It's 2008, and a group of football's golden boys have come to Messina after the EUROs to visit friends, party, and find love. What starts as a celebratory visit quickly takes a turn as schemes collide and go too far, reputations are stained, and the status quo is disturbed. Much Ado About Nothing explores how relationships change when traditional societal expectations are challenged and morals are questioned—all while featuring one of the greatest enemies-to-lovers storylines ever written, a Shakespearean heroine who fakes her death and actually survives it, an indoor clothesline, and a bumping 2000s Europop soundtrack.

"Don’t Sigh" was written by Althea Li and Cory Turnbaugh, with lyrics by Jefferson Lind.

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Cast

Honor Torrance (Beatrice) is thrilled to be back for an extra year with the Dean’s Men as a Master’s student in English, having recently graduated from an three-year undergrad term on the board as Arts Chair! Honor was last seen onstage running around delivering letters for lovestruck aristocrats (Peter Simple, The Merry Wives of Windsor), running around causing problems for lovestruck aristocrats (Peaseblossom/Robin Starveling, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), running around committing identity theft for a lovestruck aristocrat (Tranio, Taming of the Shrew), and running around pulling pranks for a lovestruck aristocrat (Maria, Twelfth Night). Honor’s most European traits are her love of coffee and pasta…and her very Puritan name.

Spencer O’Brien (Benedick) is a fourth-year Media Arts and Design major and British dual citizen who is elated to be joining you all for his first Deans Men Show! His sole UT mainstage credit is in the 2024 spring production of Strings Attached (Jason), and he would like to extend his utmost thanks to Eleni Lefakis and Joseph DePaula for their infinite patience and good humor. The most European thing about him is that his full name is Spencer Adonis Penelope Odysseus Homer O’Brien. And please, everyone remember, “‘tis not so, nor ‘twas not so; but indeed, God forbid it should be so!”

Izadora Kashper (Hero) is a first-year Philosophy major on the pre-law track. This is her first UT credit, and she is excited for the chance to be initiated as a Dean’s Man! She is impressed by the incredible progress of the production in just 5 weeks, and is exceedingly proud to be a part of it.

Giancarlo Beritela (Claudio)

Robert Stimpson (Leonato) is a second year CHDV Major. His UT credit is Strings Attached (Dallas Richman). His favorite other roles include Laurie in Little Women, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka, and Santa Claus in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He would like to thank everyone involved in making his first two college theatre productions as fun, fulfilling, and exciting as they have been. HE thinks his most European trait is his very Scandinavian hair (and his pride about his family having a Tartan!)

Emily Curran (Margaret) is a third-year Public Policy Major and TAPS Minor. She has performed with UT in Falsettos (Charlotte) and has worked on Romeo and Juliet (Assistant Lighting), Macbeth (Lighting), Twelfth Night (Lighting), Be More Chill (Assistant Lighting), Strings Attached (Lighting), and most recently Arcadia (Assistant Lighting). Her work has also been seen abroad with The Reptilian Affiliates’ Edinburgh Fringe production of Nathalie Lam’s My God is Julie Andrews (Lighting). She is the current Social Chair of University Theater Committee and is so excited for you all to see the show! She would like to thank Eleni and all members of ze JERM Haus for their endless support. The most European thing about her is hur tartan. Much love, as always, and enjoy!

Simon Tsuchiya Lenoe (Don Pedro) is a first-year PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He previously performed in Richard III (Buckingham) and is currently serving as the Education Chair of the Dean’s Men. The most European thing about Simon is his frequent opening of windows even in the dead of winter to let fresh air in (in German, the practice is called Lüften). He also enjoys second-tier Bundesliga soccer. Go Hertha Berlin!

Margaret Nakiganda (Don John) is a third-year Public Policy major. As a UT member, she’s previously worked on Richard III (Prince Edward Lancaster/Marquess of Dorset) and Theatre 24 (Director). Margaret’s most European trait is her penchant for taking naps in the middle of the day.

Caroline Lopez (Borachio) is a fourth-year Chemistry major. Her past UT credits include The Play that Goes Wrong (Director), Dead Fun Society (Aspen), Marian (Guard), and The Trail to Oregon! (u/s Mother). She is very excited to be acting in her first ever Shakespeare play! The most European thing about Caroline is that, like the British, she alternates between being too repressed and too blunt.

Dallas Wolf (Conrade)

Clee (Dogberry) does not like writing about herself in the third person. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their creative visions and collaborated on this show to bring it to life. Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy it.

Logan Carlson (Verges)

Benjamin Tytell (Seacoal/Messenger) is a second year Political Science major. This his first UT show (unless you count Theater 24, Winter ‘24). His most European trait is that he hates Europe.

Reilly Pryma (Friar Francis) is a first year interested in Sociology and Creative Writing. This is his first UT show! The most European thing about him is that he loves trains and bikes. His signature skill is Conceptualization.

Production Staff

Eleni Lefakis (Director & Co-Dramaturg) is a fourth-year TAPS and RLLT double-major currently serving as UT Treasurer. Her UT mainstage credits are The Heirs (Stage Manager); The Trail to Oregon! (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); Romeo and Juliet (Co-Production Manager); Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); MacBeth in Space (Dramaturg); The Laramie Project (SM Collective™); Be More Chill (Co-Director); Twelfth Night (Pre-Production Manager); The Taming of The Shrew (Stage Manager/Assistant Dramaturg); Falsettos (Dramaturg); Richard III (Assistant Costume Designer); Strings Attached (Co-Director); The Play That Goes Wrong (Committee Liaison/Stagehand); and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dramaturg). Outside of UChicago, Eleni has also worked on shows with Teatro del Presagio, Lykofos Productions, Berlin Opera Academy, and Reptilian Affiliates Theater Co. This spring she will be Assistant Directing Berlin at Court Theatre. A high school production of Much Ado About Nothing was the first thing that made Eleni care about theater, so the fact that the company has put work into this production with her literally means the world. She’s ridiculously thankful for and proud of everyone involved in this show but especially all the new Dean’s Men, who now get to join one of her favorite communities of all time. The most European thing about Eleni is her all-consuming desire to forfeit her American citizenship, return to the homeland, forget how to speak English, and never be heard from again.

Joseph DePaula (Co-Dramaturg) is a third-year Medieval Studies & History major making his assistant-directorial debut with this production of Much Ado (and he is honored to have been given such a great opportunity to learn from Eleni!). He made his college stage-managerial debut last year with Cup of Theater’s BELEARIC, though he is primarily an actor—having performed in “Strings Attached” (UT); “The Taming of the Shrew” (Dean’s Men); “Dead Fun Society” (UT); “The Physicists” (CoT); and “Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” (UT) during his time at UChicago so far. Joseph also serves as the Artistic Director for Cup of Theater, the Production Manager & Co-Outreach Coordinator for Attori Senza Paura (the Commedia dell’Arte troupe on campus), and Co-Outreach Chair for University Theater Committee. His most European trait is probably all of the Italian-Americanisms he picked up from his family—as a younger sibling, he can say some men choose to be a stunadi, while others have it thrust upon them.

Coco Liu (Production Manager) is a fourth-year Chemistry and Linguistics major. She has previously worked on The Taming of the Shrew (Production Manager), Strings Attached (Co-Stage Manager), and Macbeth in Space (Production Manager). Her most European trait is being from a former British colony and therefore doing things like using the metric system, calling trash cans “bins”, and not understanding why cars are everywhere.

Nate LePelley (Stage Manager) is a second-year Cognitive Science major. He has previously worked on Strings Attached (Assistant Stage Manager). He would like to thank any of his friends that came to watch this production and to Eleni for giving him the opportunity to prove his stage-manager chops. His most European trait is his hatred for American politics and his love of pączkis.

Cami Delgado (Lighting Designer) is a second year Astrophysics and Visual Arts Major. They have previously worked on Taming of the Shrew (Assistant Lighting Designer), Richard III (Lighting Designer), and The Play That Goes Wrong (Assistant Stage Manager). Their most European traits are their love of baked goods and lack of a driver’s license.

Maddy Tavel (Sound Designer) is a second-year English and Computer Science major. In UT she has worked on Winter Workshops (Sound Designer) and Midsummer (Assistant Sound Designer). She’s pumped to work on her first Dean’s Men show as a lead designer and the most European thing about her is that Maddy believes Rugby is a better sport than American Football.

Will Rehmus (Scenic Designer) is a second-year astrophysics major. They have worked on 4 UT mainstage shows so far (in sound, lighting, and stage management), and on a number of other other projects (T[24], workshops, Arcadia). They have really enjoyed diving into the world where this show is set and creating a design to reflect that. The most European thing about them is that they spell things the british way about 65% of the time.

Kaiden Wu (Props Designer) is currently “borrowing” more oranges from the dining hall for this show (allegedly). His most European trait is that he somewhat knows English.

Anna German (Costume Designer) is a fourth-year Political Science, Media Arts and Design, and Gender and Sexuality Studies major whose previous Dean’s Men credits include Richard III (Costumes Designer), Twelfth Night (Costumes Designer), Macbeth in Space (Costumes Designer), and Romeo and Juliet (Costumes Designer). Her most European trait is that she has European citizenship, and, as a bonus, her least European trait is the fact that she is extraordinarily cool and sexy. This bio, like every other bio she’s had before, was written by the also extraordinarily cool and sexy Kelly Mao!

Joseph Depaula (Asst. Director) is a third-year Medieval Studies & History major making his assistant-directorial debut with this production of Much Ado (and he is honored to have been given such a great opportunity to learn from Eleni!). He made his college stage-managerial debut last year with Cup of Theater’s BELEARIC, though he is primarily an actor—having performed in “Strings Attached” (UT); “The Taming of the Shrew” (Dean’s Men); “Dead Fun Society” (UT); “The Physicists” (CoT); and “Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” (UT) during his time at UChicago so far. Joseph also serves as the Artistic Director for Cup of Theater, the Production Manager & Co-Outreach Coordinator for Attori Senza Paura (the Commedia dell’Arte troupe on campus), and Co-Outreach Chair for University Theater Committee. His most European trait is probably all of the Italian-Americanisms he picked up from his family—as a younger sibling, he can say some men choose to be a stunadi, while others have it thrust upon them.

Sarah Romai (Asst. Production Manager) is a second-year Political Science and Economics major. They are also working on If/Then (Assistant Stage Manager). The most European thing about them is my love of bread.

Aneth Rodriguez (Asst. Stage Manager) is a third year Business Economics and Psychology major. In UT she has worked in Dead Fun Society (Assistant Director), The Play That Goes Wrong (Scenic Designer), and Macbeth in Space (Assistant Scenic Designer). Her most European trait is her hatred for Americans !!!

Yolanda Li (Asst. Stage Manager) is a first year planning to major in Fundamentals; Issues and Texts and Classical studies. This is her first time working in a theater production! Answering the company fun fact question, the most European thing about her, which is extremely difficult to think of considering she’s from the faraway Asia, is having pathetically light but stylish breakfast.

Kaiden Wu (Asst. Lighting Designer) is currently “borrowing” more oranges from the dining hall for this show (allegedly). His most European trait is that he somewhat knows English.

Ian Schmidt (Asst. Lighting Designer)

Torren Tsay (Asst. Sound Designer)

Kaden Kaden (Asst. Scenic Designer) is a second-year History and Linguistics major. They have previously worked on The Play That Goes Wrong (Lighting Designer); Arcadia (TAPS Pro-Show) (Lighting Programmer and Board Operator); Strings Attached (Assistant Costume and Assistant Lighting Designer); Muscle Memory (Lighting Designer); and four Theater [24]s as (Lighting Designer). Their most European trait is a love for public transportation and an inability to drive.

Camila Delgado (Asst. Props Designer) is a second year Astrophysics and Visual Arts Major. They have previously worked on Taming of the Shrew (Assistant Lighting Designer), Richard III (Lighting Designer), and The Play That Goes Wrong (Assistant Stage Manager). Their most European traits are their love of baked goods and lack of a driver’s license.

Hillary Cheung (Asst. Props Designer) is a third-year Media Arts & Design and Visual Arts major. Graduating a year early, it is her first time working in TAPS as well as theater and she looks forward to helping with further productions throughout her final year.

Julia Jackson (Asst. Costume Designer)

Claudia Roth Hesson (Asst. Costume Designer)

Kelly Mao (Committee Liaison) is a fourth-year Computer Science and Mathematics major whose previous UT/Dean’s Men credits include Richard III (Sound Designer), Macbeth in Space (Sound Designer), Romeo and Juliet (Asst. Sound Designer), and King Lear (Co-Stage Manager). She is probably taking a little nap at this very moment.