In Much Ado, BSC associate artists Christopher Innvar (Benedick), Gretchen Egolf (Beatrice) and Mark H. Dold (Don John) are joined by actor-playwright John Cariani (Dogberry), Babak Tafti (Claudio), Christina Pumariega (Hero), David Bishins (Don Pedro), Philip Kerr (Leonato), John Pasha (Borachio), Gordon Stanley (Antonio/Friar/Sexton), Scott Aiello (Conrade), Ben Cole (Watchman), David Ryan Smith (Verges/Friar Francis), Emily Taplin Boyd (Margaret), Kim Wong (Ursula), Jane Bernhard, Jenifer Dillow, Michael Kushner, Kyle Scanlon and Chloe Tiso.

Set in Messina, Sicily, in the mid-1930s, here's how the BSC production is billed: "The strains of jazz and Latin rhythms fill the air as the fun-loving, confirmed bachelor Benedick (Innvar) returns home from war to be met by the smart, headstrong Beatrice (Egolf) - always ready to do combat with a 'merry war' of witty insults. Their love story is set against a darker one of young love between Claudio (Tafti) and Hero (Pumariega), threatened by the machinations of the malicious Don John (Dold). At once passionate, sexy and bitingly funny, Much Ado is filled with some of the most comedic repartee ever written, and is considered a precursor to the 'screwball' comedy."

Performances continue through Aug. 25.

Much Ado About Nothing features an original score by Andrew Gerle. The creative team also includes Jeremy Robin Lyons (music director), Michael Anania (sets), Sara Jean Tosetti (costumes), Philip S. Rosenberg (lighting), Will Pickens (sound), Cassie Abate (choreographer), Claudia Hill-Sparks (voice and text coach) and Renee Lutz (production stage manager).

Barrington Stage Company is located at 30 Union Street in Pittsfield, MA. For more information and tickets, call (413) 236-8888 or visit BarringtonStageCo.org.