Media Advisory  / For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 6, 2016
Hart House Theatre presents
William Shakespeare's popular comedy
Toronto, Ontario - Opening November 4, Hart House Theatre is pleased to present William Shakespeare's widely adored battle of the sexes, Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by recent graduate of the National Theatre School, Carly Chamberlain, and starring a cast of trained, young performers, Much Ado About Nothing promises to deliver classic theatre with a youthful flair and the high calibre production style for which Hart House Theatre is known.
 
The war is over! Or is it? The soldiers may be returning, but between Benedick and Beatrice, the battle is just beginning. William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a lively showdown between the sexes with missed connections and romantic hijinks. Despite obstacles of all sorts and the meddling of some quirky characters, truth and honesty wins the day with love conquering all.

Carly Chamberlain We are pleased to welcome back Director Carly Chamberlain. Fresh from her graduation from the National Theatre School, Carly first made her mark on Hart House Theatre as a director in our 2013/2014 Season with her incredible work on Anne-Marie MacDonald's award-winning play, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). Lauded then for her crisp, clear direction and strong choices, we look forward to seeing how she guides the warring lovers of this text. When asked for her thoughts on on the timeline for this production, Carly had this to say:

"We've set the play in the 1940s, post World War II. I see this as an incredibly fruitful jumping off point for a number of reasons. There is so much tension in the play about the choice to stay independent versus the choice to marry. World War II saw women take on new roles in the workforce and gain more agency, but when the war came to an end a kind of social conflict was created. Was this new independence temporary? Should we all go back to valuing family lives above all? How much choice do we have in the matter? This moment of change serves as the subtle background for our story: where young people grapple with their ideas of love and marriage versus the realities, for better and for worse...

I see this ultimately as a story about hiding and being seen. What happens when our bravado and social masks get in the way of any true connection? Can we risk being really seen in the name of love? It's a story that I think 20 and 30 somethings (but really everyone) can relate to: young people reaching a point of having to ask, 'Ok, who do I really want to be? How do I really want to live?'
 
Also with lots of funny and silly stuff and smashing 1940s outfits and dancing."

Tasked with creating the post-WWII world where hope and love can thrive are three celebrated designers: the incredible design team of Adriana Bogaard (set and costume), André du Toit (lighting) and Andy Trithardt (sound).

Set renderings
Early set renderings and set models by Designer Adriana Bogaard.

To interview the director, our production team or to arrange a tour of the build in progress, please call the media contact listed below.
Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Carly Chamberlain
Set and Costume Design by Adriana Bogaard
Lighting Design by André du Toit
Sound Design by Andy Trithardt

FEATURING

Shalyn McFaul Shalyn McFaul, Beatrice
Shalyn wowed audiences with her stand-out performance as Gretchen in last season's farce, Boeing Boeing., Now she returns to our stage as the fun-loving wit, Beatrice. A self-proclaimed North American nomad, Shalyn has zig-zagged across the continent, living in Southern California, NYC and Vancouver before landing in Toronto two years ago. Shalyn is a graduate of the Theatre program at Trinity Western University.

This marks Christopher's debut performance on our stage after working with the Driftwood Theatre Group and performing for ten seasons with the "Nearly World-Famous" Dufflebag Theatre. Born and raised in Toronto, Chris is an actor, musician and educator. He is a graduate of George Brown College's conservatory acting program.

Tatiana Deans
Tatiana Deans, Hero
Tatiana Deans is a recent graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and makes her debut on the Toronto-theatre scene in this pivotal role on our historied stage.


Alan Shonfield Alan Shonfield, Claudio
Alan holds a BA in Drama from the University of Waterloo, where he was the 2015 recipient of the Lloy Coutts Acting Award. Alan returns to our stage after playing Rosencrantz in last season's Hamlet.


Laura Meadows Laura Meadows, Don John
Laura makes her Hart House Theatre debut in this 'villianous role'. She graduated from York University's Acting Conservatory Program (BFA) last year and is currently writing and performing in her very first theatre piece with HERstory Counts, which focuses on bringing a voice to 'silenced womyn' in today's modern world.

Lesley Robertson Lesley Robertson, Dogberry
We are so pleased to have Lesley return to our stage after her much-lauded performances in Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), This is for You, Anna, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear. Lesley studied English literature at Queen's and U of T (M.A.) before she dove into acting full-time at George Brown Theatre School. Lesley also expresses her creativity through the theatre collective Theatre Inamorata and her comedy duo The Diddlin' Bibbles. 

For a full cast biographies, click here. For more information on the professional production team, visit here.

Nov. 4-19, 2016

Week 1: Fri. & Sat., 8 pm
Week 2: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm
Week 3: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm and Sat., 2 pm

Postshow Talkbacks: Sat., Nov. 5 and Thurs., Nov. 10
Preshow Artist Chat: Sat., Nov. 19 at 1 pm
Tickets & Box Office
Single Ticket Prices
Adults: $28
Seniors: $17
Students: $15
$12 Student tickets every Wednesday night

Box Office
416.978.8849
About Hart House Theatre

Established in 1919, Hart House Theatre is the University of Toronto's Performing Arts Leader. Since its inception, the theatre's unique mix of young professionals, alumni, and students has garnered the theatre a reputation as a cultural destination for not only the community of U of T but also the city of Toronto.
Media Inquiries

Andrea Wasserman

Marketing Coordinator at Hart House Theatre

416.978.8381

andrea.wasserman@utoronto.ca
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Hart HouseHart House Theatre / University of Toronto
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www.harthousetheatre.ca