Benedick:   (Logan Fagin)

An aristocratic soldier who has recently been fighting under Don Pedro, and a friend of Donna Pedra and Claudio. Benedick is very witty, always making jokes and puns. He carries on a war of wits with Beatrice, but at the beginning of the play he swears he will never fall in love or marry.

Beatrice:  (Madison Brentlinger)

Leonato’s niece and Hero’s cousin. Beatrice is “a pleasant-spirited lady” with a very sharp tongue. She is generous and loving, but, like Benedick, continually mocks other people with elaborate jokes and puns. She wages a war of wits against Benedick and often wins the battles. At the beginning of the play, much like Benedick, she proclaims that she shall never fall in love or marry.

Claudio:  (Stephen Brentlinger)

A young soldier who has won great acclaim fighting under Donna Pedra during the recent wars. Claudio falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. His unfortunately suspicious nature makes him quick to believe evil rumors and hasty to despair and take revenge.

Hero:   (Aralyn Clements-King)

The beautiful young daughter of Leonato and the cousin of Beatrice. Hero is lovely, gentle, and kind. She falls in love with Claudio when he falls for her, but when Donna Jane slanders her and Claudio rashly takes revenge, she suffers terribly.

Donna Pedra:   (Lauren Pitts)

An important noblewoman from Aragon. Donna Pedra is a longtime friend of Leonato, Hero’s father, and is also close to the soldiers who have been fighting under her—Benedick and Claudio. Donna Pedra is generous, courteous, intelligent, and loving to her friends, but she is also quick to believe the evil misdoing of others and hasty to take revenge. She is the most politically and socially powerful character in the play.

Leonato:   (Isaac Melton)

A respected, well-to-do, elderly noble at whose home, in Messina, Italy, the action is set. Leonato is the father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. As governor of Messina, he is second in social power only to Donna Pedra.

Donna Jane:  (Ali Gregg)

Donna Jane is melancholy and sullen by nature, and he creates a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio. She is the villain of the play; her evil actions are motivated by her  envy of her brother’s social authority.

Margaret:  (Aubree McLendon)

Hero’s serving woman, who unwittingly helps Borachio and Donna Jane deceive Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful. Unlike Ursula, Hero’s other lady-in-waiting, Margaret is lower class. Though she is honest, she does have some dealings with the villainous world of Donna Jane: her lover is the mistrustful and easily bribed Borachio. Also unlike Ursula, Margaret loves to break decorum, especially with bawdy jokes and teases.

Borachio:  (Hayden Pugh)

An associate of Donna Jane. Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. He conspires with Donna Jane to trick Claudio and Donna Pedra into thinking that Hero is unfaithful to Claudio.

Conrade:   (Madeleine Jarret- Lazzari)

One of Donna Jane’s more intimate associates, entirely devoted to Donna Jane.

Dogberry:   (Will Pitts)

The constable in charge of the Watch, or chief policeman, of Messina. Dogberry is very sincere and takes his job seriously, but he has a habit of using exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning. Dogberry is one of the few middle-class characters in the play, though his desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noblemen becomes an occasion for parody.

Verges:  (Cullen Bell)

The deputy to Dogberry, chief policeman of Messina.

Antonia:  (Hannah Kilgore)

Leonato’s elderly sister and Hero’s aunt. She is Beatrice’s mother.

Balthasine:   (Annabella Collins)

A waiting woman in Leonato’s household and a musician. Helps Leonato, Claudio, and Donna Pedra trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice. Balthasine sings the song, “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more” about accepting men’s infidelity as natural.

Ursula:    (Jessica Hall)

One of Hero’s waiting women.

Friar:   (Will Samples)

A local priest who comes to marry Claudio and Hero.

Sexton:   (Abby Kinard)

The judge

The Messenger:   (Abby Kinard) 

Young Girl:   (Karlie Mathews)