Mark Dacascos (Julius Caesar ) Mark Dacascos has appeared in more than 50 feature films and over 300 episodes of television. His most recognized roles include the lead villain Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Mani in the French cult classic Brotherhood of the Wolf, the charismatic Chairman in Iron Chef America, and the enigmatic Wo Fat in Hawaii Five-0. He has also lent his voice to several animated projects, including Richard Dragon in Batman: Soul of the Dragon, Guru Greasetrap in SpongeBob SquarePants, and multiple characters in the Emmy Award–winning series Blue Eye Samurai. On stage, he portrayed the antagonist in the 2024 English-language production of The Mongol Khan at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Theatre. Mark has studied with renowned voice and Shakespeare teacher Patsy Rodenburg for over 20 years and is a certified Associate Teacher (PRA) and faculty member at The Patsy Rodenburg Academy. An 8th-degree black belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do, Mark is also a dedicated student of Capoeira and Muay Thai. He lives with his wife, three children, and two dogs, and their family has fostered over 60 dogs in the past four years. He is grateful to be performing with The Ensemble Shakespeare Company in Julius Caesar. He thanks you for being here, sends his aloha, and hopes you enjoy the show.

Dylan Diehl (Soothsayer/Servant Caesar/Servant Octavius/Lepidus/Claudio) Dylan Diehl performs, directs, and teaches in New York and Los Angeles. She was nominated alongside the entire ESC ensemble for playing Oberon in ESC’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. Other favorite Shakespeare roles include Portia in The Merchant of Venice (Downtown Rep), Viola in Twelfth Night (Advent Theater), and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream (every theater imaginable). On screen, starring roles in numerous festival films and a turn on Law & Order: SVU. With Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, she designed and directed educational programs teaching Shakespeare to students in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. A graduate of Columbia University, her studies include work with noted Shakespeare scholar and Public Theater dramaturg James Shapiro. She is a Patsy Rodenburg Associate, selected and certified by Patsy Rodenburg OBE to instruct and utilize her methods of voice, breath, and speech. Dylan very proudly directed ESC’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, winner of BroadwayWorld’s award for Best Theatrical Experience, as well as ESC in Progress: Romeo & Juliet, Works in Progress: Julius Caesar, and our inaugural Works in Progress.

Pedro Garza (Octavius/Cicero/Artemidorus/Carpenter) Pedro is a Mexican visual and film artist whose own work highlights the often overlooked. His first two films (Brillitos, GAME TIME) will be screened at the MoMA in June 2026, and he was most recently seen onstage as Cliff in the recent Broadway revival of Cabaret. Other productions include Anna in the Tropics, Fosse’s DANCIN’ and Hamilton. He enjoys the color orange, cold banana pudding, and bike rides at 3 AM. He is grateful to be a part of his first production with the Ensemble Shakespeare Company.

Truman (Metellus/Lucillius/5th Plebian) is honoured and excited to share the stage with this incredible ensemble in his first ESC production. Hailing from Camden Town, Truman trained at Drama Studio London, where he studied under RSC Associate director Phillip Breen, Barrie Rutter OBE and Emma Lucia Hands. After training under Robyn Paterson at the London Meisner Company, Truman worked with The Shakespeare Institute combining Meisner techniques with Shakespeare. Recent credits include Becoming Hamlet at The Shakespeare Forum, Pride and Prejudice at Cumberland Theatre and Romeo & Juliet at Gallery Players.

Rob Hatzenbeller (Brutus) is a New York-based actor and proud ESC company member. Past ESC Works in Progress credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus), Julius Caesar (Brutus), and Romeo and Juliet (Prince Escalus). Additional credits: Hamlet, Women Beware Women (Shakespeare Theatre Company/STCA), The Visit (Goodman Theatre), Richard III (SoHo Shakespeare Company), Rhinoceros (SPT @ The Lynn Redgrave Theatre), The Bonus Army (The Gym at Judson), Call Me Madam, Wildcat, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (42nd Street Moon), Guys and Dolls, The Sound of Music (American Musical Theatre of San Jose), The Opposite of Sex (Magic Theatre), and Wonderful Town (Marin Theatre Company) – SF Bay Area Critics Circle Award. MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy at The George Washington University. Rob is a certified Patsy Rodenburg Associate (PRA) teacher.

Susannah Hoffman (Ligarius/Murellus/3rd Soldier/Dardanius/Varrus) received an MFA in acting from the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. Regional theater credits include Baby Doll in Baby Doll (McCarter Theatre), Murder on the Orient Express (McCarter Theatre and Hartford Stage; Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Bus Stop (CENTERSTAGE), The Cottage (ACCC), Heartless, A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World (Contemporary American Theater Festival), Sexual Perversity in Chicago (ART), The Donkey Show (ART), The Effect (Gloucester Stage), Hamletmachine (ART Institute), The Little Tragedies (Moscow Art Theater), and The Seagull (Opera House Arts). Her New York credits include Othello, Insignificance, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Owned, ... But the Next Morning, and L’Amour Fou. TV/Film: Jumpcut, Sender, Rogue Hostage, House of Cards, The Good Fight, Instinct, Spiderman 2, Invisible.

Dennis Kear (Casca/Poet/Volumnius) is proud to be counted among Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s founding members, and thrilled to be able to share the space with these generous, talented, dedicated artists. Fourteen years of working with Patsy Rodenburg and her Associates has yielded a bountiful harvest.

Gerrard Lobo (Decius/Titinius/3rd Plebian) (SAG-AFTRA) is a NYC based actor with a history of playing a range of diverse roles. A company member with Ensemble Shakespeare Company, Gerrard played Helena in ESC’s inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lord Capulet in ESC’s Works In Progress production of Romeo & Juliet. TV work includes Hulu's Only Murders In The Building, CBS's BULL, Netflix's YOU, Master Of None, and Orange Is The New Black, and NBC's Blacklist, along with several other shows. Gerrard is thrilled to be a part of ESC’s production of Julius Caesar.

Paul Marchegiani (Portia/1st Plebian/1st Soldier/Clitus) is a Los Angeles-based performer and founder/CEO of Vox Vera (www.voxvera.com), a performance skills and communication consultancy serving lawyers, executives, and leaders. Paul's performance experience spans several disciplines, from classical voice (LA Opera, SF Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus), to jazz, musical theatre, Shakespeare, and improvisation. Prior to launching Vox Vera, Paul worked as a BigLaw litigator and an entertainment lawyer and business affairs executive at several major Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. He holds a JD from Berkeley, a BA (History) and BMus (Voice & Opera) from Northwestern, and a PRA teaching certification from world-renowned voice, presence, and Shakespeare coach Patsy Rodenburg. In addition to performing and coaching, Paul frequently teaches communication skills, presence, and public speaking courses at top law schools, including Stanford, Berkeley, and the University of Chicago.Past ESC Production and Works in Progress credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus), Julius Caesar (Portia), and Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio).

Diego Millan (Lucius/Popilius/Publius/Cobbler/Servant Antony/Poet Cinna/Cato/Strato) Diego Millan is an NYC-based actor and a company member with Ensemble Shakespeare Company. Previous Shakespeare credits include "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with ESC, "Macbeth" (Kulturkanonen), "Richard ii" and "Love's Labour's Lost" (Smith Street Stage), and "Suddenly Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew" (Small Boat PC). With love and gratitude to my family who are on the west coast and won't see that I added this.

Celeste Moratti (Cassius), is a proud member of this magnificent Ensemble. Shakespeare-related credits: AD and founder of First Maria Ensemble and current company member of Ensemble Shakespeare Company, ADKShakespeare, Titan Theatre Company, Hyperion Theatre. Acting credits with ESC: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet. Other Shakespeare acting credits include Hamlet, Macbeth, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1, 2 and 3, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III, The Tempest, Measure for Measure. Directing credits include Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It. Other (non-Shakespeare) credits (selected): Theatre (acting): Medea, A crazy Sound, Angelina, Boing Boing Against the wall, Ting Ting in our heads, Hamlet Hallucinations, Days of Antonio, Night Lights, The Theory of Color, Red Noir, Rhinoceros. Directing: Really Really, The Wolves, Bodas de Blood. Member of the Living Theatre, the American Mime Theatre, Teatro Patologico. Film Credits: My Mother’s Fairy Tales, Fight The Panda Syndicate, L’Uomo Gallo, Traffickers, Murder of God’s Banker. Celeste is also a PRA (Patsy Rodenburg Associate, certified by master voice and Shakespeare teacher Patsy Rodenburg, OBE), a member of the Voice and Speech faculty at the Stella Adler Studio in NYC, and she regularly teaches Voice and Shakespeare workshops in NYC and Milan, Italy.

Ella Olesen (Mark Antony) Ella is honoured to be part of this ardent Ensemble. Previously with ESC: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar. New York/Off-Broadway: Welcome To The Big Dipper (York Theatre; world premiere). Other Credits Include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Gulfshore Playhouse and Florida Repertory Theatre), Oleanna (Florida Repertory Theatre), Alone Together (New Theatre; with Barry Williams), Fiddler on the Roof (Philadelphia Orchestra), Young Frankenstein and Rock of Ages (Barn Theatre). Training: University of Michigan, B.F.A. in Musical Theatre; British American Drama Academy, Certificate in Shakespeare; Bob Krakower Gang. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Ella now resides in New York City. Gratitude to Brendan Stackhouse. Cheers to YOU for choosing to be present with us for a few hours. May you have a meaningful experience. www.ellaolesen.com

Katie Pelensky (Cinna/4th Plebian/Messala) Katie is an NYC based actor and an Ensemble Shakespeare Company member. Past ESC roles: Romeo (Romeo and Juliet: Works in Progress), Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Los Angeles: Almost, Maine (Rubicon) Samsara, The Secret in the Wings, The Sparrow, Andronicus (Coeurage Ensemble) Macbeth (A Noise Within), Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sierra Shakes) King Lear, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare by the Sea) She received her BA from Santa Clara University, and has recently studied with Fiasco Theater. She tries to escape to the woods and mountains whenever possible and does a pretty solid Miss Piggy impression.

Erin Roth (Calpurnia/2nd Plebian/2nd Soldier/Messenger) Erin is founder and Artistic Director of the award winning Ensemble Shakespeare Company and is thrilled to be a part of this incredible ensemble for Julius Caesar. Favorite roles include Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Broadway World Off-Broadway nomination) and Nurse in Romeo and Juliet with ESC, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Hudson Classical Theater, Hostess in Henry V with Knickerbocker Players. Also with Hudson Classical: Elinor Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility, Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Other theater credits include Time Out Critic’s Pick Back of the Throat with the Flea Theater, On the Razzle at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Love of Three Oranges at the Santa Fe Theatre Festival, and Old School Sketch Show at the PIT. As a producer, past film and TV projects have gone to the Raindance Film Festival, Catalyst (formerly iTV Fest), and screened at AMC networks as a part of AVID, a disability awareness initiative. Erin is a Patsy Rodenburg Associate trained and certified by master voice and Shakespeare teacher Patsy Rodenburg OBE. Erin has taught and coached at S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, and the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Erin also writes articles on Shakespeare for Backstage Experts

Joe Staton (Trebonius/Flavius/Pindarus) Joe Staton is a British, New York–based actor and company member of ESC. He is proud and excited to be back working once again with this incredible company. Recently, he wrote his first play, Snazzy, which was featured on BBC News. His favourite stage credits include Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest, The Actor in The Woman In Black, Banquo in Macbeth, Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet, Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ESC), Mr Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew, and Fred in A Christmas Carol. He is also the co-founder of RiffRaff NYC, a company dedicated to providing opportunities for immigrant artists. Training: The Stella Adler Studio of Acting and The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London www.joestaton.net @staton_the_facts

Sophia Alaniz is the production manager of Ensemble Shakespeare Company and the stage manager of Julius Caesar. Past credits include stage manager for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet Work in Progress and Julius Caesar Work in Progress. Sophia is beyond grateful for ESC and her vivacious theatre career. Sophia also wants to thank her crew for all their work and remind the audience that theatre takes a village. Thank you for supporting our village, please enjoy the show!

Ceili Lang (Operation Manager/Producer) is thrilled to work with Ensemble Shakespeare Company and help bring Julius Caesar to the stage. She has worked on over 50 theatre productions in capacities ranging from producing, acting, stage management, set construction, and scenic painting to publicity. She has also been a member of the New American Theatre Company and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. In addition to producing, Ceili is an actor whose stage credits include: Mary Stuart (Mary Stuart), The Grapes of Wrath (Rose of Sharon), The Amish Project (Anna), The 39 Steps (Annabella/Margaret/Pamela), Noises Off (Brooke), and multiple productions with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, as well as Mojo (Silver Johnny) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Most recently, Ceili appeared as Nora in A Doll’s House at Long Beach Shakespeare Company. Ceili is thrilled to join the ESC team and for everyone to experience this wonderful production of Julius Caesar!

Jacqueline Holloway (she/her) is an internationally recognized intimacy & fight director based in New York City. She teaches at several renowned institutions such as Columbia University, NYU Tisch, Princeton University and Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. Jacqueline is currently the intimacy and violence oversight coordinator for Columbia University's graduate theater program where she also serves on the programs intimacy sub committee. As the founder of Arte Violenta, a year-round stage combat training program in NYC, she is dedicated to offering actors of all levels a comprehensive and safe approach to stage violence. She also works with Epic Players, an inclusive theater company that highlights neurodivergent and autistic artists, providing stage combat training and certification. In addition to teaching, Jacqueline choreographs professionally in NYC and surrounding areas. 

Melanie (she/her) is an NYC based stage combat instructor, choreographer, and occasional performer. She runs the stage combat program at the Stella Adler Studio, one of her alma maters. Her expertise has also been employed at Columbia University, the Lee Strasberg Institute, numerous regional stage combat workshops, and more. She holds the rank of advanced actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, and is a proud member of AEA. 

Annie Garrett-Larsen is a New York based lighting designer for live performance. She is thrilled to be collaborating with Ensemble Shakespeare Company again after designing ESC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Flea) and ESC Works in Progress: Romeo & Juliet (Open Jar Studios). Recent designs include The Comeuppance (Headwall Theatre Company), Catenary (PS21 Chatham NY), Sober Songs (Theater Row), The Maenads (The Tank), Italian American Reconciliation (The Flea). Her design work has also been seen in New York at: Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, Judson Memorial Church, New York University, Atlantic Acting School, The Tank, Dixon Place, The Chain, The Gallery Players, The Secret Theater, Theaterlab, Pregones PRTT. Her work has been seen regionally/non-NYC at: Cleveland Play House, Keybank State Theater (Cleveland OH), Chautauqua Theater Company, Detroit Public Theater, and The Peterborough Players. Annie holds a BA from Bard College and MFA from NYU Tisch. anniegarrett-larsen.com @smileyfaceannie 

JOSHUA WARNER (Scenic Design) is a New York-based scenic designer and founder of Joshua Warner Studios, a design and fabrication company serving theatre and live events. His work spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, and leading regional theatres, including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, and Theater Row. Joshua is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. He extends his sincere thanks to Ensemble Shakespeare Company for the opportunity to tell this story, and to Associate Syd for her creativity, collaboration, and dedication throughout the process. @joshuawarnerstudios

Micaela Hecht is a New York based costume designer for stage and screen. She is passionate about storytelling and aims to add color, hope, and wonder to the world through her work by grounding her designs in the beautifully diverse and creative people she interacts with every day. She earned her MFA in Design for Stage and Film at NYU Tisch. Recent projects include: Eclipse (The Chain Theatre); Flex, Fifth of July (NYU Tisch Graduate Acting); Crossing Over, Get It At The Top, A Pigeon Story, Shorebirds (Short Films). Check out her design work at hechticdesigns.com. She is so thrilled to have brought this production to life with the wonderful ESC team!

Bella Williams is thrilled to be part of the wonderful cast and crew of Julius Caesar as Assistant Costume Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor! Bella is an actor, musician and creative from LA, and just graduated from Barnard College, having studied Sociology and Theatre. They are so honored that ESC is their first gig out of college, and is grateful for the ESC team. bmw2117.myportfolio.com.

Vero Conaway is honored to be a part of their first ESC production! Selected stitching credits include Broadway Bares (2025 and 2026), Don Giovanni, Alcina, Men on Boats, Archives in Motion, and the world premiere of The Ruminants (2024). Selected design credits include Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Visit.