Group27 jon egging_brandonfleissig_bellagoldenberg_valentinadargam

Much Ado
About
NothingBrandon Fleissig
Bella Goldenberg
Valentina Dargam
Group 27

Director’s Note
• The brilliance of Shakespeare is
sometimes lost due to his tremendously
vast and complex vocabulary.
• An adapted version should be made so
that younger audiences can enjoy his
work without frustration and appreciate
the fantastic characters created almost
400 years ago.

A Modern Setting
• Time Period: Present Day
• Location: Messina High School
– The specific location should be kept vague so that it can be easily
adapted for different audiences across the nation.
• Modern Tools
– Along with the language, the music and sound will be updated to
suit the time period.

A Modern
Metaphor• Taking place in your prototypical high school Shakespeare's war hero’s
becomes the school’s jocks coming home in glory after winning the state
championship in football.
• The female characters, become today’s cheerleaders placing them
tantamount to high school royalty.
• The parents assume the football team’s coaching positions giving a
modern explanation of why the two generations would be incommunicado.
• The essence of each character must be kept in tact, but the experiences
the characters live throughout Much Ado are similar to the petty drama
found in present day high school.

Script
• Conversion to Modern Day English
• Downplay of family ties between characters
– Modern day marriage is now based on “love” and
“attraction” rather than socio-economic status
– Leonata’s consent is longer needed for a
relationship between Hero and Claudio

Example of Modern Day
Language Adaptation
• BENEDICK
– If she wasn’t the coach’s daughter she wouldn’t be popular at all.
Nobody at Shakespere’s High School would like her.
• BEATRICE
– Who are you to say anything, Benedict. Last time I checked you
didn’t have a date for the prom.
• BENEDICK
– Says the bitter Lesbian.
• BEATRICE
– Is it possible for you not to be an asshole Benedick? Any woman
around you would gladly switch teams in your presence.
• BENEDICK
– the girls. My only flaw is my inability to choose just one… at a time.
• BEATRICE
– You manslut. I would rather give up my iphone, than be asked to the
prom.
• BENEDICK
– Good thing you got nothing to worry about with that rachet face of
yours.
• BEATRICE
– And yet I still look better than you.
• BENEDICK
– You’re a rare bread, you bark like a chiwawa.
• BEATRICE
– My bark is better than you’re bite.
• BENEDICK
– I wish my car had the speed of your tongue. Is anybody else hungry?
I’m having a strange craving for Taco Bell. Lets get out of here.
• BEATRICE
– You always end with a low blow. I know you.
It could be considered blasphemous
to try and translate Shakespeare to
modern tongue, but for a younger
audience the essence of
Shakespeare can be kept in tact
using modern analogies and
metaphors. As “attempted” in this
excerpt of banter between Beatrice
and Benedick.

Costume Style
• Historical Period
– Present Day High School
• Fashion Style
– Teenagers
• Preppy | Athletic Look
– Adults
• Athletic
• Professional, but modest

The Jocks
• Rather than coming back from from war, our main male
characters are winners of their high school football championship.
• The Jocks come in two groups the good and bad represented by
contrasted colored T-shirts.
• Attire
– Blue Letterman Jackets
– Khaki pants, white or black T-shirt
– The school Coat of Arms can be found on the
back of their jackets.
• “Good” Jocks
– Represented by the
color white
• Don Pedro
• Claudio
• Benedict

Benedick
• Modern Equivalent
– Johnny Bravo
• Personality Traits
– Narcissistic
– Cocky
– Playboy
• Character Traits
– One of the stars of the football team.
– Witty
Character Description
Costumes
Props
Casual Dance

Claudio
– Leonard [Big Bang Theory]
– Quiet
– Timid
– Humble
– Scores game winning touchdown at
the school’s championship game
– Although a good player, greatness
has been trust upon him and is
uncomfortable in the limelight
Character Description Costumes
Props
Casual Dance

Don Pedro
– Alex Moran [Blue Mountain State]
– Amicable
– Easy Going
– Loyal
– Quarterback, Star player of the team
– Most popular guy in his High
School, considered like royalty.
– Captain of Football, noted by patch
on letterman Jacket
• Details
– Often found carrying a football
Costumes
Props & Details
Casual Dance

Don John
– Scar [The Lion King]
– Jealous, spiteful
– Two faced
– Antisocial Personality Disorder
– Backstabbing, Manipulative
– Backup quarterback to Don Pedro,
but never gets any playing time and
is often ignored
– Provocateur
Props & Details
Casual Dance

Conrad
– Kronk [The Emperor’s New Groove]
– Weak
– Pushover
– Follower
– Football player
– (Evil) friends with Don John
• Sidekick
Casual Dance

The
Cheerleaders• Our main female characters assume an affluent
social status as Cheerleaders at their high school.
• Attire
– Matching blue cheerleading outfits
Characters
• Hero
• Captain of the cheer squad
• Margret
• Ursula

Hero
– Kirsten Dunst [Bring it On]
– Amicable
– Easy Going
– Sensitive
– Soft spoken leader
– Rich, popular
– Captain of the cheerleading squad
• Noted by patch on Cheerleading uniform
Costumes
Props & Details
Casual Dance

Margaret
– Jillian Bell [Workaholics]
– Follower (Type B Personality)
– Gullible
– Klutz
– Cheerleader
– Relatively unattractive, perhaps
overweight
Costumes
Props & Details
Casual Dance

The Coaches
• Because of the modern setting the need for parent
approval of a relationship is unnecessary.
• Instead Leonato and Antonio act as the coaches of
the football team giving them reason to be present
without being intrusive.
Characters
• Hero
• Captain of the cheer squad
• Margret
• Ursula
Details
• To add a bit of comedy both
Antonio and Leonato will sport
hilariously bad mustaches as
made famous by former football
coachs Mike Dikta or Andy Reid

Leonato
– Mike Ditka [Bears Coach]
– Tough
– Prideful
– Proud
– Although he has a hard exterior he’s
not afraid to show his sensitive.
– Father of Hero
– Head Coach of the Football team.
• Details
– Large Obvious Mustache
Props & Details

Antonio
– Gossiper
– Family Oriented
– Assistant coach of the football team
– Beatrice’s father
– Leonato’s brother
• Details
– As brother of Leonato both
characters should sport large
obvious mustaches, this acts as
symbolism of their relationship.
Props & Details

Beatrice
– Lisa Simpson
– Alex Dunphy [Modern Family]
– Middle Child Complex
– Type A personality
– Classic feminist who believes
women should be empowered
– She finds cheerleading to be
degrading and focuses her on
studies
• Details
– Beatrice is your classic overachiever
she’s a straight A student.
– Although beautiful, Beatrice resents
the fact as she prides herself on her
wit.
Props & Details
Casual Dance

Borachio
– Peter Pettigrew [Harry Potter]
– Follower
– Type B personality
– Insecure
– Hallway Monitor Provocateur
– Deceitful
• Details
– Borachio’s watchful eye and his
pattern of snitching places him as a
classic “hallway monitor” who
perhaps takes his job a bit too
serious.
– A sachet should be draped across
Borachio’s chest labeled “Hallway
Monitor”
Props & Details

Balthasar
– Corbin Bleu [High School Musical]
– Ladies Man
– Musical
– Prom and Mascaraed D.J.
– Student at the High School
• Details
– A modern equivalent in today’s
society of a musician would be a DJ.
– Balthasar will sport headphones
around his neck at all times.
Costumes
Props & Details

Dogberry
– Arthur Poe [A Series of Unfortunate
Events]
– Tim Meadows [Mean Girls]
– Good Intentions
– Clumsy or Confusing
– Principal/Headmaster of the High
School

Verges
– Mr. Feeny [Boy Meets World]
– Follower (Type B Personality)
– Gullible
– Klutz
– Friends with Dogberry
– Teacher at the High School
• Details
– Verges costume should be
professional, but boring. No bright or
flashy colors should be placed on
his costume. Verges will also carry a
worn brown leather briefcase.
Props

Costume Details
• All Characters during the first dance
Act 2 Scene 1 will wear a mask.
• During the Prom scenes (Acts 4 & 5) and
the masquerade, actors will wear the same
attire with the exception of the masks.

• Location: Outside Leonato’s House
• Tables, Trees and Archway are movable props and
should be on wheels.
• The backdrop represents where curtains would be.

Lighting
Time of Day: Midday
Transition IN: Set is complete dark and lights gradual increase
Transition OUT: Lights fade to dark while curtain closes for set change
The yellowed area represents bright warm outdoor lighting.

Location: Boys Locker Room at the high school
Bench, laundry Hamper and door are all movable
pieces
The curtain is raised to expose permanent lockers

Lighting
Scene 2
Transition IN: As curtain opens to a black set, lighting
begins to increase, concentrating on characters
Transition OUT: Lighting from the wings increases as
actors exit stage
The blue’d area represents cool indoor lighting
Time of Day: Indoors
Scene 3
Transition IN: Lighting from the wings
increases as actors enter stage
Transition OUT: Lighting fades to black as
curtain closes.

Event: Masquerade Dance
Location: High School
A Banner is now draped across the lockers saying “Masquerade Dance”
Again all tables and DJ booth are movable

Lighting
Time of Day: Evening
Transition IN: Different color lights interlace while spotlight focuses on characters
talking to each other.
Transition OUT: Lights mainly stay pink on stage and focus on Hero and Claudio.
Lighting is colorful, full of reds, blues and purple. The lighting is concentrated towards
the center of the stage.

Location: Hallway
Empty stage, with lockers in the background

Lighting
Transition IN: Dim red light focused
on actors, faded around edges.
Transition OUT: Light transitions from
red to white as actors leave.
A sinister red glow fades into darkness
Transition IN: Light transitions from
white to blue.
Transition OUT: Lights fade to
purple.
Cool lighting focuses on Don Pedro,
Claudio and Leonato leaving Benedick
hides in the corner. Claudio and Don
Pedro leave, only one blue light focuses
on Benedick.

Lighting
Transition IN: Spotlight focuses on Beatrice hiding in the background and
hero and Ursula taking center stage.
Transition OUT: Spotlight leaves and stage lights fade out.
The purple light focuses on Hero and Ursula talking while Beatrice
eavesdrops in the back. Hero and Ursula leave, only one purple light
focuses on Beatrice.

Location: Boy’s Locker Room
Bench, laundry Hamper and door are all
movable pieces

Lighting
Transition IN: Light raise to cover the
whole stage focusing on center stage.
Transition OUT: Lights fade to black.
The edges of the stage are darkened for
Benedick and Leonato’s aside. Light
transitions to red as Don John tells of
Hero’s infidelity.
Transition IN: Stage is black, red
spotlight focuses in the center.
Transition OUT: Light fades to black.
Borachio and Leonato talk about their
plan by the lockers, center stage.
Dogberry and Verges listen from behind
the door, white spotlight on them.

Lighting
Transition IN: Lights are raised and
spread center staged, color purple.
Transition OUT: Lights slowly fade
to blue.
Girls get ready for prom.
Transition IN: Lights are spread
center staged, color blue.
Transition OUT: Lights fade to black,
curtains close.
Leonato brushes off Dogberry and
Verges, light separates him from
both men.

Event: Prom
Location: High School Auditorium
Details: Banner drapes across lockers labeled: “Prom”

Lighting
Transition IN: Curtains open to
reveal dim yellow lighting.
Transition OUT: Lighting fades
out.
Dim yellow lighting for a romantic, night
setting.
Transition IN: White spotlight on left
table only.
Transition OUT: Light fades out.
Light focuses on the table, making
the set into an isolated room.

Event: Prom
Location: High School Auditorium
Banner drapes across lockers labeled “Prom”.

Lighting
Transition IN: Curtains open to
reveal dim yellow lighting.
Transition OUT: Lighting fades
out.
As Claudio exposes Hero’s infidelity, the
background turns darker and a red spot
light focuses on Claudio and Hero.
Transition IN: Pink spotlight on
right table only.
Transition OUT: Light fades
out.
Light focuses on the table, making the set
into an isolated room.

Lighting
Transition IN: Yellow spotlight
center stage.
Transition OUT: Lights fade out.
Spotlight focuses on Claudio.
Transition IN: Raise lights to a yellow
dim lighting.
Transition OUT: Lights fade out,
curtains close.
Lights get brighter as the
scene progresses.

Frontal View
The Banner draped over the locker will
changed from the masquerade theme to the
prom theme to give the audience subtle ques.

Sonic Notes
The Locker Room Scenes
•In order to give the feel of a locker room faint sounds of water running (like a
shower) should be heard in the background
The Party Scenes
•Soundtrack,
• How To Save a Life – The Fray
• Closing Time – Semisonic
• The Anthem – Good Charlotte.
The Hallways Scenes
•The faint sound of music should be played from one of the wings to signify
that they are still in the school and just outside the dance.

Group27 jon egging_brandonfleissig_bellagoldenberg_valentinadargam

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (14)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Group27 jon egging_brandonfleissig_bellagoldenberg_valentinadargam