Beatrice Madison Archibald

Benedick Chad Henwood

Hero Siri Reilly

Claudio Koda Smith

Leonato Blaine Backman

Don Pedro TJ Horton

Don John Nash Kenning-Ballesteros

Barachio Dustin Hardebeck

Conrad Connor Vincent

Antonia Sonia Maritza Inoa-Rosado Maughan

Balthasar/Friar Francis Christian Ayer

Ursula Jenna Larm

Margaret Zel Bromley

Dogberry Christopher James

Verges Eleisha Lilly

Seacoal/Boy/Servant/Lord Lindsay Cruz

Messenger 1/Watchman 1/Servant/Lord Kassandra Schreiber

Messenger 2/Watchman 2/Sexton/Servant/Lord Karina Barnes

In Messina, as Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon, and his officers return from a recently concluded war, a message comes to Leonato that the prince intends to visit his house for a month. The Duke’s party arrives with Count Claudio, who had before the war been attracted by Leonato’s only daughter, Hero. Another of the visitors is Benedick, a bachelor, who enjoys speaking his mind in witty argument with Hero’s cousin and companion, the Lady Beatrice.

Leonato holds a masked ball to celebrate the end of the war and the engagement of Claudio to Hero is arranged, while the Duke’s brother, Don John, resenting the celebrations, seeks a way to spoil the general happiness. Don John plots with the soldiers, Borachio and Conrade, to deceive Claudio into believing Hero is false to him. As a result, a trick is carried out with the unwitting assistance of Hero’s maid, Margaret, who talks from Hero’s bedroom window with Borachio at night, while Claudio and the Duke watch secretly from a distance under the delusion that the girl at the window is Hero.

Hero and Don Pedro, meanwhile are convinced that Benedick and Beatrice are ideal partners, and by means of overheard conversations, the two realise they do indeed love one another.

At the wedding, Claudio denounces Hero and leaves her apparently dead from shock, while her father, Beatrice, and Benedick, amazed at the situation, decide that with the aid of the priest, Hero’s recovery should be concealed until her name can be cleared. Help is at hand as the village constable, Dogberry, and his assistants have arrested Borachio and Conrade after overhearing them boasting of their deception of Claudio and the Duke.

The play comes to a joyful conclusion when Dogberry’s information is, eventually, after some difficulty, given to Leonato and Don Pedro. Claudio agrees to accept Leonato’s ‘niece’, whom he has never met, in place of Hero, whom he believes has been killed by his slander. The ‘niece’ turns out to be Hero, and as the lovers are reunited, Benedick and Beatrice announce that they will share the wedding day. Don John has been captured while trying to escape and is left for future trial, while the play ends with a merry dance.

Welcome to Much Ado About Nothing — and welcome to a milestone moment for Theater 360.

This production marks the inaugural adult performance of Theater 360, West Valley Arts’ educational and community-centered theater program. From the beginning, our vision for this program was simple: create a space where adults of all experience levels could continue learning, creating, and finding connection through live theater. Whether returning to the stage after years away, trying something entirely new, or bringing decades of experience with them, this company came together with curiosity, courage, and incredible heart.

And what better way to begin than with Shakespeare?

At its core, Much Ado About Nothing is a play about joy, wit, misunderstandings, community, and love in all its messy humanity. More than 400 years after it was written, audiences still recognize themselves in these characters — in their humor, vulnerability, stubbornness, and hope. That timelessness is part of the magic of theater: stories continue to live because people continue to gather together to tell them.

This production has been built with immense passion by artists balancing jobs, families, responsibilities, and everyday life — choosing, week after week, to make art together anyway. That spirit is the heartbeat of Theater 360.

Thank you for being here to support not only this production, but the beginning of a new creative home for lifelong learners, artists, and community members. We are so excited for what comes next.

Enjoy the show.

— Vanessa Olson
Managing & Artistic Director
West Valley Arts

July 9-11 - Finding Nemo

Sept 10-12 - Six: Teen Edition

Oct 29-Nov 1 - TBA Adult Production!