A double dose of Shakespeare: First up, Much Ado About Nothing

It's worked out for the past year that I've photographed dress rehearsals for two Indianapolis community theater groups presenting twice-yearly shows at almost the same times, and it's been a challenge to say the least.

It takes time to wade through thousands of images on just one shoot -- deciding which to keep (and which to discard), then making those images available to the theater companies eager to use photos to promote their performances. It has been hectic and demanding, but I've pulled it off.

It is that time of the year again. One of the theater groups, the all-volunteer Garfield Shakespeare Company, ended its spring production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" last weekend. While I succeeded in funneling GSC a good number of images to promote the play for the run, I hadn't had the time to do a blog post on it.

The other troupe, First Folio Productions/Wayne Township Community Theater, presents its final three performances of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at the beautiful theater in Ben Davis High School, 1200 N. Girls School Road, just a half-mile or so west of the 10th Street exit off I-465 exit on the Far Westside of Indianapolis.

Both are/were fun productions -- certainly worth seeing. It's too late to drop in on GSC's show, since it's over already. But it's not too late to see "Much Ado About Nothing," and if you haven't checked it out already, it'd be worth it.

The bard wrote this comedy in 1599, and First Folio places the story in post-World War II, so you'll see Army uniforms and hear big band music. While much of the acting is top-notch, actress Christina Howard steals the show in the second half, playing the British-accent leader of a somewhat bumbling military police unit that unleashes gags and funny antics that keep you on edge waiting for the next. Christina is the animated and gesturing gal in the photo leading off the post. You'll also see a handful of cast members with poor hiding skills; extensive dialogues are held by other characters who are aware of the "hiding" cast members and have fun with that advantage.

"Much Ado" has 7:30 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday and a 2:30 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. You can buy tickets at the door up to an hour before show time. For a full gallery of shots from "Much Ado," visit my galleries at SmugMug.com.