New York City’s innovative theatre ensemble for classical theater presents Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the cautionary tragedy uniquely explored as part of Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s Works in Progress initiative. Presented in the round the one-night-only working performance of Acts I, II, & III.1 will be followed by cocktails and conviviality. Julius Caesar tells the story of a murder that changed the course of Western civilization. Far more, however, than dramatizing a bloody assassination, the play invites us into the hearts and minds of the humans whose words, actions, and ambitions transformed their society and indeed our world. The play never decides who is right but invites the audience to engage with its debates on democracy, leadership, morality, and honor. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves…

ESC Executive Director Dylan Diehl* directs an ensemble cast of thirteen, including Chloe Champken, Rob Hatzenbeller*, Susannah Hoffman*, Dennis Kear*, Denis Lambert*, Gerrard Lobo, Paul Marchegiani, Celeste Moratti, Ella Olesen*, Erin Roth*, Joe Staton, and Colleen Smith Wallnau*. *Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

“From our unique and innovative rehearsal process, ESC delivers an intimate, dynamic Julius Caesar that challenges, questions, seduces, and embraces the audience as actors and audience enter a forum wherein ideas and values battle,” shares Diehl. “Julius Caesar speaks to our present moment in a way few other plays can and demands the presence, clarity, and immediacy that are signatures of ESC performances. Our unique process and performance creates theatre that we believe we need now: demanding, engaging, vulnerable, and complex.”

The runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Julius Caesar is presented as part of Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s one-night-only Works in Progress initiative, offering a glimpse into ESC’s unique and innovative process, which focuses on utilizing ensemble and presence for storytelling.