Director’s Note The Elizabethans prized wit as a demonstration of intelligence, and Shakespeare frequently pitted his characters against one another in linguistic battles. Benedick and Beatrice of Much Ado about Nothing are shining examples. Their frequent clashes express their exasperation with, and eventually love for, one another. Their contests are as much play as war. Indeed, our characters are obsessed with play, both of wit and, in our production, over the chess board. As the curtain rises, Don Pedro and his men have defeated his half-brother, Don John, at chess rather than in combat. We have situated our production in Barcelona to draw inspiration for our set from the playful architecture of two native sons: Antoni Gaudí, with his Sagrada Familia Basilica, and Ricardo Bofill Leví, whose geometric designs evoke the patterns of the chessboard. Our time period is an imagined one that encompasses the 1950s through the 1970s, during which international chess competitions emerged and flourished. Our characters play at wit and at chess, but also know to box the pieces when serious matters demand their attention. Even then, games are never far from hand and are enthusiastically resumed at the play’s conclusion.
Artistic and Management Team Director: James Al-Shamma Assistant Director: Grace Cuda Stage Manger Rylee Ruscitti
Assistant Stage Manger Sofia DeAngelus
Technical Director Jerry Stratton
Scenic Design Josilyn Seftchick
Lighting Design Amber Whatley
Assisant Lighting Design Billy Berryman
Sound Design Ki’Ara Lynch
Composer Tony Moreira
Costume Design Laura Gracey
Assitant Costume Design Virginia Hirsch
Props Design Sabrina Whitmer
Assitant Props Design Anna Rae Eppard
Dramaturg Maxwell Collins
Dance Choreographer Grace Heinrichs
Intimacy Director Traci Ledford
Fight Choreographer Eric Pasto-Crosby
Dance Captain Claire Kirschenman
Fight Captain Nick Galenkamp
Cast Leonata........................................................Dr. Jane Duncan Antonia........................................................Ava Burns Hero..............................................................Maggie Steakley Beatrice.......................................................Gentry Anne Hollis Margaret.....................................................Emma Jones Ursula..........................................................Molly Ryan Don Pedro...................................................Nick Galenkamp Claudio........................................................Josiah Martinez Benedick.....................................................Blake Gatlin Balthasar/Lord..........................................Sophie Eastone Messenger to Leonata/ Messenger to Don Pedro.........................Cameron Walker Don John.....................................................Camden Daiker Borachio/Benedick U/S...........................Ben Yancey Conrade.......................................................Claire Kirschenman Dogberry..................................................... Danny Mantel Verges/Beatrice U/S................................. Paige Hardy George Seacoal, a Watchman/ Borachio U/S..............................................Michael Shelley Hugh Oatcake, a Watchman................. Addie Andrews First Watchman.........................................Jay Robinson Second Watchman/Hero U/S................Ashlynn Boyle Friar Francis...............................................Nandi Dube Sexton/Claudio U/S................................. Maxwell Collins
Meet the Cast!
Dr. Jane Duncan
Ava Burns
Maggie Steakley Gentry Anne Hollis
Molly Ryan
Emma Jones
Nick Galenkamp
Meet the Cast!
Josiah Martinez
Blake Gatlin
Sophie Eastone
Cameron Walker Camden Daiker
Ben Yancey
Claire Kirschenman Danny Mantel
Meet the Cast!
Paige Hardy
Addie Andrews
Michael Shelley
Jay Robinson
Nandi Dube
Ashlynn Boyle
Maxwell Collins
Meet the Production Team!
Dr. James Al-Shamma Grace Cuda
Josilyn Seftchick
Amber Whatley
Rylee Ruscitti
Laura Gracey
Meet the Production Team!
Sabrina Whitmer Anna Rae Eppard Maxwell Collins
Traci Ledford
Claire Kirschenman
Nick Galenkamp
Cast Bios
JANE DUNCAN (Leonata) is the Associate Dean for Academic Excellence in the College of Music and Performing Arts and Professor of Theatre. She regularly teaches First Year Seminar and Voice and Diction II, and in 2025 co-led a Belmont Maymester trip to France with Jim Al-Shamma. Jane has extensive experience as an actor, director, dialect coach, and dramaturg. She was in the 2024 Belmont production of The Game’s Afoot (directed by Paul Gatrell) and was the dialect coach for last spring’s A Monster Calls (directed by Brent Maddox). Recent directing credits at Belmont: You Can't Take it With You (2020), Little Women (2021), The Good Times are Killing Me (2022), and Blue Stockings (2024). In addition to her work at Belmont, Jane is a proud Board Member for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. AVA BURNS (Antonia) is thrilled to be a part of her first mainstage production at Belmont University, and so grateful to be in Much Ado About Nothing. Previously, you may have seen her with Curtains Up! Belmont playing Emma Nolan in The Prom and Miss Norbury in Mean Girls. She would like to thank her parents, her boyfriend, all of her friends and family and last, but not at least her brother, who got her into theater in the first place. She hopes you enjoy the show! MAGGIE STEAKLEY (Hero) is a Junior pursuing a BFA in Theatre Performance. Some of her recent credits at Belmont include Miss Godfrey/Ensemble in A Monster Calls, Bird/Mouse in A Year with Frog and Toad, Ensemble/Juliet (U/S) in Romeo and Juliet, and Lady Torminster in The Open Door. Additional credits include Eponine in Les Misérables, Mimi in A Comedy of Tenors, and Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher at Midway High School. GENTRY ANNE HOLLIS (Beatrice) is a senior pursuing her BFA with an emphasis in Theatre Performance. Some of her past Belmont credits include Julia in 1984, Kim/Jane in The Bookstore, Peters/Sister Anne/Nurse Understudy in Romeo and Juliet, Mrs. Lindley/Minnie Understudy in Blue Stockings, and Reader #13/Female Swing in A Wrinkle in Time. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work on such a wonderful show with such wonderful people!
EMMA JONES (Margaret) is a Junior BFA performance major at Belmont University, and is overjoyed to be a part of her first main stage in Much Ado About Nothing! At Belmont you might’ve seen her in Agamemnon (Herald), or backstage as costume designer on Ride the Cyclone (Curtains Up). In her Hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, she has worked on projects such as Noises Off (Brooke/Vicki), The Theory of Relativity (Jenny), and in partnership with Showdown theatre arts in Cranleigh, UK, Carrie (Ensemble). Emma would like to thank her Friends, Family, and the Belmont Theatre department for their continued encouragement and support in her pursuit of the Arts. MOLLY RYAN (Ursula) is a senior BFA performance major at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and absolutely thrilled to be a part of Much Ado About Nothing! She is originally from Arlington Heights, Illinois, which is just outside of Chicago. You may have seen her on the Belmont stage in roles such as Ensemble/Syme US in 1984, Christine in Miss Julie, and Celia US in Blue Stockings. Molly would also like to thank her friends, family, professors, cast, and the whole Belmont community for providing an excellent place to learn and perform! She hopes you enjoy the show! NICK GALENKAMP (Don Pedro) is a Senior at Belmont University. Some of Nick’s favorite roles have included Ralph Mayhew in Blue Stockings, u/s for Mister Western, Squire Allworthy, and Fitzpatrick in Tom Jones, Colonel Mustard in Clue, Lord Montague/Lord Capulet u.s. in Romeo and Juliet, and O’ Brien in 1984. While currently pursuing his BFA in Theatre Performance, Nick has studied abroad at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he wrote, directed, and starred in his own short play. nickgalenkamp.com JOSIAH MARTINEZ (Claudio) is a junior BFA Performance and Directing double emphasis at Belmont University. His acting credits include: Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet (Belmont University); Dr. Hern, Man in the Tent, and Byron, The Bookstore (Belmont University); Conor, A Monster Calls (Belmont University); The Monster, Frankenstein (Drama People); Sir John, Sense and Sensibility (Drama People); Dromio of Ephesus, Comedy of Errors (Drama People). He is honored to be putting on this production for you and hopes you enjoy the show! BLAKE GATLIN (Benedick) recently transferred into the Theatre Performance major and is thrilled to make his debut at Belmont University. He previously played Macbeth in Macbeth at UCCS and is excited to continue his journey into Shakespeare. Other acting credits include George (The Woman of Lockerbie), Colonel Mustard (Clue: On Stage), and Philip Glass (All in the Timing). He would like to thank all his friends for welcoming him into the program at Belmont, his professors for investing in him, his family for continuously supporting him, and he hopes you enjoy the show!
SOPHIE EASTONE (Balthasar/Lord) is a senior pursuing a BFA in Theatre with a dual emphasis in Performance and Directing. During her time at Belmont, she has appeared as Parsons in 1984, understudied Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad, and performed in the ensemble of Romeo and Juliet. Her directing credits include The Twelve-Pound Look, and she will serve as assistant director for Lost Girl and director of The Diary of Anne Frank later this year. Outside of Belmont, Sophie has performed with several theatre companies in West Virginia, with credits including Regina George in Mean Girls, Elsa in Frozen, Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda, and Miss Scarlet in Clue. She also works as a director with Carpe Artista Children’s Theatre in Smyrna, Tennessee. Sophie is incredibly grateful for every opportunity to grow as an artist and spend her time doing what she loves most: creating theatre with others. CAMERON WALKER (Messenger to Leonata/Messenger to Don Pedro) is double majoring in General Business and Theatre & Drama at Belmont University. He is honored to be making his mainstage debut in the Troutt. When he is not performing, Cameron is heavily involved in the student organization Curtains Up! Belmont University, where he serves as Treasurer. Some of his credits include Kevin G in Mean Girls (CUBU), Karnak in Ride the Cyclone (CUBU), and Bill in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (CUBU). He would like to extend his gratitude to the cast and crew for making this production possible, and his friends and family for their continued support. CAMDEN DAIKER (Don John) is a Junior BFA Theatre Performance major at Belmont University. His most recent acting credits include: Monster (“A Monster Calls”); Jamie/Also Jamie (“The Bookstore”); Romeo (“Romeo & Juliet”); Callum (“The Attic”); Jean (“Miss Julie”). Daiker is super grateful to have worked with such an amazing cast and crew, and he hopes you enjoy the show! BENEDICT YANCEY (Borachio/ Understudy: Benedick) is a senior B.F.A. Theatre Performance major. He has studied at the Stella Adler Studio, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and Shakespeare & Co. At Belmont, his credits include: Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Bingley/Mary), Proof (Hal), Blue Stockings (Edwards), Tom Jones (Swing). Outside of Belmont: As You Like It (Audrey/Le Beau) at MV Playhouse, Julius Caesar (Portia)/Double Dealer (Brisk) at LAMDA, Spirit (Josh Gardner) at Bell Witch Fall Festival. Benedict could not be happier to be a part of this wonderful production with an equally wonderful cast!
CLAIRE KIRSCHENMAN (Constance/Conrade) is a junior BFA Theatre Performance Major and Dance Minor from Bakersfield, California! She is overjoyed to be in her first MainStage show. She had the privilege of playing Lady Sims (The Twelve Pound Look), being a returning member of Belmont’s Dance Company, and Stage Managing a short play (Wanda’s Visit). Before Belmont, she got to be a part of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Narrator), Bright Star (Lucy Grant and Choreographer), Newsies (Buttons) and Fiddler on the Roof (Dance Captain). She would like to thank her parents and friends for supporting her, and the Belmont Faculty for giving her a chance! DANNY MANTEL (Dogberry) Credits include: Toad, A Year with Frog and Toad; Anton, A Monster Calls; Felix/Simon Swing, A Games Afoot (Belmont University); The Baker, Into the Woods; Davey, Newsies; Motel, Fiddler on the Roof, Juror #4, 12 Angry Men (Wheaton Academy). Danny is a Junior at Belmont pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Theater Performance. Danny has loved clowning around with such an eccentric character like Dogberry and being blessed with such a fun joyful bond with the cast! PAIGE HARDY(Verges/Beatrice U/S) is currently a senior in the BFA Theatre Performance program with an education minor. Some of Paige's favorite roles at Belmont have included Sandra and Annie swing in The Play That Goes Wrong, Miss Blake Understudy in Blue Stockings, Aggie and Madge swing in The Games Afoot, Helen in The Attic, Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet, Rachel in The Bookstore, and Mum in A Monster Calls. She currently acts as president of Belmont’s Alpha Psi Omega chapter. She is grateful for this amazing cast and crew! MICHAEL G. SHELLEY (George Seacoal/Borachio U.S.) Credits include: Grigory Smirnov, The Bear by Anton Chekhov (Belmont University Little Theater); William Gillette, The Game’s Afoot (Belmont University Black Box); Capt. Blifil, Mr. Square, Fitzpatrick, Tom Jones (Belmont University); Moritz Stiefel, Spring Awakening (Arts Bonita); Gee-tar, West Side Story (Florida Repertory Theater); Boy/Peter, Peter and the Starcatcher (Florida SouthWestern State College). Michael is a Senior in the B.F.A. Performance emphasis at B.U., and is from Fort Myers, Florida. Michael would like to send all the love to his family and roommates.
ADDIE ANDREWS (Hugh Oatcake/Watchman) is a Senior BFA theatre performance major, making her Belmont debut. She most recently studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Most recent credits include Polonius in Hamlet (LAMDA), Lucy in The Rivals (LAMDA), and Sally Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Addie is so excited to be a part of this show. JAY ROBINSON (First Watchman) is a junior theatre major, is excited to be a part of Belmont’s production of Much Ado about Nothing. It’s his fourth show at Belmont and he is excited to learn all he can from his castmates and elevate this show to be the best it can be. Jay wants to thank Dr. Jim for guiding us and helping to craft such a difficult piece, our stage manager Ryle Ruscitti and Sofia Deangelus, for making everything run smoothly, and our backstage crew for all their help with sets and costumes. Much Ado about Nothing is a charismatic, heartfelt, and whimsical show that we hope you enjoy seeing! ASHLYNN BOYLE (Second Watchman/Hero U/S) is very excited to be in the cast of Much Ado About Nothing. This will be her third mainstage with the Belmont Theatre Department. Her credits include Watchman 2 in Romeo and Juliet directed by Traci Ledford and Ensemble in A Monster Calls directed by Brent Maddox. She is so grateful for this opportunity, and would like to thank her friends, family, and teachers who have helped her grow! NANDI DUBE (Friar Francis) is a junior Theatre BA and Legal Studies major and is feeling so excited and blessed to be in this production! She recently returned from a study abroad at Queen’s University Belfast, where she performed as Grace in Faith Healer and Lizzie in Philadelphia, Here I Come. When not performing, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her friends. She also enjoys performing with The Belles A Cappella and writing sketches with her friends in Fall Follies. MAXWELL COLLINS (Sexton/Claudio U/S): Maxwell is a junior Theatre Directing and Performance double emphasis and is excited to be making his mainstage debut. He has recently worked as the director for Ride the Cyclone with Curtain’s Up, and as an ensemble member in the senior capstone A Small Part of the Interesting Story. He is grateful to have served as the dramaturg of this production and is currently directing Arnold Bennett’s A Good Woman. Enjoy the show!
Production Team Bios
DR. JAMES AL-SHAMMA (Director) is a Professor of Theatre at Belmont University. His directing credits at Belmont include Hamlet: Hold off the Earth Awhile, Argonautica, Three Sisters, and Our Town. He is a leading scholar of Iraqi theatre. GRACE CUDA (Assistant Director) Grace is a junior BFA Theater Performance and Directing major from Louisville, Kentucky. At Belmont she has been the assistant stage manager for 1984 and stage manager for Are You Watching Me? Over the past three summers she worked as the Stage Manager for Sacred Heart School for the Arts community theater programs. She is excited to be a part of this team. RYLEE RUSCITTI (Stage Manager) is a senior BFA Theater Production and Design major from Chicago, Illinois. While at Belmont she was assistant stage manager for Mixed Bill XXII and programmer for 1984. She is very grateful for the cast, director, and production team. She hopes you enjoy the show! SOFIA DEANGELUS (Asst. Stage Manager) is a sophomore theatrical directing major at Belmont university. Much Ado About Nothing will be her first time working as an assistant stage manager for a full-length show. She was the head of sound for the Blue Roses Theater Company in high school. She also has experience writing, directing, producing, and stagemanaging short scenes. She has enjoyed the experiences she has had while working on Much Ado About Nothing. JOSILYN SEFTCHICK (Scenic Designer) Credits include: Lighting Design, Prince of Egypt, (Nashville Christian Youth Theatre), 1984, Moving Stories 2023, Moving Stories 2024, Moving Stories 2025, Hamlet:Hold Off the Earth Awhile, (Belmont University); Set Design, Romeo and Juliet, No Exit, Proof, 39 Steps, Ride the Cyclone, A Year With Frog and Toad, (Belmont University). Josilyn is a Senior pursuing her B.F.A. in Production Design. LAURA GRACEY (Costume Designer) is a junior pursuing her BFA in Theatre Production Design with a minor in English Literature. Laura serves as the Vice President and producer for Belmont’s musical theater club, Curtains Up! Credits include: Scenic Design, 1984 (Belmont University); Properties Design, Shrek the Musical (St. Croix Festival Theater); Stage Management, The Maids, Mixed Bill XXII, Moving Stories (Belmont University).
AMBER WHATLEY (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer and educator based in Nashville, Tennessee. With a background spanning theater, dance, concerts, and on-camera lighting, Amber’s creative vision is rooted in storytelling through light and motion. Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, Amber earned her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and completed her MFA in Lighting Design at The University of Texas at Austin. She is the founder of Blackout, a workshop and video series dedicated to making lighting design and technology more accessible to Black youth and underserved communities. Her research and creative work center on empowering BIPOC voices, fostering new works, and exploring nontraditional approaches to design. Amber is currently a faculty member at Belmont University and actively collaborates with organizations such as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, PCPA, Nashville Repertory Theatre and Oz Arts Nashville. Whether teaching the next generation of designers or crafting evocative visual worlds onstage, Amber’s work is driven by a passion for inclusion, innovation, and the transformative power of light. TRACI LEDFORD (Intimacy Director) is an assistant professor and the program coordinator for the BFA Directing program at Belmont University’s Department of Theatre and Dance in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her MFA in Directing and her BFA in Directing and Design from Baylor University. An associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, Traci has helmed over seventy productions in both professional and educational venues in Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, New York, and Wisconsin. Traci is also a trained stage intimacy choreographer and actress. www.traciledford.com ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY (Fight Choreographer) is a proud native of Nashville, he graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.F.A. in performance studies. There he studied stage combat and fight choreography under Fight Master Geoffrey Kent, and later with Fight Master Richard Ryan. He has choreographed fights for: Nashville Opera, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre, Street Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, Tennessee Repertory Theatre(Nashville Rep), People’s Branch Theatre, Blackbird Theatre, Woven Theatre, and was fight captain and co-choreographer for: Stage One: The Louisville Children’s Theatre, and The Colorado Shakespeare Festival. A loyal member and certified advanced actor combatant through the Society of American Fight Directors, he has choreographed violence and stunts for many films, and schools in the Nashville area, as well as being the stage combat instructor for Belmont University for the last 11 years. He is also a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
SABRINA WHITMER (Properties Designer) is a junior psychology major with a minor in theater and drama from St. Louis, Missouri. This is Sabrina’s second time working on a department production in a design role and she could not be more excited! She can previously be seen in Nicolette Manrique’s Directing II scene: The Spark of Love as a part of the Spark Symposium as well as properties designer for Romeo and Juliet directed by Traci Ledford. She hopes you enjoy the show! Anna Rae Eppard (Asst. Properties Designer) is proud to serve as the Assistant Properties Designer for Much Ado About Nothing. She is a senior graduating this December pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a double-major in Theatre & Drama and Media & Entertainment Industries. She was the Assistant Properties Designer for the Belmont's production of A Year With Frog and Toad and has acted in The Woman In Black, The 39 Steps, Hamlet: Hold Off The Earth Awhile, Belmont Repertory Company, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. She is grateful for the directors, actors, and production team.
Production Crew House & Box Manager.......................................................Berkeley Moore Assistant House Manager.................................................Phin Byrne Front of House Team .........................................................Kelsey Kathman Shirah Binshtein Costume Shop Manager....................................................Jessica Mueller Scene Shop Foreman..........................................................Garret Repogle Wardrobe Supervisor.........................................................Carolina Wood Asst. Wardrobe Supervisor...............................................Emery Crowder Deck Chief.............................................................................Emily Anderson Light Board Op......................................................................Lucy Day Sound & Projection Board Op..........................................Avery Fawcett
Production Crew Run Crew/Fly Rail Hayden Curry
Sofia De Carlo
Mac Collins
Kuzey Palmer
Spencer Hayman
Cassidy Murphy
Wardrobe Crew Marlea Long
Laila Bills
Peyton Woods
Skyler Orr-Depner
Giselle Hovhannisyan
Hailey Selock
SPECIAL THANKS DR. STEPHEN EAVES, DEAN COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS FRIENDS OF THE ARTS AT BELMONT CHELSEA LOMARTIRE DR. NATALIA PELAZ EPIPHANY PETERS CHRIS PROESSER THE NASHVILLE CHESS CENTER TRACI LEDFORD ERIN GRACE BAILEY BELMONT’S PROP MASTER GENERALS GARRET REPOGLE BERKELEY MOORE
Upcoming Events Department of Theatre and Dance LOST GIRL Directed by: Sean Martin November 13-21 Blackbox Theatre
MOVING STORIES A Dance Co. Production November 20-22 Troutt Theater
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (In partnership with Nashville Shakespeare Festival) Directed by: Katie Bruno February Troutt Theater