MADISON, NJ — This fall, cries of revolt rock the Roman Capitol — and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey — in Shakespeare's brilliant political thriller, Julius Caesar. Loyalty, honor and betrayal collide in this searing tale of revolution, in which omens of doom and deadly conspiracies erupt into civil war, and leaders rise and fall like the tides.

After last season's much-lauded performance in the title role of Macbeth , Robert Cuccioli returns to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey to play Marcus Brutus. William Metzo will portray the Roman general, Julius Caesar. Also featured are Gregory Derelian as Mark Antony and Richard Topol as Caius Cassius.

This production marks the first time that Julius Caesar will be seen on a professional New Jersey stage since 1995. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays, October 11 through November 13, on the company's Main Stage in Madison . (There are no public performances on October 14 and November 1, 2, 8 and 9.) Tickets are $27 to $31 for preview performances and $35 to $49 for regular performances, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets to Opening Night on Saturday, October 15 are $61 to $65. For tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Julius Caesar is supported in part by an Access to Artistic Excellence award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes "a great nation deserves great art." The production was selected from among 1,088 eligible applications as one of 98 leading theatrical organizations nationwide to receive this prestigious federal funding. The Shakespeare Theatre is the only New Jersey theatre company to receive an NEA Access to Artistic Excellence grant.

Shakespeare Theatre artistic director Bonnie J. Monte notes, "The play Julius Caesar depicts the ancient Romans' belief in omens, or prophetic signs. We recently noticed that our first rehearsal for Julius Caesar falls on the "ides of September," according to the ancient Roman calendar, while our Opening Night happens to be on the ides of October and the final performance coincides with the ides of November." She chuckled and said, "I'll take that triple threat as a good omen!"
 

In the Artists' Own Words

For no more that the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Regular ticket prices apply.

On Thursday, October 20 , The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., director Brian B. Crowe will present an insightful pre-performance talk that offers background information and an insider's perspective on the play. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for subscribers. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $37 to $41.

Student Matinees

For school groups, The Shakespeare Theatre will present eight Student Matinee performances of Julius Caesar all at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, October 19 and 26; Tuesday through Thursday, November 1 through 3; and Tuesday through Thursday, November 8 through 10. Tickets to these special on-school-time performances are only $15 per person for student groups, including a post-show discussion with the actors and a comprehensive study guide for each teacher. For Student Matinee reservations, call 973-408-3980 or e-mail JBGrant@ShakespeareNJ.org

The Cast

As the tragic hero Marcus Brutus, Robert Cuccioli returns to The Shakespeare Theatre after last season's acclaimed performance in the title role of Bonnie J. Monte's groundbreaking production of Macbeth . His other acting credits with the company include Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra as well as the musicals Carnival! and Enter the Guardsman. Mr. Cuccioli earned a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a 1997 Tony Award nomination for his electrifying portrayal of Dr. Jekyll and his sinister alter ego, Mr. Hyde, in the original Broadway production of Jekyll and Hyde.

Award-winning actor William Metzo , who appears in the title role, has previously appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Crucible and The Comedy of Errors. His Broadway credits include Café Crown, Arsenic and Old Lace and Cyrano , starring Christopher Plummer. He has been seen off-Broadway in The Bald Soprano, Papers and A Moon for the Misbegotten .

In the role of the Mark Antony is Gregory Derelian, who returns for his seventh season. His numerous company credits include Macduff in Macbeth, Cassio in Othello , Caliban in The Tempest and Pyotr in Ostrovsky's The Forest. On Broadway, he appeared in the Tony Award-winning Metamorphoses at Circle in the Square. Among his off-Broadway credits are Othello at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater.

Richard Topol returns for his second season with The Shakespeare Theatre, fresh from the Broadway run of Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington. He has also appeared on Broadway in School for Scandal and off-Broadway in productions with The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre and Naked Angels.

Rounding out the cast of 19 are Actors' Equity Association members Jonathan Brathwaite, Leon Addison Brown, Roxanna Hope, Raphael Peacock, John Pieza, Geddeth Smith and Derek Wilson. Also appearing are David Arsenault, Tristan Colton , Nathan Kaufman, Michael Littig, Jessica Ires Morris, Monal Pathak, Brian Schilb and Patrick Toon.

About the Director

Directing Julius Caesar is Shakespeare Theatre resident artist Brian B. Crowe , who The Star-Ledger has called "one of the most ingenious directors in the state." Now in his tenth season with the company, Mr. Crowe's directorial credits include Love's Labour's Lost, The Tempest and The Comedy of Errors on the Main Stage, and the 1999 world premiere of his original script Wonderland (...and What Was Found There) on the Other Stage. As the company's director of education, he has mounted numerous Shakespeare LIVE! touring productions, as well as seven in-school residency projects throughout New Jersey . His 2004 production of Hamlet is one of four Shakespeare LIVE! shows selected from across the nation to participate in the NEA's Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history. Mr. Crowe was a Fellow at the 2000 International Salzburg Shakespeare Seminar.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of ancient Rome are set designer Harry Feiner, lighting designer Mathew Williams, costume designer C. David Russell and sound designer Karin Graybash.

Tickets & General Information

Preview performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 and at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday, October 13, offering the thrill of seeing a work-in-progress before the show officially opens. Preview tickets are $27 to $31.

Beginning Sunday, October 16 and continuing through Sunday, November 13, regular performances are Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. (excluding Friday, October 14 and Opening Night at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15); Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. beginning October 22; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. There are no public performances on Friday, October 14; Tuesdays and Wednesday, November 1 and 2; nor Tuesday and Wednesday, November 8 and 9. Regular tickets are $35 to $49.

A limited number of tickets are available for Opening Night on Saturday, October 15 . Opening Night tickets are $61 to $65, including a Champagne intermission and a post-show party with the actors and other VIPs.

A FlexPass , priced at $222, offers six admissions to the 2005 Season — you choose the shows, you choose the dates — then simply call or visit the Box Office for reservations. The FlexPass is valid for all Main Stage plays, excluding Saturday evenings, and offers basic subscriber benefits including liberal exchange privileges. Seating is subject to availability at the time of redemption.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the scenic campus of Drew University ), just minutes by automobile from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The theatre is also convenient to shopping and restaurants in charming downtown Madison , and is a 15-minute walk from the Madison Train Station (via NJ Transit's M&E Morristown line). For additional information, or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org