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“This really has been a passion project. It turned out fantastically,” smiled Jacob Temple (’24) as he unwound after the California campus’ production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Over the last seven months he and Calvin Cosgrove (’24) poured themselves into bringing the beloved comedy to life as debut directors. On Saturday, April 9, in St. Cecilia Hall, nearly every seat was full, and the space rang with laughter and applause throughout the five acts. “it blew me away,” Calvin remarked. “I’m overjoyed with how it turned out.”

The story concerns itself with two sets of friends, Benedick (played by Paul Lessard ’24) and Claudio (played by Ian Cummings ’22), alongside Beatrice (played by Anna Van Wijk ’24) and Hero (played by Caitlyn Woods ’25) as they navigate enmity, romance, and scandal. The cast’s performances were vibrant, every actor — whether in a lead, supporting, or ensemble role — giving his or her all. The crew was entirely on point as well, with technical effects going off smoothly and scenes changed with speed and precision. “There was not a hitch,” observed Calvin.

How did this “passion project” come to fruition? Calvin and Jacob explained that they took a more “personal approach” to directing the show, fostering organic moments throughout the play. This, in part, came from encouraging the actors to “experiment” with their characters and “letting the blocking change naturally,” according to Jacob. Calvin agreed, attributing a large part of the show’s success to the director-actor relationship they fostered during rehearsals. “They would have ideas and we would try them out, keeping them if they looked good. I think it’s a lot easier to remember those ideas because they’re your ideas. … The best directors I worked with as an actor did that.”

The hard work was well worth the effort, with Amanda Aguirre (’24) exclaiming once the show had concluded, “That was one of the best things I’ve ever seen!” She wasn't alone in her sentiment: The audience gave the devoted cast and crew a standing ovation to celebrate their efforts. Though the play may have been called Much Ado About Nothing, it truly was something to behold.