Free performances offered across the Piedmont Triad with select childcare and ASL-accessible performances
PIEDMONT TRIAD — Reservations are open for Piedmont Shakespeare Company 2026 summer touring production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy, presented free to the public across multiple Piedmont communities this June. Patrons may reserve their seats at piedmontshakes.org.
Directed with a contemporary lens while remaining rooted in Shakespeare’s original text, “Much Ado About Nothing” explores the complexities of love, perception and human connection. Set in the aftermath of war, the play follows returning soldiers and the communities they re-enter—where wit, romance, and deception collide. At its heart, the story asks: how do we understand love — through what we feel, or what we believe?
“Romance may start with the eyes,” said director Carl Forsman, Piedmont Shakespeare Company co-artistic director, “but it lives in the head. Whether the head leads or the heart leads — that’s the center of the play.”
This production invites audiences to engage with love not as a simple emotion, but as an evolving idea — shaped by experience, vulnerability, and the world around us.
Building on the success of its inaugural season that reached more than 1,500 audience members, Piedmont Shakespeare Company continues its mission to provide transformative, high-quality theatrical experiences that are accessible to all. As the only professional, union theatre company in the Piedmont Triad region, Piedmont Shakespeare Company remains committed to eliminating barriers to participation through free performances, community partnerships, and inclusive programming.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Winston-Salem
Hanes Auditorium, Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem Academy & College
430 Leaders Ave
- Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
High Point
High Point Theatre
220 E Commerce Ave
- Wednesday, June 17 at 7 p.m.
Walnut Cove
South Stokes High School
1100 S. Stokes High Dr.
- Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m.