The beloved Shakespeare comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” opens this weekend at Genesius Guild. Show dates are June 21, 22, 28, and 29. Performances start at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Classic Theatre, 1120 40^th St., Rock Island. Admission is free.

“Much Ado About Nothing” is frequently ranked among the favorite Shakespearean comedies, according to a Genesius Guild release. One of the reasons for the show’s popularity is that the show has multiple layers, from some dark overtones and love intrigue to witty dialogue and the humorously bumbling master of the watch Dogberry.

Thought to be written as Shakespeare approached the middle of his career as a playwright, “Much Ado” explores themes of love, honor, shame, and court politics.

Following two separate love stories in one show, “Much Ado About Nothing” may best be described as a rom-com. The play features much of the “he said, she said,” misconstrued partially-overheard conversations, and general misdirection that you can expect from modern-day television shows. It is easy to see why the show remains as popular now as it was over 400 years ago, the release says.

In this production (featuring local high school students) Benedick is played by Michael Kintigh, Beatrice by Cayla Odendahl, Don Pedro by Matt Walsh, Leonato by Mischa Hooker, Hero by Cameryn Bergthold, and Claudio by Ross Richhart.

“Much Ado” was last staged by Genesius Guild in 2016.

Genesius Guild is a community theatre organization specializing in free classical drama. Founded in 1956, the group performs Greek drama, Greek comedy, the works of Shakespeare, and other classical authors for eight weekends each summer. For more information about the Guild, visit www.genesius.org.

The set for the first production of the 2025 summer season at Lincoln Park, Rock Island, “Oedipus Rex.” The Shakespeare comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” will play this weekend and next.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.