Geffen Playhouse Presents West Coast Premiere of These Paper Bullets!

These Paper Bullets!, a musical based on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, begins performances tonight at the Geffen Playhouse.

Presented as "a modish ripoff" of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, the play follows Ben, Claude, Balth, and Pedro. The four make up the wildly popular band Quartos. Worshipped by fans, feared by Scotland Yard, and hounded by their former drummer, who is determined to destroy them, they arrive in London. In only seven nights, the fab four from Liverpool will travel to London and attempt to cut an album and woo their way to true love. As usual, however, true love may end up making fools of them all.

The show was written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominee Rolin Jones, with songs by Grammy Award winner Billie Joe Armstrong. Jackson Gay directs the show, which features James Barry as Pedro, Kate Blumberg as Paulina, Noble, and Frida, Damon Duanno as Claude, Chris Geary as Mr. Crumpet, Anton, and Queen, Brad Heberlee as Mr. Urges and Reverend, Justin Kirk as Ben, Tony Manna as Mr. Cake, Rod MacLachlan as Boris, Keira Naughton as Ulcie and Belinda Bailey, Adam O’Byrne as Don Best, Lucas Papaelias as Balth, Nicole Parker as Bea, Greg Stuhr as Mr. Berry, Ariana Venturi as Higgy, and Nick Ullet as Leo Messina.

The creative team includes Michael Yeargen (set design), Jessica Ford (costume design), Paul Whitaker (lighting design), Broken Chord (sound design), Kevin Williamson (choreography), Mike Rossmy (fight choreography), Julie McBride (music direction), Paul Wager (dialect coach), and Rob Chikar (stage manager).

Performances will run through October 18.

For tickets and more information, click here.