Photo Flash: In Rehearsal for Brown Paper Box Co.'s JULIUS CAESAR

Brown Paper Box Co. has announced their upcoming production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The show opens Saturday, March 5, and runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM through April 3 at The Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood (2257 N. Lincoln Avenue). A preview is also scheduled for Friday, March 4, along with a special Monday night performance on March 7, both of which begin at 7:30. Ticketing information and more can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org.

Julius Caesar tells the classic story of Brutus, a young political leader forced to choose between personal alliances to his home and political loyalties to his state. Guest director Lavina Jadhwani reexamines the world's most famous assassination story - featuring a female Julius Caesar, female Mark Antony, and male Calphurnia - told through a gender-conscious lens.

The cast includes T.J. Anderson* as Octavius, Dan Cobbler as Calphurnia, Abie Irabor as Casca, Jeff Kurysz as Brutus, Amy Malcom as Julius Caesar, Susan Myburgh as Portia, Dan Toot as Cassius, and Vahishta Vafadari as Mark Antony, with Justin Harner* and Sophie Scanlon serving as understudies.

"My goal with this production, and with casting a female Caesar and Antony, is to ask questions about how we support female leaders in a male-dominated political system," says Jadhwani. "I think it is particularly relevant in this upcoming election cycle. It's a great debate play, and the fact that the story is so well known makes it extremely accessible. I think the gender-conscious casting of this production will result in a play that is a very exciting conversation starter for Brown Paper Box Co's audiences."

"After five amazing years of stripping down contemporary plays and musicals, BPBCo. is thrilled to present Julius Caesar as our first classical text, " says Executive Director M. William Panek. "Lavina's vision for this production is exciting and unique, so it's no wonder the team fell in love with her submission during our inaugural Director Proposal Initiative."

The production team includes Lavina Jadhwani (Director), Charles Askenaizer (Assistant Director/Dramaturg), Eric Vigo (Lighting Designer), Sara Heymann* (Set/Properties Designer), Connor Ciesil (Sound Designer), Gary Nocco (Costume Designer), Vahishta Vafadari & Tyler Esselman (Fight Choreographers), M. William Panek* (Casting Associate), Charlie Sheets* (Graphic Designer), and Damian Wille* (Production Manager).

*Denotes Brown Paper Box Co. company member.

Photos by Ryan McCabe