CALIGULA MAXIMUS Casts Coney Island Sideshow Performers

In CALIGULA MAXIMUS, Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner's play about the notorious dictator Caligula, director Alfred Preisser celebrates the body beautiful by casting Coney Island sideshow tattooed muscleman Tim Dax and marine Raheem Green, who sports a "Born to Kill" tattoo, to play gladiators, and award-winning competitive bodybuilders Myra Adams and RoxAnne Edwards as gladiatrixes.

Presented by La MaMa, e.t.c., CALIGULA MAXIMUS is a project with Hammerstein & Weiner, LLC, Christopher McElroen, Alfred Preisser and Kingsize, USA.

CALIGULA MAXIMUS, begins previews at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th St, in New York on March 12. Opening night is set for March 19th and the show will continue through April 3rd. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and 10pm.

In CALIGULA MAXIMUS, Caligula senses the encroachment of monotheistic religions (Christianity and Judaism) and holds a phantasmagoric revival meeting in which he attempts to save the world by ushering in a new religion with himself as its principle prophet and god. As the revival meeting reaches fever pitch, his troupe grows weary of being used as toys, gains a sense of their own power and, bedecked in the war paint and leather costumes of barbarian invaders, descend upon him and murder him in mob frenzy. Six different languages will occur throughout the production in song and at the Coliseum.

With a cast that includes Ryan Knowles as Caligula, adult film star and Penthouse Pet Justine Joli, Lady Circus troupe aerialist Anya Sapozhnikova, and an outrageous collection of over two-dozen circus performers, wrestlers, showgirls and freaks, CALIGULA MAXIMUS audiences should expect "an entertainment" that will test their limits of human intellect and appetite.

Rounding out the cast in multiple roles are Alexandra Bernard, Luqman Brown, Angela Buccinni, Claire Buckingham, Eric Dorfman, Alicia Giangrisostomi, Jeff Goldfisher, David King, Jessica Krueger, Andrews Landsman, Channing McKindra, Ella Mische, Alexandra Petrova, Charletta Rozell, Alicia St. Louis, JerZ Short, Aaron Strand, Miriam Tabb, Jenny Weinbloom and Elian Zach.

In 2000, Native New Yorker, Myra Adams (Baduhenna) discovered a new love of physique training in the gym, and in 2004 became a certified personal trainer. This led to her first bodybuilding competition in June 2005, the NPC Atlantic States, in which she won 1st place middleweight.

After successfully placing 1st and 2nd in subsequent NPC shows, Adams started competing on the national level in November 2007. She will be preparing for her next bodybuilding competition at the Master's Nationals in Pittsburgh, PA in July 2010, where her goal is to earn professional status and compete on the professional level.

A professional electric bassist for more than 30 years, Myra currently holds the position of Assistant Musical Director for Brooks Church in Jamaica, NY. Her diverse and extensive musical background has allowed her to experience many different cultures, including that of Japan and Malaysia.

Tim DAX (Germanicus) is a new genre of tattooed muscle actor, training mind, body and physical aesthetics as one contiguous and harmonious representation of self. He has singlehandedly carved out his own niche in the acting world with credits in theatre, TV and film that range from classical to contemporary. Small town raised, big city educated Tim DAX is ready to take himself to the next level and be your next sci fi action hero... or villain. www.timdax.net

A national level bodybuilder since 2006, RoxAnne Edwards (Sappho Sabratha), is also a fitness model (Shemuscle.com & Muscle Angels.com) and a personal trainer. Edwards has competed in 20 shows, placing top 5 in all but 3. She placed 1st in 4 shows-the 1995 ANBC NYC Naturals, 2000 Eastern USA's, 2004 Musclemania NY and the 2005 Musclemania Super Body. She is currently preparing for the Master's Nationals in July 2010, as well as the North Americans in Sept 2010. In March, 2009, Edwards placed 6th in the world, at the Arnold Amateurs Middle Weight Women's Division, and in June, 2009, she received 2nd Place in the N.P.C. Jr. Nationals.

CALIGULA MAXIMUS features sets, rigging and lighting by Evan Collier, costumes by Laura Clarke and musical direction by Joe Shavel. Tickets are $30, $25 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/715425 or by calling the box office at 1-866-811-4111

The Ellen Stewart Theatre is located at 66 East 4th St. between 2nd Avenue and The Bowery. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and 10pm.

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