Los Alamos Little Theater stages Much Ado About Nothing outdoors

Los Alamos Little Theater and Band-O-Lears will open Much Ado About Nothing at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, on the lawn outside the Hans Bethe House at 1350 Bathtub Row. LALT is presenting the Shakespeare comedy as a pay-what-you-will production, turning a familiar title into a low-cost summer night out in the middle of town.

The run continues with performances on July 25, July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 7 and Aug. 8. Spread across three weekends, the schedule gives local theatergoers multiple chances to fit the show into a summer calendar that already fills up fast with concerts, family outings and other evening events around Los Alamos.

The outdoor setting is part of what makes this staging stand out. Instead of a traditional indoor house, the production is set on the front lawn of the Hans Bethe House, a well-known address on Bathtub Row that keeps the audience close to one of the county’s most recognizable historic settings. That kind of setup makes the play feel less formal and more like a community gathering, especially for families and casual passersby looking for live entertainment without leaving Los Alamos County.

The production also reflects how tightly knit the local arts scene has become. A photo caption tied to the show identifies local actor Collin McDowell as Benedict, and places him at the July 14 Tuesdays At The Square concert in Central Park Square. That connection links the Shakespeare run to another regular summer event downtown and shows how local performers move between different stages in the same season.

For longtime residents, newcomers and visitors alike, the appeal is practical as much as artistic: a well-known Shakespeare comedy, a local cast, a central outdoor venue and a pay-what-you-will ticket model. The combination makes Much Ado About Nothing one of the more accessible live theater options on this summer’s Los Alamos calendar, with Bathtub Row serving as the backdrop for six nights of performance.