Much Ado About Nothing at UNDER St. Marks Theatre
Photographing Much Ado About Nothing at UNDER St. Marks Theatre/FRIGID New York was a reminder of how well Shakespeare’s work adapts to small, intimate spaces. Directed and produced by Janani Sreenivasan, this production brought a lively energy to one of the Bard’s best-known comedies, using the theater’s close quarters to its advantage.
The cast leaned into the humor and vulnerability of the play’s central relationships. Benedick and Beatrice’s verbal sparring had the audience leaning in, and the chemistry across the ensemble kept things moving even during the quieter, more reflective scenes. With no elaborate set or technical tricks, everything hinged on the performers, and they delivered.
Music played a key role here, with live acoustic guitar and ukulele underscoring moments of tension, joy, and reflection. It added a softness to the atmosphere and helped tie the world of the play together, grounding the emotional arcs in something that felt more contemporary and raw.
From a photographic standpoint, working in a black box theater like UNDER St. Marks always requires a bit of flexibility. The lighting is minimal and the space is tight, but those constraints can also make for some of the most striking images. The way performers use the space, sometimes standing inches from the front row, invites photos that feel close, candid, and deeply human.
This Much Ado wasn’t trying to reinvent the story. Instead, it let the language breathe, trusted the cast to carry it, and stayed true to the humor and heartbreak that make the play resonate centuries later. It’s always a pleasure documenting theater that keeps things simple without sacrificing substance.
To see more photos from this production or others I’ve worked on, visit danwrightphotography.com. If you're looking for someone to photograph your next rehearsal or show, I’d love to hear from you.
