Public Theater's Much Ado About Nothing Streams Free This Month
Great Performances has released a special online encore presentation of The Public Theater's Much Ado About Nothing – which will be streaming for free throughout the month of September. A bold interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece, the live capture stars Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black,” Broadway’s “The Color Purple”) and Grantham Coleman (“Buzzer,” “The Americans”). Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“American Son,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) directs with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown (“Choir Boy”). Here's how to stream Much Ado About Nothing now: "Much Ado About Nothing" marks the first time in over four decades that PBS' Great Performances series presented a Public Theater production recorded live at the annual free Shakespeare in the Park event. After a highly successful, critically acclaimed run at the outdoor Delacorte Theater in New York City’s Central Park, Much Ado About Nothing aired on PBS in July 2020 and later went under a paywall. The show will now be available to stream for free until September 30th, 2022. A direct link to the stream has been added to our updating list of free musicals and plays. The new adaptation of the play is set in contemporary Georgia with an election race underway. "Much Ado About Nothing" finds the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war, but not all is peaceful - former rivals battle it out, revenge is sought and trickery runs amok in this timeless comedy of romantic vengeance and miscommunication. The production earned a New York Times Critic’s Pick during its run, with Jesse Green saying: "That’s what’s so successful about this fresh version of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays: Its politics, though unmistakable, cloud neither the romance nor the comedy...the comedy of negotiation and reconciliation is one we need to experience right now: the kind that can still hold out hope, despite whatever war looms beyond the beautiful trees, for an engaged electorate, a fair vote, swift justice and a marriage of equals." The play was recorded live during its final weekend of performances, June 22-23, 2019. The cast also features Jamar Brathwaite (Ensemble), Chuck Cooper (Leonato), Javen K. Crosby (Ensemble), Denzel DeAngelo Fields (Ensemble), Jeremie Harris (Claudio), Tayler Harris (Ensemble), Erik Laray Harvey (Antonio/Verges), Kai Heath (Messenger), Daniel Croix Henderson (Balthasar), Tyrone Mitchell Henderson (Friar Francis/Sexton), Tiffany Denise Hobbs (Ursula), Lateefah Holder (Dogberry), LaWanda Hopkins (Dancer), Billy Eugene Jones (Don Pedro), Margaret Odette (Hero), Hubert Point-Du Jour (Don John), William Roberson (Ensemble), Jaime Lincoln Smith (Borachio), Jazmine Stewart (Ensemble), Khiry Walker (Conrade/Ensemble), Olivia Washington (Margaret) and Latra A. Wilson (Dancer). Photo Credit: Sara Krulwich / The New York Times