Solanco High School will present William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" as its fall play. Performances will take place on Wednesday to Saturday, Nov. 19 to 22, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Solanco High School, 585 Solanco Road, Quarryville.

People may purchase tickets with cash or check at the door or in advance by visiting the main office at Solanco High School. All tickets are general admission, and students will receive a discount.

With a script adapted for modern audiences by director Jennifer Blastland, "Much Ado About Nothing" is a fast-paced comedy full of love, laughter, and clever twists. Set in sunny Messina, it tells the story of two very different romances: the fiery banter between Beatrice and Benedick, who seem sworn to outwit each other until their friends set a playful trap, and the tender courtship of Claudio and Hero, nearly ruined by a cruel trick. With mix-ups, misunderstandings, and the bumbling antics of Dogberry and the Town Watch, this play showcases some of Shakespeare's sharpest wit and warmest moments.

The production is financed completely by the Solanco High School Drama Troupe 1004, which is chartered by the International Thespian Society. This year, more than 50 students will be involved in the production as actors, crew members, set painters, set builders, and ushers.

When describing the show, Reed Morehouse, who plays Claudio, said, "Being one of Shakespeare's plays, of course you should expect witty comedy, with some rather unfortunate timing with characters. Expect emotion from the great actors that I'm blessed to be on stage with - as well as, certainly, some great laughs."

"Audience members can expect to be taken aback by the amount of emotion, drama, and humor packed into this show," shared Grace West, who plays Dogberry.

In addition to Reed and Grace, the play stars seniors Kenton Green as Benedick, Sophie Pizzulli as Beatrice, and Ava Foley as Hero. The rest of the cast includes seniors Tai Kauffman as Don Pedro, Aidan Rice as Leonato, Aiden Elliot as Don John, Michaela Meyrick as Antonia, Lydia Young as Ursula, and Kate Zdrojewski as Alaina; juniors Cooper Fuller as Balthasar, Ben Ginter as Conrade, Tony Koch as Borachio, Tom King as Verges, Morgan Krauss as Seacole, and Jed King as the Sexton; sophomore Bri Eller as Margaret; and freshmen Weston Young as Friar Francis, Addison Morgan as Oatcake, Aurora Remaley as Puffin, Nina Brown as Gina, and Ella McGrath as Phyllis. The stage manager is Solanco graduate Annie Sheaffer, and the student stage manager is Tavi Solares.

Some of the actors have enjoyed performing in roles different from their previous experience in acting. "I've only ever played wild and strange characters," stated Sophie, "so getting the chance to play a big role with so much depth has been a great experience! Beatrice is complex and passionate. She feels feelings very strongly and isn't afraid to show what she thinks on her face."

Grace, a junior, said, "The role of Dogberry has given me an (almost) boundless level of creative and comedic freedom, which has been extremely liberating for me as a performer."

Other actors, such as Ava, are acting in roles that are very familiar to them. "The character of Hero is so similar to myself that portraying this role is also a form of self-expression (breaking out of my comfort zone) in my life outside of the play," she said.

For Reed, a junior, "Much Ado About Nothing" will be his first play. "When I initially got the role, I was extremely nervous and excited, and now that I've attempted to grow into it, I can see how big of an opportunity this is," he shared. "Being a part of a production, especially with such talented actors, is really eye-opening."

One of the most challenging aspects of the play for many of the actors has been learning how to deliver lines written in the language of Shakespeare's day. "The language of Shakespeare is so precise that it can be challenging to truly deliver lines as authentically as possible," stated Ava. "The challenge lies in the sentence structure, which is very different than how we speak now."

Sophie noted, "Shakespeare was very particular with how he worded lines; every 'was' and 'it' and 'but' is just as important as every other word in the show."

Kenton said, "While the script has been refined to be more understandable to a modern audience, there are still many phrases or similes that take more than half a thought to comprehend, and it is a fun challenge to reach that 'aha!' moment of understanding what they mean."

Blastland, who directed "Clue: High School Edition" at Solanco last year, is impressed with the students' hard work on the show. "It's been an exciting opportunity to work with these talented young actors on a Shakespearean production," she said. "They have brought energy, creativity, and a boatload of dedication to a new and challenging theatrical style. I am excited to share this show with the community!"

Blastland has previous experience with Solanco shows, having served as the director of Solanco musicals from 2012 to 2016 and as the director of the school's plays from 2007 to 2011. She was also the founder of the school's drama club. In addition to Blastland, John Biles serves as the assistant director, production stage manager, and lighting designer; Susan Robertson is the costume designer; and Todd Brown and his students are in charge of set construction.

Everyone is excited for audiences to experience the production. Sophie encouraged people to attend the show, pointing out, "The only way to understand the full experience is to come and witness the shenanigans yourself!"