the full community.What's Next: “ADO” at the Phoenix TheatreRyan previews “ADO” (Feb 12–March 1), a new commissioned play by Lavina Giovanni that reclaims Much Ado About Nothing—giving Hero voice, agency, and a story beyond her public shaming. Tickets start at $17.Family, Fulfillment & LegacyRyan opens up about his wife Marina, their two grown children, and choosing meaningful work over chasing fame. His definition of success? Great work, strong community, and stories that matter.Final NoteThis episode is a thoughtful, passionate look at how theater can be a refuge, a mirror, and a bridge—and how one artist is helping make Indianapolis a more inclusive, world-class arts city.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textA large National Council of Teachers of English teacher survey reported by Education Week lists Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet among the most frequently assigned texts in U.S. And Folger Shakespeare Library notes its edition sales (a good “what schools buy” proxy) had Romeo and Juliet first, followed by Hamlet, Macbeth, then A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, and Julius Caesar.But before I start talking about British school subject matter, I better describe one certificate and one assessment of skills that are more or less standard in the United Kingdom.First, there is the GCSE or General Certificate of Secondary Education.It's the main set of school qualifications students typically take in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, usually at age 15–16 (Year 11). Students take several subjects (like English, Math, Sciences, History, etc.), and the results are used for next steps such as A-levels or vocational courses.And then there is the AQA -  which stands for Assessment and Qualifications Alliance an exam board in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that creates the syllabuses, sets the exams, and award qualifications for subjects such as English, History, Sciences, etc.).Now back to the Shakespearean plays most frequently studied in the United Kingdom.Most-studied in UK secondary schools - In the UK, the gravitational center is Macbeth—especially at GCSE level. A UK secondary teaching survey reports Macbeth as the most popular overall, and one study cited within the literature reports ~65% teaching it for GCSE (with Romeo and Juliet next).Exam boards also list Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar and Twelfth Night.  12th night is sometimes add it to the list.So before I start going into some of the modern productions of Shakespeare's plays, I thought it might be more fun, as well as instructional, to go back and look at the originals.But first I'm going to give you what I hope is a simple timeline - about a minute - that roughly puts Romeo and Juliet into perspective date wise.Early 1590s: early blood-and-thunder tragedy + first big history hits (think Henry VI plays, Richard III).1594–1596: lively early comedies and experiments as his voice sharpens (e.g., Love's Labour's Lost, A Midsummer Night's Dream).c. 1594–1596: Romeo and Juliet (mid-1590s), one of his early breakthrough tragedies.1595–1596: Richard II (another key mid-1590s work).1596–1597: The Merchant of Venice (often placed around this period).1598–1599: Much Ado About Nothing (late-1590s “mature comedy”).1599–1600: Julius Caesar (turn-of-the-century political tragedy).1599–1601: Hamlet (written around this window; many place it at 1601).Early 1600s: the “big tragedy” period ramps up (including Macbeth, usually dated after James's 1603 accession).1610–1611: late “romance/magic” phase, including The Tempest and The Winter's Tale.1613: very late career work like Henry VIII.Support the showThank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** “It's a perfect play”: Director Brendon Fox delves into the nooks and crannies of “Much Ado About Nothing,” shedding new light on a story he's told five times (and counting!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marin Karr returns as we chat about one of the more uh forgotten adaptations of Shakespere in Joss Whedon MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Together we talk comparisons to Kennth Branagh, Whedon' misunderstanding the text, The Odyssey casting, Marin's new pod and Shakespeare that needs a reimagining

Let's take a look at SVS' upcoming season--Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Much Ado About Nothing through the lens of Reddit's AITA!Special Guest actor: James Lucas

Rehearsals continue for Lovers' Vows! The cast starts in-fighting, but Fanny enjoys watching rehearsals...until she ends up in the middle of one.Topics discussed include anonymous valentines, justice for Julia, Henry Crawford as Molly's type, morally grey characters, ASMs, lazy insults, and SIR THOMAS'S RETURN!Patron Study Questions this week come from Flying Cupcake, Marija, Avi, Spring, and Angelika. Topics discussed include Fanny's fun side, why Mary is a better friend to Fanny than her cousins, Fanny's refusal to act, everyone's moral compromises, morality vs. indulgence, and why Mary actually sought Fanny out to rehearse.Becca's Study Questions: Topics discussed include Henry as the best actor of the group, where we've been and what we've learned so far, and where we stand on the characters at the end of this volume.Funniest Quote: "It is about Lovers' Vows!"Questions moving forward: What is Sir Thomas going to do when he sees the house? Does Rushworth understand that Maria is into Henry?Who wins the chapters? Fanny!Glossary of Terms and Phrases:behind hand (adj.): late or slow in doing somethingcipher (n): a person or thing of no importance, especially a person who does the bidding of others and seems to have no will of their own.festoon (n): a chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve as a decorationGlossary of People, Places, and Things: Gaia Music Collective, Kenter Davies, Sex and the City, Alanis Morissette, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Waiting for Godot, Lizzie McGuireNext Episode: Mansfield Park Volume II Chapters 1-2Our show art was created by Torrence Browne, and our audio is produced by Graham Cook. For bios and transcripts, check out our website at podandprejudice.com. Pod and Prejudice is transcribed by speechdocs.com. To support the show, check out our Patreon! Check out our merch at https://podandprejudice.dashery.com.Instagram: @podandprejudiceTwitter: @podandprejudiceFacebook: Pod and PrejudiceYoutube: Pod and PrejudiceMerch store: https://podandprejudice.dashery.com/

We're back for a new season of In The Frame! Our first guest of the year is Mason Alexander Park who is starring as Mary Todd Lincoln in the West End production of Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola.Directed by Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! is described as a dark comedy about a "miserable, suffocated" Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination.Mason made their London theatre debut as the Emcee in Cabaret (Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse theatre) and went on play Ariel in The Tempest and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing, both at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and directed by Jamie Lloyd.Mason famously played Hedwig in the US tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Their other theatre work includes playing St. Jimmy in American Idiot (Deaf West, Center Theatre Group Los Angeles), Charlotte von Mahlsdorf in I Am My Own Wife (Long Wharf Theatre), Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (Bucks County Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO), Creator and Performer in The Pansy Craze (Audible at The Minetta Lane Theatre). They've also worked extensively on screen.Recorded backstage, in this episode Mason discusses all-things Oh, Mary!, their move to London and their path to theatre plus lots more. Prepare yourself for dark sarcasm and carnage!Oh, Mary! is booking at the Trafalgar Theatre until 25th April 2026. Visit www.ohmaryplay.co.uk for info and tickets.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** Next Chapter Podcasts presents the complete Play On Podcast series, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, in its entirety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey EICapulets! To Brooklyn, or to Beckham? That is this week's question.There was simply no way of doing this episode without discussing the biggest news of the week, which is a pretty big statement, all things considered. On Monday evening, Brooklyn Beckham took to his Instagram and posted a series of stories stating that he does not want to reconcile with his family. This comes after years of speculation about a rift between the Beckhams and Brooklyn and Nicola, a lot of which started after their 2022 wedding.We discuss how and why this has taken the internet by storm, and what we make of it all.Next up! Chloe Zhao's Hamnet is based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel of the same name. The fictional story follows Agnes Hathaway (played by Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal) as they lose their son Hamnet to the plague- and how this tragedy births the play Hamlet. Very little is known about Shakespeare's life, so this story has been compared to fan-fiction. But just a lil fact check: several other plays, including two comedies, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It came between the death of Hamnet and the creation of Hamlet, according to The New Yorker.Since the film's release there's been a lot of claims it's "grief porn". We get into it.And lastly, whoever is doing 2016's marketing needs a raise, after a nostalgia-based trend caused what feels like the entire internet to look back a decade to the days of Pokemon Go, Brexit, Beyonce's Lemonade, Trump 1.0, Kylie lip kits and chokers to name but a few big moments and trends. For those of us who were old enough to own phones and participate in the culture and social media back then, throwbacks are aplenty. For those who missed it the first time around, FOMO is in full force. Harper's Bazaar has called 2016 the “last good year”, and Glamour suggested it might be the last time we felt “hopeful”. According to TikTok, searches for 2016 surged by 454% in the first week of the new year and about 229 million posts have been made using their 2016 filter. But why?We hope you enjoy, as always please do rate, review & subscribe!Thank you to Cue for the edit.Beth's been loving: The Silence Of The Lambs (the book), Emily In Paris. Ruchira's been loving Stranger Things and Dying For Sex & Oenone's been loving A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, The Night ManagerBrooklyn Beckham's statement Ignore the awards – Hamnet is artificial and manipulative Shakespeare fan fiction"HAMNET" FEELSELEMENTAL, BUT IS IT JUST HIGHLY EFFECTIVE GRIEF PORN?Maybe You'll Hate This MovieWas 2016 The Last Good Year? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** Claudio performs his penance and is rewarded with a miraculous gift that brings everyone together again– this time, for good. 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** The Sexton enters the interrogation room of the Battleship Richelieu to record the accusation against Borachio and Conrade. When Borachio confesses everything, the Sexton tells him that Hero has died and Don John has fled. Meanwhile, Leonato and Antonia confront Don Pedro and Claudio on their way out the door of the villa. The men stand by their story but are shaken by the confrontation. Their spirits are lifted when Benedick arrives but it doesn't take long for Claudio to realize that Benedick isn't joking about challenging him to a duel. Finally, Dogberry and Verges bring Borachio and Conrade into the room to confess the truth of what happened in the orchard. Leonato and Antonia enter with a vengeance to punish the wrongdoers. When the devastated Claudio crumbles in remorse, Leonato tells him to clear his daughter's name at her memorial and to sing an epitaph in her remembrance. 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** Claudio shames Hero at the altar as Don Pedro and Don John back him up. Hero collapses and the guests are cleared out of the chapel. Leonato rages at his daughter until the Deacon intervenes, vouching for Hero's honor. She makes a plan to keep Hero in hiding and spread word that she is dead in order to stir guilt and remorse in the conspirators that framed her. Leonato agrees and departs with the Deacon and Hero, leaving Benedick and Beatrice alone in the sanctuary. As Beatrice mourns her cousin's misfortune, Benedick swears his love to her and she swears hers to him. But when she asks Benedick to prove his love by killing Claudio, he refuses. Beatrice, enraged, accuses him of being false. Benedick finally agrees to do as she says. 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our yearly Recap Book Chat Awards for the year 2025.Most whimsical: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – Its dreamy, childlike philosophical tale of a young prince traveling planets, full of wonder, imagination, and gentle absurdity, captures pure whimsy more than any other on the list. BFG and Much Ado About Nothing also fit this category.Grittiest: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Depicting extreme poverty, injustice, prison brutality, prostitution, child suffering, and revolutionary violence in raw detail, it unflinchingly explores human misery and societal cruelty. Most unique format: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Vol. 1 or 2) – Written entirely as witty, personal diary entries from a quirky Victorian-era heroine, this journal style stands out distinctly among traditional narratives, plays, and prose.Best opening line: The Green Ember by S.D. Smith “Heather had invented the game, but Picket made it magic.” Most unpredictable: The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner – Filled with shocking twists involving deception, bigamy, and survival amid the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, its plot revelations keep readers guessing.Most intense: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon-Family killed in front of her, captured by Indians, yet in love with an Indian man. Most impactful in society: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – A monumental critique of social injustice that influenced reforms, human rights discourse, and popular culture worldwide through adaptations highlighting redemption and inequality.Most creative: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Inventing an entire mythology, languages, maps, and world (Middle-earth) showcases unparalleled imaginative world-building.Best leading lady: Emmalyne Knox from The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson – Intelligent, resilient, compassionate, dealing with trauma from loss of sisters, home and betrothed. Best leading man: Aragorn from The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien. Brave warrior, wise strategist, skilled healer, humble leader, stoic strength and empathy. Aragorn demonstrates a balanced masculinity free of pettiness, unjust anger or despair. He epitomizes patience and loyalty beyond today's imagination! Best ending: Ferris by Kate Dicamillo, what a beautiful story of reconciliation and  community, Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle ends with her teaching her daughter to navigate the dragons (aka mean girls) in life.Changed our lives: Seeing the Unseen by Joe Beam, preparing yourself for Spiritual Warfare along with the bishop in Les Miserables whose kindness changed Jean Valjean's life! Stands the test of time: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Decades later, it remains a cultural cornerstone, influencing fantasy and enduring as a beloved classic.Best overall book: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – Masterful storytelling, rich themes of friendship, heroism, and good vs. evil, combined with enduring influence and depth, make it a standout masterpiece. Happy New Year dear readers!!!

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** Benedick and Beatrice are teased mercilessly by their friends for the sudden changes they notice in their behavior. Don John plants the seed of Hero's disloyalty in the ears of Don Pedro and Claudio, who vows to shame her at the altar if it's proven true. Chief Constable Dogberry preps his Deputy Verges and officers Oatcake and Seacoal for the watch that night, telling them to pay close attention to Leonato's villa in advance of the wedding that's going to be there. The officers fall asleep on their watch but are awakened by rain just in time to overhear Borachio boast to Conrade that he made a bunch of money by getting Margaret to pretend she was Hero as he made love to her, within earshot of Claudio. The inept officers manage to arrest them both. The next morning, Margaret reassures an uneasy Hero as she prepares for her wedding. Dogberry and Verges bumble their way into delivering news of Borachio's arrest to a distracted Leonato, who tells them to handle it themselves. The wedding begins… 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You had questions, we had answers, so join us for the final conversation about Shakespeare's classic comedy! We talk about Margaret's culpability, Don Pedros rejections, Claudio's turn, Dogberry's wisdom, and much more! Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** Borachio and Don John conspire to trick Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful, while Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio trick Benedick into thinking that Beatrice is in love with him and Margaret and Hero trick Beatrice into thinking that Benedick is in love with her. Borachio hatches a plan with Don John to trick Claudio into thinking Hero is unfaithful. Meanwhile, Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio trick Benedick into thinking that Beatrice is in love with him, and Margaret and Hero trick Beatrice into thinking that Benedick is in love with her. 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wood Hounds stumble upon a FaceBook post that lit a fire about firewood sales regulations.  What is everyone so mad about?? 

Welcome back to our series on Much Abo About Nothing! This week we're discussing Hero's role in the story, which characters have a positive transformation, what makes Beatric and Benedick's relationship so delightful, and much, much more. As always, happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Beatrice jokes at dinner about the impossibility of finding the perfect man, swearing she'll never marry. Once the masked ball begins, she dances with Benedick, pretending she doesn't see through his disguise as she teases him mercilessly. Don Pedro dances with Hero and Borachio dances with Margaret. Later, Don John and Borachio spot Claudio outside, pretending to be Benedick. Don John tells him that Don Pedro is in love with Hero before going back inside with Borachio. Claudio is crestfallen and ditches Benedick, who stews over Beatrice's insults until Don Pedro comes out. Benedick berates the prince for stealing Hero from Claudio. Don Pedro scolds Benedick for being rude to Beatrice. Benedick says Beatrice was far worse to him and jokes about how horrible she is until she arrives unseen and overhears his rant. As Benedick beats a hasty retreat, Don Pedro tries to get her to forgive him but she tells him he's wronged her more than once. Having found Claudio, she pushes him to talk to Don Pedro, who informs him to his great surprise that he's won Hero for him and that Leonato has agreed to the match. As Hero and Claudio revel in their joy, Don Pedro asks Beatrice if she'd take him as a husband. She laughs before realizing he's not joking, then tells him she'll never marry. Leonato joins them and sends Beatrice inside so he and Don Pedro can plan for the wedding, which will be in a week. As everyone celebrates, Don Pedro conspires with Leonato, Claudio and Hero to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love with each other. 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's conversation about Shakespeare classic comedy, we discuss the famous “kill Claudio” demand from Beatrice: How it opens up the drama of the play and brings Benedick and Beatrice together. Plus, Benedick's transformation, the true cost of love, Don Pedro the man of causes, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

***This show is brought to you by Quince. Go to ⁠⁠http://quince.com/playonpod ⁠⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.*** 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!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another conversation about Shakespeare's delightful comedy. This week we discuss the differences between “noting” and investigating, Dogberry the wise fool who sees but nonetheless can't communicate clearly in contract with the characters who can communicate but don't have vision, the question of who the play's hero is, and much, much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Set in the French Riviera at the height of post-war euphoria, Shakespeare's romantic comedy about bantering rivals who become reluctant lovers and youthful sweethearts who are nearly thwarted by jealous scoundrels is a romp through a maze of relationships, gossip, passion, persecution and forgiveness. Translated into modern English verse by Ranjit Bolt and directed by Brendon Fox, with original music composition and sound design by Lindsay Jones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another conversation about Shakespeare's wonderful comedy. The best bit: this week we're joined by the one-and-only Tim McIntosh! Topics of conversation include the famous “gulling” scene, the difference between Benedick and Claudio, Don Pedro the schemer, and some more on “noting.” As always, happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to a new series on one of Shakespeare's most delightful and brilliant plays! In this episode, which is about act one, we discuss why it's so beloved, the way Shakespeare's unfurls the story while also offering complex layers of humor, whether you can tell when characters are being honest, Don Pedro's scheming, and much more! Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe