OC to stage 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Apr. 24—Shakespeare's romantic comedy "Much Ado About Nothing" hits the boards at Odessa College's Globe Theatre in previews at 6 p.m. April 25-26.

Previews are free. Performances are at 7 p.m. April 27 and 6 p.m. April 28 and 7 p.m. May 2, May 3 and May 4. Tickets are $20.

Odessa College Theatre Director Aaron Ganz said no reservations are needed for previews.

The show's run time is about two hours and 15 minutes and there is an intermission.

Ganz said he has been working with the culinary school at OC to create culinary concessions that will be included with the price of the ticket. To reserve a ticket, visit MuchAdo.BrownPaperTickets.com and select the show date you'd like to attend. Seating is highly limited.

They will craft creative bites — one savory, one sweet and a special drink concoction that is themed to the show.

"Because for me, I want live theater to be a delight of the senses. To be something that's filled with song and language and movement and taste. It matters to me from the moment you walk through our gates, that we're at least paying attention to all the aspects of the experience. This is a big step for us because we have a tremendous culinary department. Like this theater, I think it's still a secret and Odessa they don't yet know how much value there is in that grab-and-go and in our O'Cuisine," Ganz said.

He added that they are working with Cooks for a Cause.

"It's the beginning of this relationship because in the fall we're going to start something called Opening Night at O'Cuisine, where we'll have a select amount of VIP tickets that include a sit down dinner over there," Ganz said.

For "Much Ado About Nothing," they will have culinary concessions.

They are naming it — not quite after Shakespeare's favorite bar, the Blue Boar. They will call theirs the Blue Wrangler.

"If you come here, you're going to be entertained. You're going to be fed; surprised," Ganz said.

The play has a cast of 11 and every single member is double cast and their roles are wildly different. Someone could play a love interest and an absent-minded professor type.

Another could play a bad guy and a happy-go-lucky police officer.

"To me, this is Shakespeare's greatest ever romantic comedy that he wrote. And he was writing it at the same time as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. This is the peak of his powers. It's the best of what romantic comedy wants to be," Ganz said.

The play will have a narrator that has been created for the show. Her name is Elayna Galindo and she will serve as a bridge between the audience and the world of Shakespeare.

The cast includes a mixture of OC faculty and staff, high school students and community members.

Ganz said everyone has natural ability, so it's just about putting the right directors, choreographers or musical directors in front of them.

"The requirement here is that people are hungry to unlock their potential. For people who hadn't had the experience in Shakespeare, I met with each of them for multiple hours before rehearsal began; an hour long session here; another hour long session there in the weeks leading up to rehearsal, and we sat down and went through all of the language so that it was all accessible," Ganz said.

This will be the first time in 10 years that Ganz has directed "Much Ado About Nothing."

He chose it because it is "an absolute celebration."

"For me, coming down here, getting a chance to be the director of the Globe, getting a chance to do Shakespeare in this building, I wanted something that that you could feel the rejoicing of that," he said.

Ganz added that they are working with wonderful local choreographers, Amanda Lopez and Diego Mata. They have also flown in a friend of Ganz', Chris Lang, to help with lighting design, helping actors with the play's language.

His advice to play-goers is don't leave at halftime no matter what.

"What comes after intermission is unforgettable, in terms of comedy, in terms of love," Ganz said.

He added that the play is wonderful in the first half and sets up all the relationships, but the payoffs begin instantaneously in the second half.

"So don't miss out. Don't leave at intermission; biggest advice I can give as a director," Ganz said.