Second Form Shakespeare: The Kirby Arts Center’s Current Story

By Claire Liang ‘29/The Lawrence  

This story is The Lawrence’s preview of The Lawrenceville School’s Second Form production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” staged in the Kirby Arts Center February 26-28. Originally published on February 27, 2026.  

For most people, the name “Shakespeare” is synonymous with strange jargon such as “thee,” “thou,” and “thine” (you, you, and yours, respectively). Even once you get past those unfamiliar words, phrases like “my salad days” continue to confuse even the strongest readers. Nonetheless, Lawrenceville’s youngest students put on a Shakespeare performance every winter term. That is right – a handful of Second Formers pour hours upon hours of work into after-school rehearsals and decipher the strange language during what is widely considered the busiest term of the year. The challenges raise several questions, one of which is, “Why does Lawrenceville perform these plays?”

William Shakespeare, the renowned 16^th and 17^th century playwright, is known for writing many famous plays, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Macbeth.” This year, some of Lawrenceville’s Second Formers will put on a production of The Bard’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” When asked why Lawrenceville continues to offer Second Form Shakespeare, Director Ian August responded that, despite the difficulty learning Shakespearean English, the process “helps us better understand contemporary English." The main reason, however, for continuing the program is to offer Second Formers a new theatrical experience. “The [students] who participate, may get a crash course in how art and craft work together to create an experience,” explained August, and “for those who attend, they get to see a familiar story told in an unfamiliar way, and that’s something that could spark their imagination." This program shapes the lives of some on campus.

Ella Gee ’29, who will play Beatrice, commented, “The most interesting part about (Second Form Shakespeare) is that it is a Second Form tradition.” She added, “[The Second Form experience] is clearly like no other.” Whether people joined the play or not, she described it as something that “serves as a reminder [of] the parts of their first year they took for granted and how far they have come since then.”

“Much Ado About Nothing” centers around a battle of wits that transforms into a love story. Seemingly destined to hate each other (and even the mere concept of love), the two main characters, Beatrice and Benedick, bicker endlessly, hurling powerful insults at each and constantly comparing their intellectual skill. However, through their friends’ plots and deception, they miraculously fall for each other.

Jack Sharp ’29, who will be playing Benedick, said, “I enjoy that Benedick is so unapologetic” about the things he does. He is, Sharp said, “annoying to everyone throughout the entire show, but is a doofus at the same time.” Sharp finished by touching on his character’s transformation: “The most entertaining part is seeing [his] character change from an awful man into an actual loving person. Going under the surface of all of that was a lot of fun.”

Alongside its complex characters, “Much Ado About Nothing” explores inequality and gender roles in society where women’s reputations are fragile and subject to judgement by men. The play also encompasses themes of appearances versus truth and, most importantly, love’s fickle nature, as demonstrated by Benedick’s arc.

This year, 22 cast members from the Second Form immerse themselves in the world of the dynamic love story, offering many unique and novel experiences. Gee remarked, “This is my first time performing anything Shakespearean and I am both nervous and excited.” She also emphasized her love for performing with the cast and crew, saying, “Everyone comes together as the show comes together, and soon it is the last show and everyone realizes how much of an experience it really is,” referring to the connections forged throughout the staging process.

Along with the actors, the directors and stage managers play a large role in bringing this production to life. August explained how he altered the script to match his vision, saying “as soon as you walk in, you will see that our production is not set in 16^th century Italy. Our interpretation of “Much Ado About Nothing” is much more modern-set in a jazz club in the early 1930s, at the tail end of prohibition.” He compared the Second Form Shakespeare adaptation to “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He also dove into the complexities of some characters. “I was really intrigued by the play-specifically the power dynamics of the Prince and his crew.” In August’s adaptation, the Prince, played by Gordon Zhang ’29, deviates from the original story and becomes “less a politician but more a wealthy socialite – a really powerful Jay Gatsby.” Whether or not you have read the actual story, this unique spinoff will give the audience very new diction. “There will be music, mobsters, and debauchery. It is meant to be a very different interpretation,” finished August.

Students also play a massive role in direction. Sophie Yang ’29, a stage manager, “helps keep rehearsals organized and takes notes on blocking the show, props, etc.,” she explained. Yang, who was part of the makeup crew for Lawrenceville’s fall musical, “Les Misérables,” "wanted to try stage management” in order to put her new passion into a project and present it to an audience. "With the two main couples, Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick, the play explores how pride and misunderstanding can easily complicate relationships,” she remarked.

Alongside Yang, two other stage managers, Carmen Gonzalez ’29 and Aspen Hunt ’29, rotate at each rehearsal to take notes and keep track of small staging details. Through the hard work, the three dedicated stage managers assist August and are there every step of the way with the cast members to see everyone’s efforts converge. The performances, which take place on February 26-28, are the result of the group’s collective teamwork and never-ending drive to captivate the audience.

Through Second Form Shakespeare, the cast and crew gain so much more than recognition and a bouquet of flowers. Beyond just the tired students who arrive weary from sports practices and games, or the late check-ins past 8 p.m., each participant earns memories and skills for a lifetime. If one can move past the confusing language, Shakespeare’s plots are, in fact, quite interesting. After all, The Bard’s work is famous for a reason, whether it be tragedies like “Romeo and Juliet,” or the comedy awaiting us, “Much Ado About Nothing.”

See more photos on Lawrenceville’s Flickr page.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.