BANGOR — Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy will present “Much Ado About Nothing” and “A Great Big Deal Over Nothing” Thursday through Sunday, at the Bangor Opera House, August 14-16.
“We’re excited to produce one of Shakespeare’s comedic classics,” said Director of Education Amy Roeder. “To add to the fun, we’re also producing a modern retelling of the story for our younger actors and audience members, ‘A Great Big Deal Over Nothing.’”
“Much Ado About Nothing” and “A Great Big Deal Over Nothing” is the culmination of the second session of Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy Summer, a three-week day camp serving students aged 4-20. Throughout the course of the session, developing actors, both novice and veteran, progress from reading to auditions to rehearsal to performance. Through the theatre’s unique Tech Track program, teens interested in developing their skills behind the scenes design and create the set, costume and prop elements needed to bring the work from page to stage. Classes on Shakespearean performance, improvisation, and stage combat are also part of the weekly schedule.
Penobscot Theatre Company’s resident teaching artist and company member Benjamin Layman is the director of “A Great Big Deal Over Nothing.” Director of Education Amy Roeder directs “Much Ado About Nothing.” Set designer Bob Rogers, costume designer and stage manager Catherine Darragh, and teaching artist Arthur Morison are joined by tech track student Isaac Anderson as sound designer.
The cast members are Lilyana Bebout of Blue Hill, Lauren Bilancia of Brewer, Ian Buck of Glenburn, Sophia Crespo of Bangor, Viola Davis of Bangor, Danielle Fenlason of Brewer, Isabel Fiske of Hampden, Riley Howe Grenier of Bangor, Ella Jellison of Dedham, Dellana Kessler of Bangor, Maisie McCarthy of Bangor, Easnadh Nobel Toolo of Brewer, Selig Nobel Toolo of Brewer, Rachel Palmer of Winterport, Lilie Sites of Bangor, Maya Smith of Bangor, Jayden Spearin of East Holden, Aurora Thompson of Newburgh, Madonna Helwig of Hampden, Lexi Potter of Old Town, Alec Allain-Winchester of Winterport, Sophia Bilodeau of Veazie, Megan Clark of Brewer, Rose Codair of Brewer, Meg Demeritt of Orono, Ruby El-Hajj of Winterport, Lauren Elwood of Bangor, Rebekah Friedman of Brewer, Marianne Grossmann of Bangor, Caitlin Hession of Parkman, Rowan Jellison of Strong, Macey Jennings of Holden, Nathan Manaker of Orono, Sydney McDonald of Bangor, Hannah Nilsson of Brewer, Rebeclyn Parker of Dexter, Lana Sabbagh of Brewer and Megan Ward of Bangor. Tech track students are Isaac Anderson of Hampden and Elisabeth Budd of Bangor.
Tickets are $12, $8 children, may be purchased at penobscottheatre.org or by phone at 947-6618. Performance times for “A Great Big Deal Over Nothing” are 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15, and noon Sunday, Aug. 16. Performance times for “Much Ado About Nothing” is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.
For information, go to penobscottheatre.org.