WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 1 - 7, 2022 UCW 17
EVENT
Much Ado about Shakespeare
by ASHLEY SHIRLEY
Sweet Tea Shakespeare will take
audiences all the way back to "the
rom-com that started it all" with their
production of "Much Ado About
Nothing" by William Shakespeare.
is comedy, directed by Sweet Tea
Shakespeare's Artistic Director Jeremy
Fiebig, will open Friday, June 3, and
run through June 26. Shows start at
7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with
a live music preshow at 6:45 p.m.
Written around 1598, "Much Ado
About Nothing" focuses on the ro-
mantic exploits of two couples in the
idyllic Italian countryside. Beatrice
and Benedick are cynical individuals
more interested in exchanging witty
repartee than vows of love. A second
romance in the story follows the maid-
en, Hero, and brave soldier, Claudio.
A colorful cast of characters both aid
and usurp the four would-be lovers,
and hilarity ensues.
"I think this play is just wildly
entertaining," said Jen Pommerenke,
managing director for Sweet Tea
Shakespeare. "It lends itself to any age
group, and it's an accessible Shake-
speare comedy. It's funny, witty and
just a great storyline."
e play will receive a few updates
— moving to the "Bridgerton" esque
Empire period with some infusions of
modern music. e source material
has been cut down to fit a run time of
around two hours. However, it's still
"all Shakespeare," Fiebig assured Up &
Coming Weekly.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare brings e
Bard and the magic of his stories to
old fans and newcomers alike. Over
500 years after changing the way
humans engage with story craft, Sweet
Tea Shakespeare believes Shakespeare
is still extremely relevant today.
"I think Shakespeare gets humans,"
explained Pommerenke. "He under-
stands our tenacious spirit and our
desire for love. You can take Shake-
speare and drop the story just about
anywhere. We've seen Shakespeare
take place in Georgia, seen it in army
fatigues, and I'm sure there's one with
robots," she joked. "ere's a Shake-
speare for everyone."
"We are all Shakespeare in a sense,"
said Fiebig, adding to the sentiment.
"So much of [his] writing has become,
over time, how we see and experi-
ence the world — how we laugh, how
we fall in love, even how we think.
Shakespeare has a really robust way
of sticking with us — I think because
there's such a depth to the ideas in
the plays."
While some may be intimidated
by the idea of Shakespeare and the
language of the play, Fiebig feels con-
fident no one in the audience will be
left behind.
"At Sweet Tea Shakespeare, we work
to make the Shakespeare as accessible
as possible, and audiences will be
able to follow along. We provide them
some extra help on-site, too."
Pommerenke suggested the pay-off
is worth it. "I think it's really good for
people to be challenged by stories.
You do have to pay attention to a
Shakespeare play; you have to engage
the head and heart; you can't go in
and zone out — and it just sounds so
lovely on the ears."
Sweet Tea Shakespeare strives to
create a holistic experience for its
audience that speaks to the mind and
the celebratory spirit of theater.
"e main difference at Sweet Tea
Shakespeare is that the play is part of
a larger event," said Fiebig. "We have
a preshow with music and other fun
entertainment, beer, wine and a spe-
cialty cocktail just for the show. Our
productions fold in modern music.
We like to think of our work as a party
where a play breaks out."
e company travels with its own
playhouse set-up, and the play will be
performed outdoors when weather
permits. Attendees are encouraged to
bring camping chairs, quilts or blan-
kets to spread on the ground. Light
fare will be for sale from local vendors.
General admission tickets are $22 in
advance, and day-of tickets will cost
$30. Tickets can be purchased on the
website, https://sweetteashakespeare.
com/tickets/, by calling 910-420-4383
or email tickets@sweetteashake-
speare.com.
Information regarding performance
locations can be found at https://
sweetteashakespeare.com/much-ado-
sweet-tea-shakespeare-rom-com/.
ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. 910-484-6200
A performance by Sweet Tea Shakespeare.
(Photo courtesy of Sweet Tea Shakespeare)
Owned & Operated by TWO BROTHERS Catering
I
n
t
i
m
on
y
a
t
T
h
e
V
i
n
e
P
riva
te
•
R
o
m
a
n
tic
•
A
f
f
o
rd
ab
le
C
u
st
o
m
C
a
teri
n
g
by
T
w
o
B
r
o
t
h
ers
Intimony at THE VINE Event Venue
Wedding Packages
Meeting & Party Facilities
CALL 910-584-9892 to host your event
CALL 910-584-9892
eVineNC.com or TwoBrothersCateringNC.com
806 Katie Street Fayetteville NC (Of f Owen Drive behind O-Reilly's)
M
areena
&
J
a
m
es
Life is anything
but expected
We provide benets that your employees want
for those unexpected moments in life, whether
that's an accident, illness or injury.
Colonial Life.
Keep Unexpecting®
Insurance products are underwritten by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, Columbia, SC.
Ⓒ2020 Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Colonial Life is a registered
trademark and marketing brand of Colonial life & Accident Insurance Company. 8-20 | NS-369880
Injury | Illness | Dental | Vision | Life
steven.grimes@coloniallifesales.com
910-916-7191
That's why we're here.
