BWW Stage Mag CAEZUS - Factory Theatre Mainspace - Toronto Fringe Festival Stage Mag

CAEZUS

 
at Factory Theatre Mainspace - Toronto Fringe Festival
 

lyrics by: Nam Nguyen

music by: Chernilo (Maksym Chupov-Ryabtsev)

directed by: Lexi X

music direction by: Michael Henley-Dunbar

starring
 

Shawn Lall

Martin Gomes

Sumeeta Farrukh

Jason Chung

Jacob Levitt

Yasmine Shelton

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Song List

WELCOME TO CAEZUS

J.C. IN THE B.C.E.

FEEL SOMETHING

SLEEP NO MORE

TOO LIT ON A WEEKNIGHT

WHAT I KNOW

INSOMNIA

THAT BODY

bruTe?

DOGS OF WAR

Cast

Shawn Lall
Julius Caesar
Jason Chung
Brutus
Martin Gomes
Cassius
Jacob Levitt
Mark Antony
Sumeeta Farrukh
Cleopatra
Yasmine Shelton
Alexander The Great / Soothsayer

Creative Team

Nam Nguyen

Lyricist

Maksym Chupov-Ryabtsev

Composer

Lexi X

Director

Michael Henley-Dunbar

Music Director

Kate Chubbs

Stage Manager

Rian Tran

Lighting Designer

Chloe Weston

Set & Costume Designer

Chelsea Santiago

Head Carpenter

Alyssa Duhaney

Carpenter

Meet the Company

Shawn Lall

Julius Caesar
Shawn Lall - Julius Caesar Shawn is a mixed-race, Toronto-based actor, originally from Caracas, Venezuela. He is truly grateful for his inclusion in this version of "CAEZUS" -- and thankful to the entire cast and creative team for having made his rap superstar pipe dreams a reality. Notable Theatre Credits: "Disgraced" (Alberta Theatre Projects), "The Garden of Alla" (Minmar Gaslight Productions), "Anywhere But Here" (Electric Company Theatre), "Carmilla" (Pointed Cap Playhouse), "Titus Andronicus" (Hart House Theatre). On-Screen Credits: "The Man From Toronto" (Sony Pictures Entertainment), "Workin Moms" (CBC), "The Paperboy" (Backlash Pictures). Currently, he is penning a modern adaptation of "Oedipus Rex." Oreos are his love language. Happy Fringe! And please tip your bartenders generously.

Jason Chung

Brutus
Jason Chung - Brutus Hamiltons own versatile artist, Jason Chung is an extraordinary actor/musical artist coming from a background of being involved in Theatre Aquarius since he was 8 years old. Jason started acting in elementary school and realized that this was the career he wants to pursue for the rest of his life. Graduating from high school with the actor of the year and the musician of the awards, Jason transitioned to Toronto Metropolitan university and completed his first year in his acting program to pursue his dreams and make it big. Jason was involved with Theatre Aquarius, Young Company, and Red Betty Theatre's "Blackberry". He's hoping to make an impact in the world with his talent and become an inspiration for others, not to give up on their dreams and create a name for himself. prepare yourself for Jason's next move entering the industry.

Martin Gomes

Cassius
Martin Gomes - Cassius Martin Gomes (he/they) is an Afro-Latino, queer artist born & based in downtown Toronto. You can find Martin running around the city as an artist educator & facilitator. He currently works with plenty of different non-profit organizations such as Unity Charity, JAYU, Lakeshore Arts, Shakespeare in Action, Thrive Youth, and VIBEarts teaching youth either spoken word poetry or beatboxing. His goal as an artist educator is to create spaces that encourage people to be their most authentic, genuine selves in a raw, real, “non-Disney” type of way. (He messes with Disney though, don’t get it twisted.) He hopes that his work and him as a person can inspire people to live by example and be what they wish to see in the world.

Jacob Levitt

Mark Antony
Jacob Levitt - Mark Antony Jacob Levitt helps bring Mark Antony to life onstage in the modern rap musical "CAEZUS". He combines hip hop and drama to create an energetic contemporary theatrical performance, drawing from his experience working on previous Fringe shows such as "Lover Lover" (Toronto Fringe 2017) and "Zounds!" (Edinburgh Fringe 2018), as well as his experience performing spoken word poetry. Outside of his theatrical endeavours, he finds enjoyment in all things nature and humbly pursues a career in medicine. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend your ears as Jacob suffuses spirited style into this iconic and august politician.

Sumeeta Farrukh

Cleopatra
Sumeeta Farrukh - Cleopatra Sumeeta Farrukh is excited to be on stage again for her first in-person show since her undergrad theatre and sketch comedy days. Previous credits include "The Bob Sketch Comedy Revue", "Confessions of a Female Disorder", and "Orange Chicken: A Sketch Show". She has precisely one song to her name on streaming platforms, called "all of the roses", which has earned her precisely $1.36, and she warmly invites your support with a generous contribution of $0.00001 towards her artistic journey.

Yasmine Shelton

Alexander The Great / Soothsayer
Yasmine Shelton - Alexander The Great / Soothsayer Yasmine Shelton is a Toronto based singer songwriter. She has performed at festivals and venues across Canada and the United States and is currently working on her second full length album with folk-Americana band, Basset.

Nam Nguyen

Lyricist
Nam Nguyen - Lyricist In some sense, this all started for Nam (he/him) back in 2014 when 1. in April, he watched a rival high school's production of Jim Betts' "Colours in the Storm", kick-starting him down the path of writing theatre with songs that would result in him being runner-up for the Adams Prize to Jim Betts' new joint, 2. in July, he volunteered for the Toronto Fringe for the first time, making this summer's his 10th festival in one form or another, and 3. in September, his history teacher Ms. Payne let him hand in the absolute heat that was "I'm Da Vinci", set to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy", for a grade.

Maksym Chupov-Ryabtsev

Composer
Maksym Chupov-Ryabtsev - Composer Maksym Chupov-Ryabtsev, currently performing under the name Chernilo, is a Ukrainian-born producer & composer now working in Toronto. With an early exposure to keyboard playing, he developed an affinity towards many genres of music, largely focusing on contemporary electronic art music and various electronic sub genres in the vein of techno and ambient. Previous EPs include Breaking Cycle, debug.aura, and Carrion Hill. He has a degree from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, having specialized in Electroacoustic Composition.

Lexi X

Director
Lexi X - Director From set to stage, Lexi X has been a creator, director and producer since high school. As a theatre major graduate, they dove into the world of TV and Film shortly after, producing many independent productions such as 'The Artisan Show' and 'Creator Stories' while at Mohawk College.  Lexi's vision is to continue to create safe and inclusive spaces where authentic Queer BIPOC stories can be fostered and developed.  When not working to make other's visions come to life, they spend their time in development for an animated thriller film, as well as, a documentary focused on women's stories of intergenerational trauma. You can say her area of expertise is beyond any labels or categorical organization.

Michael Henley-Dunbar

Music Director
Michael Henley-Dunbar - Music Director Michael Henley-Dunbar is a Toronto-based Music Producer, Musical Director and Session Musician. Named one of the most trustworthy names in musical theatre, his approach to performance and directing is rooted in his desire to help create sustainable approaches to artist development. He is thrilled to be returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival this year with CAEZUS and CONSTELLATION PRIZE. Much love to Shannon for dealing with my schedule for the next two weeks!

Kate Chubbs

Stage Manager
Kate Chubbs - Stage Manager Kate is an emerging artist working in theatre, dance, opera, festivals, and all kinds of live events. After three years at Vancouver Fringe as a stage manager and technician, she is excited to be part of her first Toronto Fringe! Select credits include stage manager for Orfeo (UofT Faculty of Music and McGill University), production manager for Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in Her Lungs (TMU School of Performance), and technical improviser at the Vancouver Improv Centre. In September Kate will be entering her final year at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is pursuing a degree in Performance Production.

Rian Tran

Lighting Designer
Rian Tran - Lighting Designer Rian is super excited to be a part of CAEZUS's crew as their Lighting Designer! This is their first professional lighting design and they're so excited to showcase their work at Toronto Fringe! They are a freelance Lighting Technician for various theatres throughout Toronto, and they are currently enrolled in their last year at York University's Production Program. Past credits for them include Production Management for Theatre@York's Dance Nation (2023) and Head of Wardrobe for Theatre@York's Everybody (2022). Upcoming projects for them are Set Designer for Alumnae Theatre's If We Were Birds in September 2023, and Lighting Designer for Theatre@York's Winter Show in March 2024! Rian wishes to thank the cast and crew of CAEZUS and a huge thank you to Nam for taking them on this wild ride of a show! They hope everyone enjoys the show and bop their heads along to the beats of CAEZUS.

Chloe Weston

Set & Costume Designer
Chloe Weston - Set & Costume Designer Chloe Weston is a multidisciplinary artist. She wields her creative prowess through mediums such as fine arts, illustration, fashion, and set design. Between her time spent in Illustration at OCAD and Interior Decorating at Sheridan, she spends her time in her art studio creating and rendering projects with either brush or pen. When she is not sewing costumes and painting sets, you can find Chloe studying the world, gathering reference and finding artistic inspiration.

Chelsea Santiago

Head Carpenter
This is her first professional work as a carpenter. Recent Credits/Student Works (Toronto Metropolitan University): - Term Carpenter 2022/23 Season (Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in her Lungs, RISE: Fall Dances, The Division, Pulling Strings, ENCHOREO, Choreographic Works, Arctic Ocean, The Dybbuk, SPRINGWORKS, RISERx) - Head of Carpentry Acting 4 Rep 2022 (Hookman, Knives and Hens, Spring Awakening) - Staging Lead DinoLand 2021

Alyssa Duhaney

Carpenter

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