Snapped Productions Presents MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Beginning 2/14

Love. War. Conspiracy. Sex. Betrayal. Death. Could all these things truly amount to Nothing? In Shakespeare's beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing, Don Pedro and his men return victoriously from war to the house of Leonato, Governor of Messina. Proven in battle, Claudio proposes to Leonato's dutiful daughter Hero, to the dismay of his comrade, Benedick, who wittily battles with the Lady Beatrice on the demerits of love. The stage is set for merry conflict as those who jest at love are caught in a hilarious conspiracy to make them fall in love. Meanwhile a sinister plot brews to unmake Claudio and Hero's nuptials, setting in motion a series of events that challenge loyalties, test character, and examine the fickleness of life and love.

Incorporating a vibrant and diverse cast, Snapped Productions deconstructs outdated female archetypes, challenges masculine stereotypes, and advances the classic ideas about male/female relationships, seen here through a modern lens. Much Ado About Nothing is exactly that-the whimsy of human beings taking what should be simple - love - and making it absurdly (and often times, laughably) complex.

"A large portion of our current entertainment and public discourse has to do with male-female relationships, and as with many themes involving human nature, Shakespeare's plays never fail to shine a light on these issues," states director Gregory Couba. "Beyond gender politics, I really want to shine a spotlight on the women of Much Ado and their experience. Every women in the play is very smart, and they are often the most insightful regarding male?female relationships. I don't think that can be taken for granted or ignored."

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is presented by Snapped Productions. Associate Producer: Priyank Rastogi; Costume Designer: Samantha Lind; Lighting Designer: Elaine Wong; Composer: Oliver Sohngen; Videographer: Rita Martinos; Production Manager: Carolina Arboleda; Stage Manager: Charles Casano; Publicist: Paul Siebold/Off Off PR.

Gregory Couba (director) is a director, actor, singer, and teacher. He has performed with various theater companies in New York City, and toured nationally with Nebraska Theatre Caravan. He has particularly enjoyed portraying some of Shakepeare's great clowns, including Ariel, Puck, and Feste. As an operatic character tenor, he's played Goro in Madame Butterfly and Monostatos in The Magic Flute. He has directed a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Long Island Academy of Music, as well as directing the Larry Singer Studios acting showcase "BIO". In addition, he has taught classes there focusing on body awareness, alignment, and physical acting. He attended Hofstra University, where he minored in Dance, and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Arts (Performance and Production). He is also a personal trainer certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Snapped Productions creates work that builds community and realizes artistic expression, in an environment that supports the upward careers of company members.

With a focus on "new voices"--supporting new plays and playwrights, breathing fresh ideas into classic works, offering unique opportunities to emerging actors and stage managers, and showcasing the work of imaginative, up-and-coming directors and design staff-Snapped Productions ensures that the vital human need for storytelling grows limitlessly. Through a commitment to diversity, Snapped Productions brings audiences relevant, truthful productions representative of personal and community expression.

While remaining firmly in the realm of theatre, Snapped Productions explores all types of media as expression, promotion and extension of work on the stage. By committing to produce two shows per year, Snapped hopes to build a reputation in the theater community of delivering high-quality, refreshing productions whilst offering professional opportunities to artistic staff and cast. One production will be a new work developed through collaboration with the playwright. The other production will a classic or revival work, specifically chosen to give opportunity to a director, artistic and production staff at the beginning of their careers. www.snappedproductions.com