New Haven Academy’s drama department welcomed families and neighbors to a four‑night run of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the school’s Orange Street campus, Nov. 5‑8. The production, a collaboration between the school’s Legacy Studios Drama Club and the Elm Shakespeare Company, transported the classic comedy to the colorful world of the 1964 World’s Fair, offering a fresh lens on timeless romance and wit.
Local talent shines on stage
Students took on the iconic roles with enthusiasm. Joseph Pallo played Don Pedro, Jonah‑Theo Ssemwezi was Claudio, and Michelle Cochran portrayed Leonata. The sparring duo of Benedick and Beatrice—Molly Davis and Olivia Tapia Ko—delivered rapid‑fire banter that kept the audience laughing and guessing until the final reveal of their hidden affection.
Supporting cast members added depth to the story’s subplots. Marilyn Acosta Robinson’s Hero and Ssemwezi’s Claudio navigated misunderstandings that nearly ruined their love, while Curtis Reason’s Don John provided the perfect touch of petty villainy. The comedic police duo Dogberry (Oliver Reymond) and Verges (Mateo Cordero) rounded out the humor with their well‑intentioned blunders.
Creative partnership fuels success
Legacy Studios Drama Club director Tyheed Scurry, now in his fifth year at New Haven Academy, marked his 11th show at the school with this production. Scurry’s long‑standing relationship with Elm Shakespeare began years earlier, when the two groups first teamed up on A Midsummer Night’s Dream set during the Harlem Renaissance and later on a punk‑era Hamlet.
“We think on the same wavelength,” Scurry said of co‑director and Elm Shakespeare teaching artist Liz Daingerfield, who brings deep Shakespearean knowledge to the collaboration. Their shared goal was to make the Bard’s language accessible and exciting for today’s teenagers.
Students reap educational and personal benefits
Beyond the applause, the production offered students hands‑on experience in acting, technical design, and teamwork. Scurry noted that many students who normally work behind the scenes in lighting or set construction stepped onto the stage, discovering new talents and confidence.
“There’s nothing like having 130 teenagers in an auditorium booing a villain,” he added, referencing the upcoming Elm Shakespeare Youth Festival at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, where the cast will perform again in December.
Historical setting adds relevance
Setting the play during the 1964 World’s Fair—a moment of optimism and cultural shift—allowed the students to draw parallels to today’s rapidly changing world. “We were thinking about a point in time where we were on the cusp of something crazy, and no one quite knew what was happening,” Scurry explained. The mid‑1960s backdrop highlighted themes of pride, misunderstanding, and the courage to embrace change.
The production’s soundtrack, featuring soul and early rock ’n’ roll from the 1950s‑mid‑1960s, reinforced the era’s energy while keeping the comedy light‑hearted.
Community response
Local families praised the students’ dedication and the creative vision of the collaboration. Audience members noted the production’s ability to make Shakespeare feel both classic and contemporary, proving that high school theatre can be a vibrant cultural asset for New Haven.
Tickets sold out quickly, and the school plans to continue its partnership with Elm Shakespeare, ensuring that future generations of New Haven youth will have opportunities to explore classic literature through innovative, locally‑rooted performances.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
