Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Beatrice and Benedick hate each other. Claudio and Hero are in love. Don John is set
to make trouble, as are Beatrice and Benedick’s friends—and then things get complicated
and a little crazy! Celebrate 50 years since the birth of Disco with this late 70s,
dance-filled take on one of Shakespeare’s most enjoyable comedies! Put on your dancing
shoes and brush up on your Hustle! And see if love wins in the end!
Directed by Joanne Zipay
AUDITIONS: Monday, March 23, 2026, 6-8 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, Plano Campus
No appointment necessary. If you can’t make the audition time, you may submit a video
to: jzipay@collin.edu by 8 p.m., Sunday, March 22, 2026. Please prepare a monologue from the provided sides.
The full script will be made available at the campus library.
View Sides
CALLBACKS: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 6-9 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre
REHEARSALS BEGIN: March 25, 2026 - Rehearsals will be held 6-10 p.m. Monday–Friday Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026 are technical rehearsals 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
PERFORMANCE DATES: May 6, 7, 8 at 7:30 p.m.; May 9 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; May 10 at 2:30 p.m Collin College Plano Campus – Black Box Theatre (room C-102) 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074
ROLES: All roles are open. We seek diversity in casting, including all ethnicities, ages, and genders — all will be considered for all roles. Audition for the role you want!
PLEASE NOTE: This is a non-paying show. Roles are open to current students, alumni, and the community; however, all participants must be enrolled in either a credit Theatre Practicum or a non-credit CE Theatre Practicum section. Contact the director for more information: jzipay@collin.edu
Everyone will be taught to do some disco dancing in this production.
BEATRICE – A very confident and intelligent young woman, with a wicked sense of humor, and a “biting tongue,” who nevertheless has a great capacity for love.
BENEDICK – A very arrogant young man, who enjoys being “one of the guys” and joking through the day, especially about the joys of bachelorhood, yet also capable of great love.
HERO – Very young, romantic, obedient, naïve woman; but highly intelligent with a great sense of humor.
CLAUDIO – The youngest of “the guys,” and has some issues with that; feels he needs to prove his maturity, and is on a hair-trigger for jealousy, due to his insecurities.
DON PEDRO – The Prince; gracious, noble, and all that. But gets a bit carried away in the “honor” business, especially as it applies to women.
LEONATO – Hero’s father – generally a good guy, but initially sides with the “guys” against his own daughter, then overreacts in the other direction, challenging everyone to fight him for her honor.
ANTONIO – Brother of Leonato; very good friends with his brother, very supportive, kind, with a good sense of humor, and also that righteous indignation thing all the guys have in this play.
DON JOHN – Bastard brother of Don Pedro; jealous as the day is long and will not stop until he gets revenge; not caring who he hurts. Brooding, generally grumpy, really sore loser.
BORACHIO – Follower of Don John; his sidekick; more or less the brains of the organization, kind of a low-life.
CONRADE – Follower of Don John; perhaps Don John’s “partner” (depending on gender casting); weaselly.
MARGARET – Gentlewoman attending to Hero; fun personality, but perhaps too much of a “party girl.”
URSULA – Gentlewoman attending to Hero; fun sense of humor, great companion.
BALTHAZAR (and SEXTON) – Attendant to Leonato; Assistant, messenger, secretary, you name it: very efficient and always on it. (Could be the DJ at the dance club, too?)
FRIAR FRANCIS – Performs the marriage of Hero and Claudio, and when it goes wrong, he devises the plan that helps things resolve. Smart, well-spoken, takes charge, and stays calm when everyone is flipping out.
DOGBERRY – Constable of the Watch; cannot put thoughts together into cohesive sentences, so it’s extremely hard to make any logic of what he says, although it makes sense to him. Nevertheless, extremely confident that he knows absolutely what he’s doing at all times.
VERGES – Deputy Constable of the Watch; Assistant to Dogberry; always by his side, supporting him, never judging.
HUGH OATCAKE of the Watch – Simple, straightforward guy with one job that he actually does fairly well.
GEORGE SEACOAL of the Watch – Also a simple guy who can follow orders and remain calm most of the time.
Interested in joining tech crews to work backstage, build scenery, usher, etc?
Email us for more info: theatre@collin.edu
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