“MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING”

Directed by Richard T. Sutton

This years Performances are Sept 11, 12, 18, & 19 at 4:30pm

This comedy by William Shakespeare proves once again that love is a battlefield. The story concerns two pairs of lovers, one due to be married in a week and one that would be considered anything but. Claudio and Hero are young, facing heartache on the way to happiness. Meanwhile, Beatrice and Benedict have the 'merry war' of the sexes, trapped by their love and apparent disdain. Surrender your heart to this age old romantic comedy - and see why there is ... much ado about nothing.

Our Cast and Crew:

Jeff Shehan (Borachio): This is the first performance Jeff has been in at the Alcott Arts Center.  Previously Jeff has performed in A Midsummer Night's Madness in Edinburgh, Scotland at the International Fringe Festival as well as a brief run of the Tell Tale Heart, The Learned Ladies, The Wiz, and Mother Courage and Her Children.  Jeff is a native of Kansas and is currently residing in Kansas City, Kan. with his partner of eight years. 

Angie Fiedler Sutton (stage manager) has over ten years of experience in working with area arts organizations, and directed last year's SITPLOT III: Comedy of Errors). Angie lives in Olathe with her cat and husband, and volunteers with KC Stage Magazine (both writing and as associate editor).

Lisa Meng Bakely (Ursula) has been part of the theatre since she was a toddler. She was a backstage baby while her parents performed at the Barn Players Theatre in Parkville. She was in plays until 12 and then took a long hiatus from working on stage. She has worked backstage at Park University, Waldo Astoria, Tiffany's Attic, and the Barn Players as a costumer. It wasn't until she helped out during an audition so her husband could be in a play at Park that brought Lisa kicking and screaming back on the stage in Barefoot in the Park. She has since done some one acts. When Lisa is not on stage or backstage, she is a teacher at James Elementary School in the Kansas City, Mo school district. She is the proud mother of two boys, Matt and Andrew, and is happily married to Peter Bakely, who is not acting but just being himself.

Greta W. Moore (Margaret) is a stand-up comedian. She has performed at a number of venues around the Kansas City area and in Topeka. Greta is also a humorous poet and has been a feature reader at the Writer's Place twice. Greta works part time as an elementary theatre teacher where she designed an improv class and has directed literally hundreds of short plays and movies. Greta's most difficult acting role was working as a phone psychic. This is Greta's first Shakespeare in the Parking Lot.

Autumn Marciano (Beatrice) makes her theatrical debut in Kansas with her first SITPLOT production. The New England native has appeared in productions of The Boys Next Door, The Devil's Blessings, The Curious Savage, Dracula, The Crucible, Wait Until Dark, Charlie's Aunt, Cotton Girls, and The Little Princess. She is very excited to be at the Alcott and for all the new friends she's making here.

David Veazey (Leonato), beginning in 2004, has done six plays with Encore Theatre in Independence, including Much Ado Out West, in which he played Ben, (cf. Benedick). With Crossroads Theatre Company, he played the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella's father in Into the Woods, and, in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, God. He has also toured with the Senior Barn Players. David lives in Raytown with his wife Joyce, framing her art.

Kelly Farrar (Balthasar/1st Watchmen/Lord) frequently says it's not summer if she's not spending it at Alcott, and so is back for her 4th SITPLOT. She stage managed the first (Midsummer Night's Dream), was Kate in Taming of the Shrew, and last year was Dromio of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors. In the fall, she was a woman of Canterbury in Art Suskin's Murder at the Cathedral. Currently she can be heard as her alter ego AppleSnatch Jaxon on the Big Dumb Fun Show Monday nights from 7-10 at bigdumbfunshow.com, as well as playing Lauren Love in Die Laughing: Murder at the Comedy Club. She just wrapped Jack in The Box which will be premiered at the Terror Film Festival in Philedelpha, PA. She is also in the upcoming short film "After Ever After", the story of princesses after their happily ever after. When not acting, she is a karaoke DJ and does before and after school care for the YMCA at Cedar Hills Elementary in the Blue Valley School district. In her free time (which isn't much) she loves reading and cheering on her North Carolina Tarheels. Smooches to Mom and Daggles (Love you!)

Chuck G Smith (Don John) is thrilled to be returning to the Alcott Arts Center for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. He was seen last year as Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors. He’s been in such shows as The Prince of Egypt, South Pacific, and Grease, and has worked on two independent films. Chuck has also performed lead vocals for various bands, has done radio commercials and vocal acting for audio books. He also writes and illustrates children’s books and graphic novels with his production company Lil’ Guy. He would like to thank his beauty Jen for all her support.

Katia Arians (Messenger/Sexton) is 15 yrs old and just started school at SM North. She has been acting since she was 5 and it is her first love! She started with Theater of the Imagination and has been in 18 productions. Last year she helped them choreograph and produce her first play. Katia has been in two Paul Messner Productions and one at the Coterie Theater. She has also had the opportunity to be in two commercials, both local and nationally. Recently she was in Aristophanes' The Birds, Murder in the Cathedral and played a tutor in the movies Mickey McGee Hates to Read and Micky McGee and the Disappearing Book. This is her fourth performance at the Alcott and loves the family atmosphere and artistic outlets that Chris and Chuck provide here. 

Colin Arians (Second Watchman/Boy) is 13 yrs old loves to act. This is his fifth large production, but has been doing Theater of the Imagination since he was 5. He has been in a national commercial and has been in a Paul Mesner Puppets Production. Colin was Little Jake in Annie Get Your Gun with Leawood Stage Company and last summer he was the jailor in Comedy of Errors at the Alcott' Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Most recently, he played Mickey in the movie Mickey McGee Hates to Read and just finished filming the second in a series of these films. Colin loves the time he spends with his "family" at the Alcott and would like to thank Chris and Chuck for all they do.

Elmer Arians (Antonio) is very excited to be performing his acting debut at the Alcott Theater. Elmer has been helping wherever needed since his kids, Colin and Katia, have become involved in acting. He has done everything from helping back stage, rides to practice, and performances and feeding the cast and crew! This seemed like the natural next step and is the sixth production he has been involved in. The Alcott has become a big part of their lives the last couple of years and he really appreciates everything that Chuck and Chris are doing for the arts.

Angela Zieber (Hero) is excited to be back for her second SITPLOT show. Last year, she was Luciana in A Comedy of Errors. Some of her favorite past roles include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, & Lucy in Mr. Marmalade. She is also a dancer for the American Football League. She has a B.S. in Theatre Performance from NWMSU.

Aaron Houx (Verges) is thrilled to be making his debut in Kansas as well as his Parking Lot debut. A resident of Gladstone, Aaron has acted in several productions for different groups, including Liberty Community Theater and Park University. He enjoys character roles, but would one day like to headline a one woman show. Aaron gives a special thanks to his wife, Kellie, and daughter, Maddie, for their support in the face of theater widow- and orphanhood.

Frank Presler (Don Pedro) is a 4-year veteran of educational and community theatre groups, serving as actor, director, scenery, and lighting designer, and virtually any other job that makes a show come together. He appeared in last year's production of The Comedy of Errors s both Duke Solinus and a cameo as the merchant Balthasar. Frank spent 27 years working as a firefighter in Independence, Mo. He has been retired now for a bit more than a year, and has really enjoyed 'spouting Shakespeare' while he dreams of moving to Hawaii.

Peter Jon Bakely (Dogberry) earned his B.A. in Communication Arts at Park University. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Peter worked as an actor and director at numerous theaters in the Kansas City area, including Missouri Reportory Theater, The Coterie Theater, New Directions, Actor’s Ensemble and Gypsy Theater. He also wrote, directed, produced and performed in The Greenwich Meantime Show a half hour scripted comedy program on KKFI-FM from 1986-1988. He received his degree in Communication Arts – Radio and Television from Park College in 1992, then spent the next 16 years working full time as a sales representative and Supervisor for Sony Electronics, acting occasionally in college productions at Park under the direction of marsha morgan. He is in his second year as a M.A. student at UMKC with an emphasis in Playwrighting.  Pete recently appeared as Noakes in Arcadia, directed by Barry Kyle, Egeus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Ted Swetz at UMKC, and the Leader of the Chorus in The Persians for Gorilla Theater.

Michael Patrick Peters (Conrade): this is the first performance for Michael at the Alcott Arts Center. Recently Michael performed in Under The Rainbow in Los Angeles, a memorable performance which has nonetheless been utterly forgotten. At a tender age, an injured young Michael received a blood transfusion from Sir Alec Guiness, and so it may be truly stated he has theatre in his blood (no need to wonder if this is true, it is not). Michael loves animals and has incorporated the rhythms and psychology of the Giraffe and the Colorado Badger in his acting for the Conrade role. Notice the wonderment and the bristle. Michael hopes to play in more Shakespearean performances and will certainly audition given the opportunity.

Jason Bauer (Claudio) is a recent graduate from Park University with a BA in theatre performance. Born and raised in numerous small towns in Missouri, he is currently residing in Gladstone with his wonderful wife and daughter. He has always enjoyed theatre and music and aspires to one day achieve an MFA and PhD in the field with a specialization in ancient theatre arts. He is excited to be acting with this cast and to be performing at the Alcott for the first time. This is the second Shakespeare show he has acted in and because of this experience plans on acting in several more.

Lance Asbury (Benedick) has been acting his entire life in one form or another, from kindergarten talent shows to playing Reb Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof. Before returning to the stage two years ago, he has performed live theatrical poetry in many venues around Kansas City for five years. He also was in several short films produced by Something Awful that premiered in movie theaters nationwide before a MST3k reunion, and has a segment entitled Laughs with Lance which airs on the Vibes with Val show for 90.1 KKFI. While he is an avid reader and writer, he is very excited to be back on the stage doing theatre work. He played the part of Hortensio in Taming of the Shrew for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot two years ago, and just finished wrapping up the Alcott's children's play, in which he played Geppetto for their production of Pinocchio. Mostly, he is very excited to be in this show with a fine group of actors, and is pleased to be involved with the Alcott Arts Center.

Richard T. Sutton (Director) was the assistant director for last year's SITPLOT, Comedy of Errors, and has worked in theatre since he was 8. Locally, he's worked with The Theatre in the Park, the Barn Players, City Theatre of Independence, and his alma mater Park University. He lives in Olathe with stage manager Angie, and is honored to have such a wonderful cast to work with for this show.

NAIRBA SIRRAH (Friar Francis) has been acting on stage and in film in the Kansas City area for 10 years. Specializing in acting out large portions of John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost from memory, he performed Book 2 in its 9-character entirety at the 2009 Fringe Festival, titling his 59-minute recital "Satan Breaks Out of Hell". In 2006, he performed Book 9 three times from memory. Happy to be back at the Alcott, he performed three characters in 2008'sSIPLOT production of Taming of the Shrew.