Four County Players & Barboursville Vineyards are proud to present:
Shakespeare at the Ruins: Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
At the Historic Barboursville Ruins
Directed by Rick St. Peter
Event Director: Kristen Franklin Heiderstadt
Assistant Event Director: Erin Batten
Producers: Kim Dukes, Wendy Novicoff, Linda Zuby
Production Stage Manager: Meghan Wallace
Assistant Stage Managers: Sam Nordbrock, Addy Sokolowski, Stephanie Owen
Assistant Director: Anna Grey Hogan
Choreographer: Christine Thalwitz
Intimacy Coordinator: Edward Warwick White
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine & Country, by R.L.Johnson.
ABOUT SHAKESPEARE AT THE RUINS:
This beloved, nationally-acclaimed collaboration between Barboursville Vineyards and Central Virginia’s longest-running community theater returns! Performances will be on-site in the beautiful Barboursville Vineyards, at the historic ruins of Governor James Barbour’s mansion, designed by Thomas Jefferson and destroyed by fire on Christmas Day, 1884.
ABOUT THE PLAY:
In MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, one of Shakespeare’s most imaginative and exuberant comedies, contrasting pairs of lovers engage in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes. Attracted to each other, the maddeningly skeptical Beatrice and Benedick are dead-locked in a lively war of words until their friends hatch a plot to unite them. The mutually devoted Hero and Claudio, on the other hand, all too quickly fall victim to a malicious plot to part them. Near-fatal complications ensue, but with the help of the hilarious Constable Dogberry and his confederates, the lovers are ultimately united.
PERFORMANCES at the Historic Barboursville Ruins
July 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, August 1
6PM: Gates open
7:30PM: Show begins
View the Much Ado Playbill here!
View our FAQs here!
TICKETS – General Admission
$25 per ticket
On sale 6/5 for 4CP Members; on sale 6/8 for the general public.
THURSDAY, JULY 16: SATR Alumni Night and Pay-What-You-Will preview. If you participated in a previous Ruins production (1990 – 2006, 2019, 2022, 2024), we invite you to attend a preview of Much Ado About Nothing, and join us for a group picture (wear your SATR t-shirts if you have them)! Alumni should RSVP to: 4countyplayers@fourcp.org. Please specify that you are a SATR alumnus, and share the name(s) of the production(s) and role(s) in which you participated. This preview is also open to the public.
Interested in volunteering at performances? Contact Devynn at Devynn@fourcp.org
Ticket Information
PERFORMANCES at the Historic Barboursville Ruins
July 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, August 1
6PM: Gates open
7:30PM: Show begins
TICKETS – General Admission
$25 per ticket
On sale 6/5 for 4CP Members; on sale 6/8 for the general public.
THURSDAY, JULY 16: SATR Alumni Night and Pay-What-You-Will preview. If you participated in a previous Ruins production (1990 – 2006, 2019, 2022, 2024), we invite you to attend a preview of Much Ado About Nothing, and join us for a group picture (wear your SATR t-shirts if you have them)! Alumni should RSVP to: 4countyplayers@fourcp.org. Please specify that you are a SATR alumnus, and share the name(s) of the production(s) and role(s) in which you participated. This preview is also open to the public.
CHILDREN’S TICKET POLICY:
If your child needs their own seat, they need a ticket. This production is suitable for audience members of all ages who have the ability to use good theater etiquette. However, we do not recommend this show for children under 6 years of age.
BOX OFFICE: 540-832-5355
WEBSITE: www.fourcp.org
QUESTIONS: Visit our website, or email 4countyplayers@fourcp.org
Important Policies and Information
ALCOHOL POLICY:
Barboursville Vineyards will have a wine station on-site for patrons to purchase Barboursville wines by the glass or by the bottle. No other alcohol is permitted per ABC law.
PET POLICY:
No animals allowed on premises with the exception of service animals.
CHILDREN’S TICKET POLICY:
If your child needs their own seat, they need a ticket. Much Ado About Nothing is suitable for audience members of all ages who have the ability to use good theater etiquette. However, we do not recommend this show for children under 6 years of age.
RAIN POLICY:
Rain cancels. The theater will make the announcement via our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/fourcountyplayers) and website (www.fourcp.org), as well as a message on the Box Office voicemail. If a rain cancellation is made, audience members may contact the Box Office via email (4countyplayers@fourcp.org) to discuss rescheduling options. We do not plan to schedule any rain make-up performances.
BOX OFFICE: 540-832-5355
WEBSITE: www.fourcp.org
QUESTIONS: Visit our website, or email 4countyplayers@fourcp.org
Food
PALLADIO PICNICS:
Palladio Restaurant will be offering a picnic dinner takeout for two priced at $95. Available for purchase by advance reservation only. To reserve a picnic dinner, contact book@palladiorestaurant.com. Note that picnic dinners must be reserved at least one week in advance of the performance you will attend and will be available for pickup on-site at the performance.
FOOD TRUCKS:
Every performance will have at least one local food truck on-site. Food trucks will include: Bavarian Chef, Catch the Chef, Two Brothers Southwestern Grill, The Wolf’s Fixins BBQ, and more!
Food Truck Schedule:
Thursday, July 23rd: Catch the Chef, Carpe Donut
Friday, July 24th: Wolf’s Fixins BBQ, Carpe Donut
Saturday, July 25th: Two Brothers, Carpe Donut
Thursday, July 30th: Catch the Chef, Carpe Donut
Friday, July 31st: Wolf’s Fixins BBQ, Carpe Donut
Saturday, August 1st: Two Brothers, Carpe Donut
HOME (catchthechefs.com)
Two Brothers Southwestern Grill | Ruckersville VA | Facebook
German Fare Food Truck & Catering – The Bavarian Chef – Madison, VA
The Wolf’s Fixins BBQ
Directions
DIRECTIONS:
Access to Shakespeare at the Ruins is only by way of Mansion Road off of Governor Barbour Street. PLEASE DO NOT USE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS. Follow the signs to Mansion Road. It is marked with a white gate, welcome banner, and flags. This entrance will lead you down a dirt road to the parking field and boxwood entrance to the back-side of the Historic Barboursville Ruins. Parking attendants will be on-site to assist you.
Cast
Starring (cast listed alphabetically by actor):
CHRISTOPHER ALBERT as Conrade
JOHNNY BUTCHER as Antonio / Verges
BEN BRANTLEY as Balthasar
PAIGE CAMPBELL JOHNS as Watchman 1
MICHAEL CLAY, JR. as Claudio
JACK CLIFFORD as Borachio
ANDY DAVIS as Don Pedro
CADESSA DAVIS as Sexton
SOPHIE ELVGREN as Dogberry
STEPHANIE FINN as Friar
SAMANTHA GRIFFIN MOON as Margaret
ALEX GRIFFITH as Don John
KATE JOHNSON as Benedick
JENNIFER LaFLEUR as Ursula
MARISSA LAHR as Watchman 2 / Featured Singer
ALEX MITCHELL as Beatrice
KATHY SEMERLING as Watchman 3 / Ensemble
STOKES SKELLY as Messenger / Ensemble
FAITH WEBB as Hero
LINDA ZUBY as Leonato
Production Team
Directed by Rick St. Peter
Event Director: Kristen Franklin Heiderstadt
Assistant Event Director: Erin Batten
Assistant Director (show): Anna Grey Hogan
Producers: Kim Dukes, Wendy Novicoff, Linda Zuby
Production Stage Manager: Meghan Wallace
Assistant Stage Managers: Sam Nordbrock, Addy Sokolowski, Stephanie Owen
Choreographer: Christine Thalwitz
Intimacy Coordinator: Edward Warwick White
Costume Designer: Mimi Halpern
Wardrobe Managers: Mimi Halpern, Karen Schlicht
Scenic Designer: Kerry Moran
Lead Carpenter: Pete Davies
Lighting Designer: Steve Koehler
Lead Electrician: David Hutchins
Technical Operators: David Hutchins, Tom Wallace
Properties Designer: Linda Hogan
Boxwood Entrance Designer: Erin Batten
Theater Operations Manager: Jennifer Phelps
Production Manager: Gary Warwick White
Assistant Production Manager: Devynn Thomas
Technical Director: Nicholas Edelman
Marketing Director: Edward Warwick White