About the Show

New York Shakespeare Exchange presents a contemporary take on the Bard's classic comedy filled with fake news, social media rumors, unlikely lovers, and secret enemies.

Shakespeare's comedy features mistaken identities, ironic deceptions, mask wearing, spying, and acts of infidelity. Director Ross Williams takes it a step further by setting the play in a Silicon Valley playground in which the more nefarious tricks of deceit and conceit are bolstered by social media and the Internet.

Critic Reviews (3)

"Everything from the po-mo/EDM lighting and sound scheme, to the Johnny Mnemonic VR headsets...comes together to build a world that feels endearingly tacky, and completely lived in...It is a hilariously funny, visually striking and unrelentingly compelling rendition of the Shakespearean blockbuster. If you were to strip away all of its glitz and glam, it would still excel. With glitz and glam left intact, it’s one of best damn good times you’re likely to have Off-Broadway right now."
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"Director Ross Williams does an excellent job integrating the modern aesthetic without compromising Shakespeare’s original text...His direction electrifies this play so much that it doesn’t feel 400 years old at all. The actors revel in Shakespeare’s witty dialogue and bring out the puns in his writing...A rambunctious, hilarious evening that will make you fall in love with the Bard’s wit all over again, and convert any nonbelievers...For an evening with electric laughs, see this revival."
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"Shakespeare’s timeless, not-quite-star-crossed lovers et al. are brought to life with electricity. Across the board, the cast shares an admiral devotion to their roles not just vocally, but physically...With a cast that pops in technicolor outfits and satisfyingly petty wordplay, 'Much Ado About Nothing' is an endearing performance. Under the direction of Ross Williams, this production bears the trademark value of the New York Shakespeare Exchange: its undeniable freshness."
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