Orlando Shakespeare Theater to Present JULIUS CAESAR, 3/19-4/20

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is proud to present a timeless retelling of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar from March 19 - April 20, 2014. The classic drama comes to life on the intimate Goldman Theater stage under the direction of Tina Packer, founder and former Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company, "a troupe that has kept the Berkshires ringing with the sound of blank verse for

[35] years" (The New York Times). The small cast includes Jason Asprey, Nigel Gore, Anne Hering, and Eric Tucker, with additional casting to be announced at a later date. Tickets ($17-$40) are available by calling (407) 447-1700, online at http://orlandoshakes.org, or in person at 812 East Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803.

When men feel they can no longer trust their leader, where is the line between patriotism and personal ambition? Caesar, the most popular general in Rome, is assassinated, leaving two men - the honourable Brutus and the ambitious Cassius - to divide the spoils. But they've acted without Mark Antony, Caesar's devoted follower and determined successor, and soon the world they have fought to preserve is brought to the brink of anarchy. Julius Caesar is a dazzling masterpiece of betrayal, violence, and perhaps most surprisingly - love.

"Shakespeare's tale of politics, friendship, blood, and war will surround, involve, and energize the audience in our intimate Goldman Theater," said Artistic Director Jim Helsinger. "Audiences will feel like they're right on top of the action!"

Director Tina Packer is considered to be one of the world's foremost leading experts on Shakespeare. She has directed over 50 Shakespeare productions, as well as contemporary works, for Shakespeare & Company. She has acted opposite the likes of John Barton, Peter Hall, John Schlesinger, Sir Ian McKellen, Paul Scofield, Janet Suzman, and Ian Richardson. Over the years, Packer has received countless awards, honors, and fellowships including: the Ronson Award; Guggenheim and Bunting Fellowships; and the 1999-2000 Arts Recipient of the Commonwealth Award. She has authored two books Power Plays: Shakespeare's Lessons in Leadership and Management and Tales From Shakespeare, and is the subject of the WGBH documentary Sex, Violence and Poetry: A Portrait of Tina Packer, and Helen Epstein's biography The Companies She Keeps.

"I saw Tina's Women of Will Off-Broadway in New York this past summer---It was smashing! I can't wait to bring that kind of excitement and expertise to Orlando," said Helsinger.

Julius Caesar stars Nigel Gore in the title role. Recent credits include Women of Will (Off-Broadway opposite Tina Packer); Richard III (CSF; Best Actor in a Shakespeare Production, Westword); Antony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night, and All's Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare & Company); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Eliot Norton Award Outstanding Actor) and Travesties (Publick Theatre Boston); and Nicholas Nickleby (Lyric Stage). Gore appeared in the film The Last Knights.

Jason Asprey makes his Orlando Shakes debut as Cassius. Past credits include: The Winter's Tale, Richard III, Hamlet, All's Well That Ends Well, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, and Antony in Julius Caesar (Shakespeare & Co.); Cassius in Julius (Shakespeare Now); Betrayal (Nora Theatre); Einstein's Dreams (Culture Project NYC); A Life in the Theatre and The End of the Day (Ensemble Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Swine Palace).

Anne Hering (Calpurnia) boasts previous Orlando Shakes credits including Sense and Sensibility, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge, The Glass Menagerie, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor, King Lear, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, and The Winter's Tale. Additional acting credits include The Guys, The Underpants, Boston Marriage, The Real Thing, Wit, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and The Little Prince. Anne also serves at the Director of Education at Orlando Shakespeare in Partnership with UCF.

Eric Tucker will make his first appearance at Orlando Shakes as Brutus. As an actor he has played the title roles in Hamlet, Macbeth, Henry V, as well as Iago, Benedick, Malvolio, Prince Hal, Romeo, Tybalt, Orsino, Orlando, Prospero, Master Ford, Demetrius and Macduff, Prior Walter (Angels in America Parts 1 & 2), Robert (Betrayal), Lee (True West), Pale (Burn This), Salieri (Amadeus), Higgins (My Fair Lady), Florinda/Rapunzel's Prince (Into the Woods), Mr. Antrobus (The Skin of Our Teeth) and multiple roles in Saint Joan. Founder of the Trinity Shakespeare Summer Project, Tucker is also a former member of the Breadloaf Acting Ensemble.

Additional members of the cast to be announced at a later date. The Orlando Shakes creative team includes Fight Director Bill Warriner, Assistant Director Thomas Ouellette, Movement Coach Kristin Wold, Set Designer Ryan McGettigan, Lighting Designer Eric Haugen, Costume Designer Kristina Tollefson, and Sound Designer Britt Sandusky.