 |
| Linda Bisesti as Dogberry and Mauricio Soto as Verges rehearse in “Much Ado About Nothing.” |
 |
| The Shakespeare Festival is an acting troupe comprising five actors from the Actors Equity Association and 14 student actors. |
 |
| Since 2004, the Shakespeare Festival has performed different plays each fall. |
Scheming lovers and a jealous brother stir up chaos in the romantic comedy, “Much Ado about Nothing,” to be performed by the Southern California Shakespeare Festival at Cal Poly Pomona.
The Shakespeare Festival resides at the university and is an acting troupe comprising five actors from the Actors Equity Association and 14 student actors.
To celebrate its fifth season, the troupe will stage the Shakespeare play on Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, and Oct. 2 and 3. All performances have an 8 p.m. curtain call and will be held in the Studio Theatre, Building 25. A gala reception will follow the performance on Sept. 12.
Tickets are available for purchase beginning Aug. 1. General admission is $15 and is $12 for seniors, students, faculty and staff.
“Much Ado about Nothing” is set in picturesque Sicily and follows a pair of lovers, Claudio and Hero, who are due to be married in a week. The lovers team up with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for each other.
However, things begin to heat up when the prince's brother, Don John, enters the picture.
With his jealousy of Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, Don Pedro conspires to sabotage the coming wedding celebration.
Student actors auditioned in April and will begin rehearsal in August.
The Southern California Shakespeare Festival aims to establish a classical, professional repertory theatre company dedicated to nurturing artists and student-artists and enriching the diverse community of the Inland Empire.
“The Festival is one of the very few professional theatre companies in the Inland Empire,” said Linda Bisesti, director and associate theatre professor. “It's a way for communities to see good professional theatre close to home and for theatre students to gain professional experience.”
Since 2004, the Shakespeare Festival has performed plays, such as “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “A Midsummer Night's Dream” to sold-out audiences.
It was developed by Bisesti, who serves as its artistic director, and is co-produced by Instructional Related Activities and Theatre department.
For more information, visit www.class.cpp.edu/th/scsf/. Because the Studio Theatre seats 64 people and the shows often sell out, reservations are recommended. Call the Theatre department at (909) 869-3900.