Cancelled due to COVID-19
MUCH ADO
ABOUT NOTHING
MAY 11 & 12, 2022 at 7pm at EOLA HILLS WINE CELLARS
“LET ME BE THAT I AM AND SEEK NOT TO ALTER ME.”
Trickery and treachery take center stage in Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy. Merry banterers Beatrice and Benedick fall into love, while Hero and Claudio fall out of it. Directed by Hannah Fawcett (S&F's Dear Brutus, Cymbeline, As You Like It), this queer interpretation of Shakespeare’s big hearted comedy promises love lost, love won, and a looney cast of characters.
PG
While appropriateness is subjective, we consider this production appropriate for people ages 5 and up.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us here
the company
Claire Snyder - Beatrice
This is Claire’s 3rd season with S&F. She has been seen treading the boards as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Ghost of Christmas Past / Belle in A Christmas Carol. Outside of S&F, Claire has been involved with Gallery Theater and Salem Theatre Network in a variety of capacities, and cannot wait to get to spend some time with the bard again. When not onstage, Claire is a social justice activist finishing her Bachelor’s degree in History with an emphasis on Queer and Ethnic studies. A huge thanks to S&F for the opportunity to experience and perform Shakespeare in fresh and vivid ways, and to my partners and amazing kids, Ryan, Violette, Ell and Oakly.
Many thanks to S&F for creating inclusivity, accessibility and representation in theater.
Christa L. Fenton (she/her) - Benedick
This is Christa's debut with Struts & Frets! She is absolutely delighted to be involved with this company. Her most recent theatrical works include the world premiere of Omission, presented with Keizer Homegrown Theater, Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution, where she was nominated for an Irene Ryan Award, and The Father, presented at The Verona Studio, where she is also a board member.
Ethan Cockrill (he/him) - Don John/Dogberry/Friar
This is Ethan’s first production with S&F. Ethan is based in Portland, Oregon and is extremely happy to have met such an amazing community of theater lovers and performers. Ethan acquired a BA in Theater Arts at Portland State University where he also performed in such plays as INDECENT by Paula Vogel and In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl. He also has many credits in film and intends to move to Los Angeles in the fall to continue pursuing acting as a career. He always jumps at the opportunity to perform Shakespeare and couldn’t be happier to be bringing so many amazing characters to life!
Savannah King (she/her) - Hero/Borachio
This is Savannah's second season with S&F! She is currently a senior at Dallas High School and was last seen as Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice there. You might also have seen her online in 2021 in Twelfth Night and A Christmas Carol with DHS and as Moth in A Midsummer Night's Dream with S&F in 2019. This April, Savannah got to compete at the Oregon State Thespian Conference and showcased in Solo Acting! She plans to pursue a degree in Theatre Arts from Portland State University in the fall!
Alex Fawcett (he/him) - Claudio/Conrade
This is Alex's third season with S&F. He was last seen on its stage as Snug in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and before that, as Guiderius in Cymbeline. Other credits include Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Ambrose in Hello, Dolly!, and Blake in Neighborhood Three: Requisition of Doom at Dallas High School. He is an Interdisciplinary Studies major at Western Oregon University.
Emily Adela Loberg (she/they) - Balthasar/Margaret/Verges
Emily’s previous work with S&F includes playing Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and understudying the masculine roles in Dear Brutus. Most recently at Pentacle Theatre, she directed An Ideal Husband and played Julia in 1984. She has also performed at The Verona Studio and Macalester College and in several other productions at Pentacle. Emily works as a multi-modal transportation advocate, bicycle mechanic and tour leader, and freelance editor.
Jeff Sanders - Don Pedro
Jeff is very excited to be making his fifth appearance with Struts & Frets, having played the dual roles of Richard Burbage and Henry Garnet in Equivocation, the title role in Cymbeline, Ebenezer Scrooge in their online reading of A Christmas Carol with Patrick Page, and most recently as Will Dearth in Dear Brutus. He was seen most recently onstage in Twelfth Night at Valley Shakespeare Company as Malvolio, and Terrence McNalley’s Full Frontal Nudity for Verona Studio for which he won the regional AACT Best Acting award. In his four decades of theatre in the Willamette Valley, Jeff has directed and acted in productions by Shakespeare, Alan Ayckbourn, Moliere, Arthur Miller, Sarah Ruhl, John Patrick Shanley, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Rupert Holmes and many others. He lives with his brilliant, supportive partner Christa and her four children and not nearly close enough to his wonderful and supportive adult son, Michael.
Kelli Jaecks (she/her) - Leonata
Kelli has performed on Salem stages for over 30 years and is this is her second show with Struts & Frets, after playing Mrs Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, starring Patrick Page. Her most recent credits include Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Violet in Nine to Five, Chris in Calendar Girls, and Roxy Hart in Chicago with Pentacle Theatre, and Love, Loss & What I Wore with Verona Studio. Kelli is a nationally published author, professional speaker, and blogger. https://www.kellijaecks.com
Jacqueline Buller - Stage Manager
This will be Jacqueline's 2nd season with S&F. She was last seen on stage as a fairy in S&F's 2019 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Since then Jacqueline has been busy going to school at Western Oregon University. She hopes to graduate next spring with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Psychology and a minor in Art & Design. Even though it's been a bit since her last theatre production, she is so excited to be back!
Hannah Fawcett (she/her) - Director
This is Hannah's 7th season with S&F. She is the founding Artistic Director of the company and was last seen on its stage as Imogen in S&F's 2018 production of Cymbeline. Her most recent credits include As You Like It and Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and as Olivia in Twelfth Night at Valley Shakespeare Company. She is currently working as a Guest Artist at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Hannah holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Oregon University. You can check out her website hannahfawcett.com, or find her on Instagram @hannfaw
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
