CSC artistic director Steven Maler directs the work on Boston Common set for a July 10-Aug. 1, 2004 run — during which the Democratic National Convention is in town.

Jonno Roberts (Take Me Out) and Georgia Hatzis (CSC's Macbeth) will star as Benedick and Beatrice in a cast that also includes Amelia Nickles, Kaolin Bass, Sean McGuirk, James Noel Hoban, Paul Farwell, Vincent Ernest Siders, Bobbie Steinbach and Jacqui Parker.

Ensemble members also include Paul Anderson, Chris Butterfield, Caroline DeLima, Matthew Dickson, Robert Doris, Ricardo Engerman, Jeff Gill, Danielle Levanas, Ray McDavitt, John Porell, Joshua Rollins, John Russell, Josh Segovia and Stephen Squibb.

The design team for Much Ado About Nothing features Scott Bradley (scenic), Clint E.B. Ramos (costume), Linda O'Brien (lighting) and J Hagenbuckle (sound) — who also provides original music. Choreography is by Richard Colton.

The Wang Center for the Performing Arts and the Poduska Family Foundation present the work sponsored by Target Stores in association with the Boston Globe. The staging marks the ninth annual "Free Shakespeare on the Common" production. Performances take place at the Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common. Past CSC presentations have included Macbeth starring Jay O. Sanders, Henry V starring Anthony Rapp, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet. CSC's inaugural 1996 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was staged at Copley Square.

For more information, call (617) 532-1212. Also visit www.freeshakespeare.org.