NOMA, the NOLA Project present Much Ado About Nothing in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The NOLA Project enters its third year of partnership with The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) this May as we present Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing inside the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Shows will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays May 8-26 and Friday May 10 and 24. All performances begin at 7:00PM.
This production marks the sixth major theatrical collaboration between NOMA and The NOLA Project and is the third Shakespeare play to be presented under the stars in NOMA’s beautiful Sculpture Garden. The two previous productions of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘As You Like It’ were major critical hits and sold-out successes.
Come be transported back in time with The NOLA Project’s production of Much Ado About Nothing. Played in the romantic setting of NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden and set near the turn of the century in the old American South, this hilarious and festive comedy pits two of Shakespeare’s most beloved characters, Benedick and Beatrice, in a war of words and wits.
Directed by Big Easy Award winner Jason Kirkpatrick and starring NOLA Project Artistic Director A.J. Allegra and Kathlyn Tarwater as the famously feuding duo, this production promises to delight audiences with slapstick, dancing, music, poetry, and all with a touch of Southern charm.
“I am thrilled to be presenting what is my personal favorite Shakespeare comedy in my absolute favorite setting in New Orleans. Our work with NOMA is blazing new territory in the collaboration between performing and visual arts, and I can’t wait to continue this valuable partnership into the future,” said A.J. Allegra.
“We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with the NOLA Project by co-producing Much Ado About Nothing in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden this spring,” said Susan M. Taylor, Director of the New Orleans Museum of Art. “Our collaboration with the NOLA Project continues to inspire love of the arts in our community, and we look forward to working together to showcase the great talent in New Orleans through this partnership.”
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING CAST & INFORMATION
Director Jason Kirkpatrick helms a cast that includes A.J. Allegra, Kathlyn Carson, John Haas, Kali Russell, Sam Dudley, Alex Martinez Wallace, Hope Barnard, Mistie Adams, Matt Standley, Stacy Lamorte, Sean Glazebrook, Price Provenzano, Travis Resor, Molly Ruben Long, Dr. Charles Ramos, and Ben Griffith.
WHAT: Much Ado About Nothing performed in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
WHEN: Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays May 8-26 and Friday May 10 and 24
Seating begins at 5:00 p.m.
Shows begin at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden next to NOMA in New Orleans City Park
WHO: NOMA & The NOLA Project
TICKETS: General Admission: $18; NOMA Members, University Students, Children (7 to 17): $10
Starting April 16th purchase tickets online at: www.noma.eventbrite.com or at the Admissions Desk atNOMA during regular museum hours (except Wednesdays)
Due to subject matter children under 6 will not be admitted to the production.
Food vendors will be available on all nights and will rotate between Crepes a la Cart, Green To Go NOLA, La Cocinita and Rue Chow. Due to the sculptures and architecture, outside food and beverages are not permitted. Seating will not be provided so folding chairs and blankets are permitted and encouraged.
ABOUT NOLA PROJECT
Founded eight years ago, the NOLA Project prides itself on the creation of new theatrical works, high quality performances of relevant great works. By serving as a resource to area students and artists, The NOLA Project hopes to be one of the standard bearers of New Orleans’ artistic renaissance, sharing its work in the city and bringing word of New Orleans’ revived arts scene to the rest of the country. For more information visit www.nolaproject.com.
ABOUT NOMA AND THE BESTHOFF SCULPTUREGARDEN
The New Orleans Museum of Art, founded in 1910 by Isaac Delgado, houses nearly 40,000 art objects encompassing 4,000 years of world art. Works from the permanent collection, along with continuously changing temporary exhibitions, are on view in the museum’s 46 galleries Fridays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The adjacent Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden features work by over 60 artists, including several of the 20th century’s master sculptors. The Sculpture Garden is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden are fully accessible to handicapped visitors and wheelchairs are available from the front desk. For more information about NOMA, call (504) 658-4100 or visit www.noma.org.