Julius Caesar |
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Stephanie Naumoff Mark Aken Corya Channing Christina Hearne Kim Meyne & Suzi Naumoff Lighting Assistance: Keith Loeffler |
Production Manager: Christina Biancardi Rehearsal Assistants: Corya Channing & Kyleah Martin & Tisha Jones Soothsayer Costume: Stanlee Hodson |
James Severa Declan O'Donnell & Corwin O'Donnell Fight Choreography: The Cast |
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| Starring | ||
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Breanne Knopf Christina Biancardi Mae Glass Michael A. Zuccarelli Schafer Maples |
Canon Maples Jimmy Burch Marcel Webb Ray Huntington Shantell Smith |
Caroline Maples Keith Loeffler Mark Aken Sadie Maples Travis Maples |
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SYNOPSIS
Julius Ceasar
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours
There will be one 10-minute intermission.
Act I
The tribune of Rome, Metellus breaks up a gathering of citizens who want to celebrate Julius Caesar's triumphant return from war. The victory is marked by public games in which Caesar's protégé, Mark Antony, takes part. On his way to the arena, Caesar is stopped by a stranger who warns him that he should 'Beware the Ides [15th] of March.' Fellow senators, Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus, are suspicious of Caesar's reactions to the power he holds in the Republic. They fear he will accept offers to become Emperor. He has been gaining a lot of power recently and people treat him like a god. Cassius, a successful general himself, is jealous of Caesar. Brutus has a more balanced view of the political position. The conspirator Casca enters and tells Brutus of a ceremony held by the plebeians. They offered Caesar a crown three times, and he refused it every time. But the conspirators are still wary of his aspirations.
Act II
Cassius, Casca, and their allies plant false documents to manipulate Brutus to join their cause to remove Caesar. After doing so, they visit Brutus at night in his home to persuade him of their views. There they plan Caesar's death. Brutus is troubled but refuses to confide in his devoted wife, Portia. On 15 March, Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, urges him not to go to the Senate. She has had visionary dreams and fears the portents of the overnight storms.
Act III
Against Cassius's advice, Brutus allows Mark Antony to speak a funeral oration for Caesar in the market place. He is allowed under the condition that first Brutus must address the people to explain the conspirators' reasons and their fears for Caesar's ambition. After Brutus speaks, the crowd becomes calm and supports his cause. However, Antony, in his speech, questions the motives of the conspirators and reminds the crowd of Caesar's benevolent actions and of his refusal to accept the crown. He also reads them Caesar's will, in which Caesar leaves public land and money to each Roman citizen. Antony's speech stirs the crowd into a murderous riot, and the conspirators (those that are not murderded) are forced to flee from the city.
Act IV
Brutus and Cassius gather an army in Northern Greece and prepare to fight the forces led by Mark Antony. Antony has joined with Caesar's great-nephew, Octavius. Away from Rome, Brutus and Cassius are filled with doubts about the future and quarrel over funds for their soldiers' pay. After making amends, they prepare to engage Antony's army at Philippi, despite Cassius' misgivings about the site. Brutus stoically receives news of his wife's suicide in Rome. He then sees Caesar's ghost as he tries to rest and is unable to sleep on the eve of the conflict.
Act V
In the battle, the Republicans (led by Brutus) appear to be winning at first. But when Cassius' messenger's horse seems to be overtaken by the enemy, Cassius fears the worst and gets his servant to help him to a quick death. After finding Cassius's body, Brutus commits suicide. He believes this to be the only honorable option left to him. Antony, triumphant on the battlefield, praises Brutus as 'the noblest Roman of them all' and orders a formal funeral before he and Octavius return to rule in Rome.
A Word From Our Sponsors
Meet the Company
Amy Maples
Amy Maples is a former high school history teacher, who now gets to homeschool her four kids. Amy loves classic literature and theater, although she is normally sitting in the audience instead of on stage.
Michael A. Zuccarelli
Michael Zuccarelli is a graduate of the Second City Training Center’s Acting program under the direction of Michael S. Pieper and Susanna Rodriguez. Michael has been fortunate enough to work with The Seedlings Theatre Company in their rendition of Fresh Brewed: Tales From the Coffee Bar. Previous works include: One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Bleacher Bums and Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Acting within the realm of Shakespeare is a whole new arena for Michael and he is excited and thankful to give everything he can to the Gary Shakespeare Company’s production of Julius Caesar.
Schafer Maples
Schafer Maples Schafer is a rising 6th grader, who enjoys soccer and football. He loves to learn about history and has questions that keep him learning about the wider world. He has participated in several church musicals.
Caroline Maples
Caroline Maples Caroline is a rising 4th grader, who loves art and music of all sorts. She hopes to be an art teacher one day. She has performed in several church musicals.
Jimmy Burch
Jimmy Burch delights in working with GSC, but decided to compete in a triathlon this summer, so it has torn his time and his heart to not be able to give every evening to rehearse for Julius Caesar. You may have seen him in his award nominated performance as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream last summer and Francis Flute in the 2020 Virtual performance. He loves napping and cuddling with his cats…and new puppy; he’d be considered an old cat lady if he wasn’t married to his beautiful, pink-haired wife, who is playing Calphurnia.
Shantell La’Shawn Smith
Shantell La’Shawn Smith is joining GSC for the first time. As someone who loves to read, Shantell is writing her first book. She also enjoys working as a registered behavior technician, which involves helping children with autism. In addition, she loves walking and spending time with her family.
Mark Aken
Mark Aken has been active in theatre since 2017 and has enjoyed performing at Beatniks on Conkey, Genesius Guild, and M&M Ross in Hobart. His favorite roles have been: Jesus Costazuela in The Odd Couple (Female version), Ernest Letocard and Brian the tech guy in Fantome, Reece in Communicating Doors, Alfred in Batman: A Salute to 60’s and 70’s TV, Jan Warwick in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, and Otto Sorenson in Mark of Cain. This is Mark’s first time performing with The Gary Shakespeare Company and he is looking forward to the experience.
Ray Huntington
Ray Huntington is thrilled to be performing Shakespeare again! His loyalties remain with GSC when it comes to Shakespeare performance. He's glad that his tennis elbow is not getting in the way of his love for acting and GSC. His alter ego, Justin Payne, fosters racing hamsters during their off season; Justin also has a fear of revolving doors.
Sadie Maples
Sadie Maples is a rising junior in high school. She is involved in debate and volleyball. She loves to cook and play the violin. She has played lead roles in Good King Wenceslas over the course of several years.
Keith Loeffler
Keith Loeffler has a theatrical career spanning more than 30 years. He was recently Theseus in GSC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and played Pooh-Bah in the Dunes Summer Theatre production of Mikado, but is more often seen in the lighting booth. Keith has designed lights for productions across Northwest Indiana including Evil Dead: The Musical at CST; Jekyll and Hyde at the Dunes; Dracula at Portage Community Theater; and most recently, Clue: The Musical at Memorial Opera House. Keith is thrilled to have been cajoled into joining the cast – he’s still waiting on his fudge…
Canon Maples
Canon Maples is an incoming high school freshman, who loves anything that combines God’s creation and adventure. He is also an avid reader and enjoys playing piano. Canon has competed in courtroom mock trial as both a prosecuting and defense attorney and has also taken part in several church musicals.
Breanne Knopf
Breanne Knopf is excited to return for her second show with GSC since playing Rosalind in As You Like It. She has enjoyed the opportunity to act in other Shakespearean plays over the years, including Othello (Emilia), Merchant of Venice (Portia), and other adventures. Since her first performances of soliloquies for her stuffed animals, Breanne has felt connected to Shakespeare's portrayal of emotions in all their messy glory. We may not all get stranded on islands or fight magical curses, but we can all relate to the complexity of the human experience. Breanne would like to thank Dave for his unfailing goofiness and support and her family and friends for their encouragement and understanding as she disappeared into rehearsals. She would also like to acknowledge the integral part her stuffed animals played in preparing her to perform for humans.
Westely Hearne
Westely Hearne of Hobart has been a part of every GSC production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Macbeth being some of his favorite…but especially Hamlet because the lead actor was absolutely phenomenal and a joy with whom to work; although a well deserved nomination, she was robbed for the “best actress” award for her performance; she should have been in a category all her own! Westley has done too many shows to recount, but Facing Our Truth at Theatre Northwest has been his most recent. He is a Gary native and former board member of GSC.
Travis Maples
Travis Maples a native Appalachian and graduate of the University of Tennessee, has had the privilege of serving in the Navy onboard the USS Blue Ridge based in Yokosuka, Japan. Travis has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and now lives in Northwest Indiana with his amazing wife and four children. He now works for the family business, Leeps Supply Company. He loves his church, the outdoors, reading, and foraging for wild foods.
Mae Colette
Mae Colette has had a love for acting and theatre going all the way back to when she cracked open her father’s professional theatre makeup and stuck her grubby fingers into the pallet. Her last production was GSC’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Peaseblossom and the virtual performance before that as Mustardseed. Previous favorite roles include: Lucy in Dracula (Theatre Northwest); Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (GSC); and Mary Warren in The Crucible (Griffith High School). Mae believes that theatre is an amazing gift for self-expression and learning about the human experience.
Alexander Bonner
Alexander Bonner is pleased to be returning to work with GSC, having previously played roles in the productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream. No stranger to NWI theatre, his favorite credits include Macduff in 2 productions of Macbeth (GSC; Chicago Street), Smee in Peter and the Star Catcher (4th Street Theatre), Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace (Footlight Players); and Wadsworth in Clue on Stage (Laporte Little Theatre). Shakespeare will always be Alexander's favorite thing to perform and is so privileged to be working with such amazing people.
Marcel Webb
Marcel Webb has performed many plays in the Los Angeles area for over 30 years and hosted her own talk show entitled Carrying the Message on public access AZTV Arizona, ABC channel 7, and Total Living Network out of Illinois. Marcel's acting career started in Compton California with the Paul Robeson Players under the direction of Gus and the Inner City Cultural Center under the direction of Glynn Thurman and Bea Richards. Marcel had roles in Good Times Harlem Night, Coming to America, and The Night the Lights Went Out, The Theme for Linda, A Raisin in the Sun, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.
Christina Biancardi
Christina Biancardi studied English and Theatre at Indiana University and continues to grow a deeper love for Shakespeare with every show she does. GSC credits include: Hamlet (Hamlet); Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet); Lady MacDuff (Macbeth). Other credits: Suzanne in Dearly Departed (Beatniks on Conkey); Margot in Dial M for Murder (Genesius Guild); Melvina in Shake Up Christmas (Living Hope Productions); Pirate/Wind/Water in Peter Pan and Wendy (Theatre Northwest). She has also directed a several shows including Homeward Bound (Living Hope Church); No Exit (Crown Point Comm. Theatre). She loves Jesus, science fiction, and her chupacabra, Swayze.
Stephanie Naumoff
Stephanie Naumoff has enjoyed performing, directing, and designing for over 30 years in multiple area theatres, as well as various venues in Chicago, and across the country. Stephanie has also been fortunate to lecture and teach courses in acting, directing, costuming, improv, and Shakespeare for local middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Stephanie previously directed Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Live and Virtual), and co-directed Othello for Gary Shakespeare Company. Shakespeare has always been a passion of Stephanie’s; a passion she shared with her father who was the greatest actor she has ever known.
James “Jim” Severa
James “Jim” Severa of Hammond has done everything GSC has ever done – either on stage, back stage, or building the stage; and before that, 5 years as a production designer for Purdue University Calumet Theatre Company, and various community and school system productions. He is the oldest officer on GSC Board of Directors.
Corya Channing
Corya was one of the original founders of the Gary Shakespeare Co. She has been teaching drama, producing and directing theatricals and organizing events for various organizations for decades. She and her partner, John Lisbon Wood, are involved in many aspects of theatre in the Northwest Indiana and Chicago area. She is happy to be back home with Wm. Shakespeare again!
Kyleah Martin
Kyleah Martin is majoring in Theatre Arts at Liberty University. Disappointed she couldn’t be in Julius Caesar because she’s leaving for school before the show closes, she was thrilled to be the fairy, Mustardseed, in GSC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream last summer! She enjoys being able to help our wonderful director and stepping in during fight rehearsals when actors can’t make it.
Timothy O'Donnell
Memphis born Tim O’Donnell has been involved with theatre since 1986. Favorite experiences include working all over the southeastern United States as well as working as a stage apprentice at The Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico and as a scenic artist at Seaside Music Theater in Daytona, Florida. Tim received his BA as a theatre generalist with a minor in art studio from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and received an MFA in scenic and lighting Design from The University of Memphis. Tim was from 1996 to 2006 the Designer/Production Manager for Venice Theatre in Florida and between 2006 and 2008 taught various design classes at The Art Institute of Tampa. Tim has been a member of IATSE local 412 of Sarasota and also a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers. Currently, Tim is the Production Manager/Technical Director for the department of Performing Arts at Indiana University Northwest.
A Special Thanks To:
Jeff Casey & Kevin Bellamy
Paul & Angie Lowe
L’Arc en Ciel Theatre Group
The Towle Theatre in Hammond
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster
St. Barnabus in the Dunes Episcopal Church in Miller
The Sparkle House in Miller
Suzi's Homemade Fudge
Leeps Supply Company Inc. of Valparaiso
GSC PARTNERS:
We are a member of the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation. nietf.org
The production of Julius Cesar was funded by a generous grant from the Indiana Arts Commission.
In July 2016, GSC was awarded a grant from the Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s community foundation of an effort to make our productions more widely available.
Finally, we appreciate the support of all of our venues including Ogden Gardens Park, Lake Hills Amphitheatre, Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, Founder's Square Park, Griffith Central Park, Bulldog Park, Twin Oaks Park, Nelson Algren Stage, Marquette Park, and Centennial Park.
We currently rehearse in residence at Calumet College of St. Joseph.
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