Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing will be presented at the Newburgh campus in Kaplan Hall’s Orange County Trust Company Great Room on Friday, March 7 at 7:30pm. This classic play is brought entirely into the 21st C by the Judith Shakespeare Company NYC in a unique Concert Reading by ten actors who will offer the audience discussion time during a brief talkback with the actors and director immediately following the presentation.

Beatrice and Benedick are destined to be together, but there’s just one problem – they despise each other.  So their friends conspire to trick them into falling in love with a few little white lies.  Meanwhile, young Hero and Claudio are deeply in love until a vengeful lie threatens to tear them apart – on their wedding day.  But thanks to some lucky sleuthing by one of the most inept officers of the law ever to cross a stage, things may yet turn out well in the end.

TheatreScene.net comments that the Judith Shakespeare Company NYC is “…smart, thoughtful, and wonderfully accessible…” And NYTheatre.com reviews the company as “a wonderful ensemble of actors who truly know and love Shakespeare and are under the superb direction of Joanne Zipay.” Off-Off Broadway Review states that JSC has “…a firm command of classical theatre and a focus on women’s roles.” The Judith Shakespeare Company NYC  is dedicated to expanding the presence of women in classical theatre, sometimes using role reversals. In fact, this reading will feature 50% women.

Tickets will be on sale at the door starting at 6:30pm the evening of the performance, plus online anytime atwww.sunyorange.edu/arts_comm/ticketing.shtml. Admission is $10 adults; $5 senior citizens, SUNY Orange alumni, faculty, staff; and free for all students from any educational institution. Questions about this theatre event may be directed to Cultural Affairs atcultural@sunyorange.edu  and (845)341-9386 or 341-4891. Also, see website www.sunyorange.edu/culturalaffairs