The Revere Players season will begin with their fall production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Auditions for this production occurred on September 5th and 6th  in the auditorium. Potential play members attended the Revere Players Open House a week before the auditions. There they received information and audition scripts of four scenes.

“On audition days, students meet in the auditorium for a brief overview, then go out into the hallways outside the theater to practice in scene groups of their choosing. They sign up for an audition order with Players Board members who keep the auditions running smoothly. Students audition for three Players staff members and are scored on their audition using a rubric,” Baker said.

Baker explained how auditions work from a staff point of view. She also claimed that she has high hopes for this year’s play based on the auditions alone.

“Students audition for three Players staff members and are scored on their audition using a rubric form. The leads are chosen based on audition scores. The only information directors use is past knowledge of the actors’ ability to make a substantial commitment to the production,” Baker said.

Assistant director Laurie Russell discussed what the audition rubric looks like.

“They were judged on the following: voice projection, interpretation of character, facial expressions, body movements, elocution and general interaction with other characters,” Russell said.

Producers include Mary Ryan, production volunteer, Bob Pierson, artistic director and Bob Carlyon, musical director.

Baker shared what aspects she finds most difficult aspects for this play.

“Shakespeare always requires more work than a common language script. It is important to study the meaning of the lines carefully and research pronunciations. This is a clever comedy with romance sprinkled throughout and requires work on timing and physicality in order to make it enjoyable for the audience. Shakespeare is a challenge for any actor,” Baker said.

Russell explainedwhat she finds more challenging about performing Much Ado About Nothing.

“We are using original Shakespearean verse which will be challenging for the students. It will be difficult to understand, memorize and deliver this old English script,” Russell said.

Ellie Edwards, who plays Beatrice in the show, has participated in three plays. Edwards noted a new aspect of this year’s show.

“We are very excited about a new addition to the performance. We are having what is called a Green Show, which takes place before the show, at intermission, and after the show. The Green Show cast will perform folk style Renaissance music, dancing, and other acts. We have a cast of about twenty and a green show cast of about eighteen, totaling thirty-one because of some overlap,” Edwards said.

Edwards explained her personal plan for approaching this year’s play differently.

“Since this year’s play is Shakespeare, I plan to study my lines much more to understand what my character is saying. I know I will have to research Shakespearean language quite a bit this year,” Edwards said.