A Letter from Michael Kahn

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the second play of our 25th Anniversary Season, William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. One of the most beloved plays in the Shakespearean canon, Much Ado is one of the well-springs of romantic comedy, the first of countless works in the Western drama in which a pair of likeminded wits fight their way into love. Beatrice and Benedick, the play’s avatars, are remarkably human creations, and their genes can be found in every romantic comedy made to this day.

I was fortunate enough to sit and chat recently with Christopher Plummer, one of the best of the Benedicks in theatrical memory and the recipient of our Will Award in 1990. In this issue, Ethan McSweeny also sits with his Benedick, Derek Smith, to discuss the upcoming production in which he joins fellow STC alum Kathryn Meisle (of The School for Scandal). There are other surprises in store, including a trip down memory lane to some Much Ados of the past.

In addition to our mainstage season, we are bringing a number of outstanding performances and artists to Washington, D.C., this winter. From November 29 to December 4, we will present Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt in the Gate Theatre’s Krapp’s Last Tape

for one week only. On December 19, we will host one of our ever-popular ReDiscovery readings with a historic play, Egmont by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which is all too little performed in the United States. We also continue our collaboration with the NT Live series—upcoming screenings include The Kitchen on December 6 and Collaborators on December 19. Finally, join us January 17 to March 4 for our mainstage presentation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona

, directed by another former Associate Director, PJ Paparelli.

I hope to see you at the theatre!

Best always,

Michael Kahn
Artistic Director, Shakespeare Theatre Company