St. Ann's Warehouse Welcomes Donmar's All-Female JULIUS CAESAR Tonight

St. Ann's Warehouse begins its 2013-14 season with the American Premiere of the Donmar Warehouse's highly acclaimed, all-female production of Julius Caesar, tonight, October 3 - November 3. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, an ensemble including Harriet Walter (Brutus), Frances Barber (Caesar), Jenny Jules (Cassius) and Cush Jumbo (Mark Antony) play prisoners and guards performing Shakespeare's great tragedy in the hard, grim surroundings of a women's prison.

Performances will take place Oct 3-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29, 31 and November 1 and 2 at 8pm; October 6, 13, 20, 27 and November 3 at 7pm; October 12, 19, 26 and November 2 at 2pm; and October 13, 20, 27 and November 3 at 3pm. Critics are welcome as of October 6 for an official opening on October 9.

Originally produced at London's Donmar Warehouse under the leadership of Josie Rourke (Artistic Director) and Kate Pakenham (Executive Producer), Julius Caesar was one of the hits of London's most recent theater season. The show received four-star reviews from The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Financial Times, The Sunday Times, The Evening Standard and others. The New York Times called it "electrifying" and The Observer named it "one of the most important theatrical events of the year." Following the Donmar's other production in New York this season, The Machine at Park Avenue Armory, Julius Caesar is a perfect fit for St. Ann's raw, versatile space, creating the world of the women's prison just as it did in the intimacy of the Donmar.

In this staging by Phyllida Lloyd (Mary Stuart, Mamma Mia!, the film Iron Lady), Shakespeare's themes are glaringly and touchingly heightened by the backdrop of female incarceration, a live thrash metal band, and the emotional nuances inherent to women playing men at their most vulnerable. The result is an explosive, arresting production of Shakespeare's most famous discourse on power, loyalty, and tragic idealism.

The majority of the ensemble that performed in the World Premiere at the Donmar will return for the American Premiere: Jade Anouka (Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labour's Lost, Shakespeare's Globe; Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, National Theatre) as Calpurnia, Metellus Cimber and Pindarus; Frances Barber (Les Parents Terribles, Madame de Sade with the Donmar; That Face, Sheffield Crucible) as Caesar; Helen Cripps (The Low Road, Royal Court; Earthquakes in London, National Theatre tour) as Cinna the Poet and on drums; Clare Dunne (Major Barbara, Abbey, Dublin; Detroit, National Theatre) as Portia and Octavius Caesar; Jennifer Joseph (Hours Til Midnight, Clean Break; A Woman Inside, Hen & Chickens) as Trebonius; Jenny Jules (King Lear, Almeida; Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, National Theatre) as Cassius; Cush Jumbo (Josephine and I, Bush; A Doll's House and As You Like It, Manchester Royal Exchange) as Mark Antony; Irene Ketikidi (as a guitarist, with The Darkness and Cee Lo Green) as Dardanius, and on guitar; Carrie Rock (Pastoral, Soho, HighTide Festival) as the Soothsayer; Harriet Walter (Mary Stuart with the Donmar in the West End and on Broadway; Women Beware Women, National Theatre) as Brutus; and Danielle Ward (Psister Psycho, Underbelly, Edinburgh; Gutted: A Revenger's Musical, Riverside Studios) as Lepidus and Clitus, and on bass.

Joining the production for the run at St. Ann's Warehouse are Susan Brown (Making Noise Quietly and The Wild Duck with the Donmar; Goodbye to All That, Royal Court) as Casca; Meline Danielewicz (The Tempest, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Amazonia, Young Vic)as Cinna and Volumnius; and Susan Wokoma (Serious Jungle, TV;That Summer Day, TV movie; Three Birds and The Country Wife, Manchester Royal Exchange, Bush) as Lucius.

The creative team includes Bunny Christie (Designer), Neil Austin (Lighting Designer), Tom Gibbons (Sound Designer), Gary Yershon (Composer), Ann Yee (Movement Director) and Kate Waters (Fight Director).

Tickets, which are $50-$80, can be purchased online at www.stannswarehouse.org; by phone at 718.254.8779 (Tue-Sat, 1pm-7pm) or866.811.4111 (Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm; Sat and Sun, 10am-6pm); and in person at the St. Ann's Warehouse Box Office at 29 Jay Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn (Tue-Sat, 1pm-7pm).