Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Presented by The Rude Mechanicals in Residence at The Greenbelt Arts Center
Directed by Shirley Long
Beatrice and Benedick are bitter exes who can’t stand each other. Hero and Claudia find love at first sight. Pedro Prince just wants to play cupid. And the vengeful Joan is bent on ruining everyone else’s lives just because she can. Will the villain get her way, or – even in this day and age – does love really conquer all? Set in today’s America – where battles tend to be fought in the courtroom – with updated characters and incorporating modern music and technology, the Rudes present a contemporary spin on one of Shakespeare’s greatest and most beloved comedies.
May 7 -17, 2025
Pay What You Will ($5, $10, $20, $50) – Wednesday, May 7th
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM
Sunday matinee at 2 PM
Adults $24, Seniors/Military $22, Children/Students $12
Announcing GAC’s 2025-26 Season!
This year we’ve brought in a variety of productions, from classic pieces like King Lear, Salome and A View from a Bridge to original productions like Wifey Unknown and The Mountaineer, to crowd pleasing musical performances by The Chromatics and Happiness Happening. With all these different options, we’re sure you’ll want to come to see us several times this season. See Our Season page on our website for dates.
Our Mission
The mission of the Greenbelt Arts Center is to provide a dedicated and sustainable hub that makes the arts accessible to our community.
Join the Mission
Toward that end, we need your help to produce more accessible theatre for Greenbelt, Maryland. We showcase and co-produce over six productions a season, as well as many smaller shows. We believe in empowering artists by holding auditions, honing your skills, and hosting special events! Volunteer your time and talent, and let’s make some awesome things happen!
Please fill out the Contact Form found here, and our Box Office Manager will reach out to you.
We Did It!!
Thanks so much for helping us reach our goal $43K by June 30th, 2025. But we can always use more help in funding our programs. Please make a donation to or become a member of of GAC.
Upcoming Events at GAC
Announcements
Volunteer Opportunities!
Volunteer Crowd Managers Needed:
Greenbelt Arts Center (GAC) needs volunteer crowd managers. A crowd manager (CM) is an usher trained in crowd management through the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office (MSFMO). The CM welcomes patrons, manages any issues in the lobby prior to showtime, seats people with special needs and latecomers, and greets patrons at the theater door and checks their tickets. They then stay until the audience leaves. Throughout their 2-3 hour shift, they are responsible for making sure egress is not blocked, escorting people to safety in an emergency, and basic monitoring of the crowd. For the most part, they can watch the performance while keeping an eye out in the periphery for emergencies.
Good candidates should be good with managing diverse people, are at least 18 years old, and available for 2-3 performances a month. A typical show is 9 performances over 3 weekends. Both initial and ongoing training is provided. A background check is required by the City of Greenbelt because the volunteers work with children.
Please fill out the Contact Form found here, and our Box Office Manager will reach out to you.
COVID-19 STATUS
As the Greenbelt Arts Center has resumed in-person programming and local mask mandates have been dropped, we are now allowing patrons to be unmasked in the facility. Exceptions to this rule include our masked Sunday matinees (determined by each production) and any conditions set by those using the space for private rehearsals or events.
Click here to read our full current COVID-19 Policy.