Near the end of January and the start of February, the Ashbrook program is presenting their fourth edition of reimagining Shakespeare. The program has performed, “The Tempest,” “Macbeth,” and the “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The next play they are going to put on is called, “Much Ado About Nothing,” which is a romantic comedy.  

The student programs and creative products manager of the Ashbrook center, Sabrina Maristela described the play as, “kind of a bunch of young people figuring love out.” 

Maristela also stated that this is the first student directed play. She gave that honor to senior Leanna Uselton.  

Uselton has co-directed a play with Maristela in the past, she also has experience being a writer and an actress herself.  

The process of creating the play has been different than in years past. Maristela stated, “the project has been in the works since the end of last spring.”  

“An unusual long time, but we know that, and that is by design so a lot of the time a play you get six weeks of rehearsal time, we are doing six months instead,” Maristela explained. “I like having the time to dig our fingers into it without the pressure of the clock in the background. And I want it to be very low stress for all the students involved.” 

She mentioned that her goal for the company is always for people to show up because they are curious to see the play.  

“I want people to come in expecting a good time and expecting to be entertained, and actually having a more personal deeper experience with,” said Maristela. “I want you find yourself in these characters, I want you to think.” 

Dates of the show are Friday Jan. 31, Feb. 1, and Sunday Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. With an additional show on Saturday at 1 p.m.  

The tickets are free, and the show is in the studio theatre of the Center for the Arts Building. There are 75 seats, and if you want to reserve a seat, email them at: [email protected]!