Theater students have been preparing for their first drama production, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, with a planned opening in early December.

Drama teacher and director of the play, Jamie Donohoe, explained that last year’s performances, Romeo and Juliet and The Laramie Project, were both heavy tragedies.  According to Donohoe, it’s “time to lighten it up. This one’s a comedy. Plus, it’s about love, and Campolindo students are always falling in love, so it is appropriate.”

Junior Sarah Firth is cast as Beatrice, one of the main roles. Excited for the performance, she said, the cast “is really great. We have a lot of fun and we’re getting really close because we spend so much time together.”

Senior Will Stone will play the role of Benedick, a hesitant bachelor that doesn’t trust women, until his friends trick him into falling in love with Beatrice. Stone believes his “favorite part of the play would be the sarcastic and funny arguments at the beginning. The characters are petty and don’t trust each other.”

Verges, the comedic relief of the performance, will be played by Junior Mina Arasteh. Although it may seem to be a smaller part in relation to Beatrice and Benedick, Verges is a vital role in order for the lighter note Donohoe was aiming to hit this year.

Arasteh enjoys having so many new people getting into drama this year.  She has also volunteered herself to help with the costumes.  She said that for now she has “rummaged through old musical costumes, and will go thrift store shopping soon. It’s really cool, the theme and inspiration is the Mad Men show, which is 60’s awesomeness.”

All three performers agreed that they will invite everyone to see the play.  “We are trying to get publicity. I believe this will be the first year we sell out of the show,” said Aresteh.

After auditions, about 35 students were narrowed down to a cast that consists of 15 parts. The cast began practicing after schol 4 weeks ago, with the occasional Saturday rehearsal. The final show will be performed on Friday and Saturday, December 2nd and 3rd.

Donohoe describes his interpretation of Shakespeare’s story to be “modern high society; it looks like a 1950’s or 60’s club. It’s kind of like Mad Men meets Shakespeare, with emphasis on goofy fun, lots of singing, dancing, and goofy characters.”