'Julius Caesar', at Theatre Row 's Lion Theatre

ShakespeareNYC present Julius Caesar, at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre, from the 7 - 20 Aug 2005.

A conquering hero, Caesar is much beloved by his people and in their eyes, can do no wrong. However there are those in the Senate that are uneasy of the power Caesar holds, especially as there are rumors that the people wish to crown him king. Chief among his enemies are the Senators Cassius, Casca and Cinna, men who see murder as the only solution. Caught in the middle of this intrigue is Caesar's trusted alley, the noble Brutus, a man forced to decide between the love of his friend and the love of his country. But even in ancient Rome, circa 44 B.C. (the play's original setting), how one's actions and deeds are perceived are more important than the actual reasons behind such acts; and a skillful manipulator (in this case, more than one) can easily twist the truth to his advantage.

This production of Julius Caesar is set in the American South of the 1930s, with Caesar portrayed as a Huey Long-like demagogue, accompanied by a pack of men ready to strong-arm anyone who stands in his way. But even these supporters are unprepared for what eventually happens. The cast will perform the Shakespeare text in 1930's costumes and corresponding set.

The cast, in a production directed and designed by the company's artistic director Beverly Bullock, features Geoffrey Dawe* as Brutus, John Montague as Caesar and Marcus Dean Fuller* as Marc Anthony.

Mr. Fuller, who is making his debut with ShakespeareNYC, has been seen on MTV's 'Undressed' and as Dr. Steven Wallace on the daytime drama 'Guiding Light.' Mr. Dawe, a ShakespeareNYC veteran ('A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Twelfth Night', 'The Winter's Tale') has been seen on the 'Chappelle's Show' and 'Law and Order.'

The rest of the cast features Shari Paige Acker, C. Daniel Barr*, Wayne Preston Chambers, Corey Cicci, Eric Conley*, Susanna Harris, Peter Herrick*, Gretchen Howe, Douglas Clark Johnson, Matt Mercer*, Jeff Riebe*, Ellen Seltz*, Lillian Small, Nicholas Stannard*, Jared Waltzer and Melon Wedick. (*The play is an Equity Showcase.)

Over the years, Ms. Bullock (has directed and designed costumes and sets for classical and modern theatre, opera, operetta and musicals with New York and regional performing companies; including The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, Masterworks Laboratory Theatre, and Opera Northeast. She was a costumer at Eaves Costume Company, where she assisted designers for Broadway, television and feature films. Miss Bullock also founded and was Artistic Director of Shakespeare at Love Creek, a division of Love Creek Productions. She directed and designed 10 Shakespeare plays for SaLC.

ShakespeareNYC is a new theatre company dedicated to performing the plays of William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar concludes ShakespeareNYC's inaugural season which also consisted of Twelfth Night, and the double bill of The Winter's Tale and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Upcoming productions for ShakespeareNYC include Romeo & Juliet (in October, 2005) and King John and Richard II in early 2006.