Much Ado: A Summer with a Repertory Theater Company

by Michael Lenehan

Much Ado, written by award-winning journalist Michael Lenehan, gives readers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the lauded American Players Theatre’s 2014 production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Wall Street Journal drama critic Terry Teachout has called the APT—based in the unassuming town of Spring Green, Wisconsin—"the best classical theater company in America." It's also one of the most successful, with an annual budget of $6 million and ticket sales of more than 100,000 each season.

Performing almost entirely outdoors, rain or shine, on the "Up the Hill" stage, the company has established a reputation for authentic, accessible, entertaining shows—and Much Ado was no exception, selling nearly 23,000 tickets during its five-month run. Through Lenehan's keen reporter eyes, Much Ado explores the evolution of this complicated stage production, from casting to costumes to curtain call. In doing so, it provides readers with a deeper sense of the company's astonishing artistry and craft, a peek into the intricate technical logistics involved with outdoor theater, and a refreshing perspective on one of the Bard's most famous plays.

Lenehan weaves together firsthand observations and literary analysis with interviews with key members of the APT's artistic ensemble and production staff—including lauded director David Frank, lead actors Colleen Madden (Beatrice) and David Daniel (Benedick), and set and costume designer Robert Morgan—to paint a remarkable portrait of one of our most treasured artistic institutions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, Shakespeare

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2016

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful look behind the scenes at the artistry, intensity, and thoughtfulness that APT puts into each production. Of course, all of that is evident anytime you see a play there, but it was so fun to get a chance to read about the process that happens backstage and to understand the full process of a production. I especially enjoyed the chance to see some of the hardest working people at APT are the stage managers and others who are as devoted to this theater company as anyone. A really fun book, especially if you are a fan of APT!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fine book! Fascinating, illuminating, and fun. I started to just dip in, and ended up racing through. I loved it.

[Kate Hayner-Slattery · Rating 4 out of 5]

wasn't expecting to start and finish my goal of reading two nonfiction books this year within a singular month, but hey. sometimes, u see a really good production of much ado about nothing and then two days later at a local bookstore find a book about the LAST time that specific theatre did that specific show. any other time this book would not be for me but today it felt molded into my hands.

and it was a deeply cool and deeply personal reading experience. flipping through my playbill like an index to the book, finding many of the exact same names. acquiring the knowledge that the actor who played Benedick in 2024 had played Borachio a decade earlier on the same stage. what an astonishingly specific little treat.

[Z ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic book if you like shakespear and learning about the creative process of making a show happen! loved it. what a great writer too.

[Ernst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious behind the scenes story of one production for the American Players Theatre. Although the context of repertory is mentioned, the book concentrates almost entirely on Much Ado About Nothing. Theater company stories are a great break from the stresses of the rest of the world, and may be more important in the end.

[Carol]

As a devoted fan of American Players a Theatre (Spring Green, WI), I loved this inside look at their 2014 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Lenehan captures the special spirit of APT, and shares insights about both the play and the process that devotees of classical theater anywhere will find fascinating.

Please note that I don't use the star rating system, so this review should not be regarded as a zero.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a patron and former employee of American Players Theatre (APT) I found this "outside" perspective being on the "inside" interesting.

Unlike Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, APT is a living, breathing entity that is so important to the experience of living in the Spring Green, Wisconsin area.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful look at the 2014 production of Much Ado About Nothing at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI. Learned some new things about the play and lots about how APT works.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve not enjoyed APT and made it an essential part of your summer, I don’t know if you’d enjoy this book. But since I have, I enjoyed it immensely.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this fast-paced and light, yet heartfelt story about how a theater company makes a play real. Recommended for fans of APT, theater, Shakespeare, or any kind of creative teamwork.

[Nancy Mcdaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for any fan of (1) repertory theater (2) summer theater (3) American Players Theatre and/or (4) Shakespeare comedies. I had seen this production so it was great fun to read about it.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I received it at the opening night of Chesapeake Shakespeare theater's Richard the Third. The book gives insight in to the heart of American Players Theater by taking the reader through the planning to the performance of Much Ado About Nothing or, Much Ado. After reading the book, I will make sure that some time soon I make a trip to Wisconsin to see this amazing company perform. I wish there was a video of a performance of this production because after reading about the work and thought that went into it I really want to see this production.

[Genevieve Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm playing Beatrice in a production of Much Ado About Nothing right now, and this book was recommended to the cast when we started rehearsals. It is wonderful. If you have any interest or background in theatre and/or Shakespeare, I imagine you'll enjoy it - the theatre background definitely helps! The writer spent a summer with American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, one of the foremost classical theatre companies in the US. The book is basically an account of that summer, focusing primarily on the company's production of Much Ado About Nothing, referencing their other four shows of the season only when they intersect with Much Ado. He hangs out with the director, the actors, the designers, the composer, the stage manager, the technicians and the stitchers. He weaves together the story of the evolution of the company itself with the evolution of the show from beginning to at least mid-run.

If you have no interest in the nitty-gritty of running a theatre company, then this probably isn't the book for you. For me, as someone who's very active in theatre as both an actor and a costumer and who loves her some Shakespeare, this would have been an immensely enjoyable, useful, and thought-provoking book at any time. As someone working on this exact same show right now, the character insights were invaluable.

[Doreen Pfost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly satisfying book. Much Ado describes the production in 2014 of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin. That makes it an especially enjoyable choice for fans of APT, but it would also be fun for anyone who appreciates Shakespeare or theater in general, as it provides a glimpse "behind the curtain" to show us how the magic is made.

[Ann Conroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book especially for those of us who have attended American Players Theater in Spring Green. I enjoyed learning about everyone's roles in pulling off such fantastic productions.