Shakespeare in the Arb will be back in the Slayton Arboretum April 19-20 following a three-year absence from students performing in the Arb. The group will perform “Much Ado about Nothing.” 

“Shakespeare really works well outside in kind of a more informal setting for the comedies especially,” said junior Libby Gannon, president of the troupe.

In 2022 and 2023, the shows were moved to Mauck Residence because of cold weather.

“This weekend is going to be in the 50s, and we’ve decided that that is warm enough,” Gannon said.

Both shows start at 5 p.m.

Gannon said the Shakespeare Society is in charge of Shakespeare in the Arb but delegates the task of directing it to a student in the theater department. 

“Our director, senior Kiley Hatch, cut it down from a two-and-a-half hour show to about 90 minutes,” said freshman Sophia Miller. “We have been rehearsing for two weeks now, since right after Easter.” 

Hatch, a senior theater major, did the casting and set the schedule and she said she has enjoyed watching the rehearsals. 

“Each night I find a new moment catches my fancy, makes me think, or makes me giggle,” Hatch said. “Whether we are racking our brains over why Hero never talks or finishing a run through under the parking lot lights of the Suites since we ran out of sunlight in the Arb, this cast has had a great sense of humor and team spirit.”

Miller said she plays Beatrice, one of the lead female characters.

“She’s a very, very strong character and is one of Shakespeare’s most notable female leads, and she’s very well-loved,” Miller said. “It has been kind of daunting trying to capture her, because everyone who I talk to is always like, ‘Oh my gosh, you better do her justice.’ So it is a little bit nerve wracking because she is so iconic, but I’m hoping to capture her — her essence and her spirit.” 

Miller said she’s taken advantage of every theater opportunity she could since coming to Hillsdale, but she loves Shakespeare in the Arb because it’s more laid back. 

“When you’re doing the official theater productions of the Tower Players, it typically tends to be actual theater majors, but with Shakespeare in the Arb, we have just a total hodgepodge of people who just want to do it for fun or normally don’t do theater or theater majors,” Miller said. “So it’s a really fun kind of eclectic group from all around campus, and it’s a great way to get to know other people.”

Hatch said directing the play has been a lovely way to welcome in the spring weather. 

“I cast my actors back in January, but we did not start rehearsals properly until after Easter,” Hatch said. “My goal in taking that risk in delaying rehearsal was that my actors would be able to focus on the work and feel the momentum for a two-week focused period rather than dragging it out over the semester.”

Hatch said it’s a student production and is not affiliated with the theatre department, so it’s meant to be a fun experience.

“My role as director is to set my actors up for success by making the right bets in casting and rehearsal schedule,” Hatch said. “I am the unifying factor among such a large cast — filtering everyone’s delightful artistic personalities through one vision.”