Theater News

Funk It Up About Nothin’ to Play New York Prior to Chicago Run and Australian Tour

The Q Brothers, JQ and GQ
(© Bill Burlingham)
The Q Brothers, JQ and GQ
(© Bill Burlingham)

Funk It Up About Nothin’, a hip-hop “ad-rap-tation” of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, will be presented at New York City’s Joe’s Pub on January 8, prior to its previously reported run at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, January 21-February 13. In addition, the production will then embark upon a tour in Australia from February 23 through April 2, 2011.

Commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare, the show was developed by co-creators and directors The Q Brothers (GQ and JQ) in collaboration with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton, and originally presented at CST in 2008. The Q Brothers previously co-created the international hit, The Bomb-itty of Errors along with Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, and Erik Weiner.

The cast will include Jillian Burfete (Hero, Lil Boi), Jackson Doran (Claudio, Judge), Postell Pringle (Don Pedro, Verges), GQ (Don John, Leonato, Dingleberry), JQ (Benedick, Borachio), Ericka Ratcliff (MC Lady B, Big Jon), and Adrienne Sanchez (DJ).

The creative team will include Brian Sidney Bembridge (scenic design), Debbie Baer (costumes), and Toby Knyvett (lighting).

The Australian tour will kick off at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in Wollongong, New South Wales, and will also appear at Carriage Works’ Platform 3 Hip Hop Festival in Sydney.


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