Shakespeare@ Home's Julius Caesar Streams Tonight at 7pm

PRESS RELEASE | Posted Monday, February 22, 2021

The Acclaimed  Shakespeare@, Jersey City’s Premier Classical Theater Company,
Presents The Third Installment Of Their All Free ‘RADIO PLAY’ Season

William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar  Starring PATRICK PAGE 

With Actors from Broadway and The West End:
 Jordan Barbour, Keith Hamilton Cobb, Sky Lakota-Lynch
Jamie Ballard, James Howard, Jonathan Forbes,
  Aria Shaghasemi, Ashlie Atkinson
 and David Hargreaves

Episode One, Available to Download and Stream
Monday, February 22nd at 7pm EST

Actors from Broadway and London’s West End team up for the Shakespeare@ Home, all-free radio play Julius Caesar, which launches Monday February 22nd at 7pm EST. The Tony Nominated actor Patrick Page (Hadestown) stars in the title role with Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) as Brutus, Sky Lakota Lynch (Dear Evan Hansen) as Lucius, and Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor) as Cassius.

Produced by Jersey City's Shakespeare@, this audio production is the third installment of the season, produced and adapted by Artistic Director Sean Hagerty. Acclaimed West End actors Jamie Ballard and James Howard also star. Mr. Howard played Draco Malfoy to Ballard’s Harry Potter in the West End production of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, prior to the shutdown. 

Julius Caesar features original music and sound design and is free to download and stream. Hagerty has crafted the production into four weekly parts and partnered with the Emmy-winning team at Sonic Designs to capture the lost art and thrill of radio drama all without leaving the confines of quarantine.

Shakespeare@ made an auspicious live debut in 2019 with Hamlet starring Jonathan Forbes and released their first two ‘radio’ plays of the season with Richard II and The Tempest for their newly created Shakespeare@ Home series in 2020.  To listen to Julius Caesar online, visit www.shakespeare-at.org. The production will also be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. The performance is free to all listeners on all platforms. Previous episodes of the season (Richard II and The Tempest) are also available to download.

Patrick Page (Broadway’s Hadestown) — Julius Caesar. Photo by Nathan Johnson

Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) — Brutus

Debut dates for parts 2, 3 and 4 of Julius Caesar are subsequent Mondays at 7pm EST on March 1st, and March 8th, with the final episode airing March 15th—the “Ides of March” (the day Caesar was assassinated).  

Sky Lakota-Lynch (Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen) — Lucius

In order to best serve quarantined audiences, Shakespeare@ has specialized, for now, on reviving radio drama and programming Shakespeare@ Home. The distinguished cast features acclaimed talent from the New York Stage, and London’s West End and stars Tony-nominee Patrick Page (Broadway’s Hadestown) as Julius Caesar, Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) as Brutus, Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor)  as Cassius, Jamie Ballard (Harry Potter in Harry Potter in the West End) as Mark Antony, James Howard (Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter in the West End) as Metellus Cimber, Sky Lakota-Lynch (Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen) as Lucius, Ashlie Atkinson (Mr. Robot, BlacKkKlansman) as Portia, Jonathan Forbes (Amazon's Catastrophe) as Casca, and Aria Shahghasemi (CW's Legacies) as Octavius. Rounding out the rest of the cast are RSC and National Theatre veteran, David Hargreaves, Mark Torres, Thia Stephan, Francis Mateo, and Mark J. Quiles.

Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor)  — Cassius

Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare’s best known and most often quoted plays, chronicling the political and moral crisis of Brutus and his fellow conspirators as they plot to murder Caesar to prevent a dictatorship. First performed in 1599, this timeless play examines the razor-thin line between power and corruption, duty and ambition, and the perils of a state divided. 

Jamie Ballard (Harry Potter in Harry Potter in the West End) — Mark Antony. Photo by Ross Ferguson.

Shakespeare@ was founded to deliver accessible interpretations of classic works with a focus on international and cross-cultural exchange.  Its live performance debut, a lush 2019 production of Hamlet starring Jonathan Forbes, garnered rave reviews and was hailed as “theatrical perfection," selling out its run at Grace Church Van Vorst in Jersey City.  Hagerty says, “After our 2020 season was lost, we re-structured our format to continue productions, employ artists, and serve our mission." He conceived the all-sonic performance project, Shakespeare@ Home, to recapture the great heyday of serialized radio drama of the 1930’s and 40’s. The first two productions, Richard II and The Tempest received accolades from critics and audiences alike.

James Howard (Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter in the West End) — Metellus Cimber

Director Sean Hagerty views the play as incredibly timely, explaining “In our current fractured, hostile, and divided discourse, I have always felt the play particularly resonant. But in the past few months alone, as we have watched our nation slip perilously close to the cliff-edge of democracy, I can think of few better plays that cry out to be heard.”

Ashlie Atkinson (Mr. Robot, BlacKkKlansman) — Portia

In addition to launching their third all-free, all-audio drama, Shakespeare@ has partnered with Robert Young, the former Director of Education at the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library and a team of educators, to launch their Education Initiative with dynamic, multi-media study guides to accompany each of their radio plays. Featuring activities and lesson plans designed to be used in a classroom or virtual setting, the guides feature cast and crew interviews, with in-depth audio and video tracks highlighting different aspects of the play, the artistic choices, and history. These study guides are free to schools and qualifying educational institutions. For more information visit the website or email education@shakespeare-at.org.

Jonathan Forbes (Amazon's Catastrophe) — Casca

Julius Caesar features original music composed by Joan Melton with sound design by the Emmy-winning team of Dan Gerhard and Ellen Fitton of Sonic Designs. Justin Goldner is the music producer and supervisor, and casting is by Robin Carus. Sydney Steele serves as the Associate Producer. 

Aria Shahghasemi (CW's Legacies) — Octavius

Rounding out the rest of the cast are RSC and National Theatre veteran, David Hargreaves, Mark Torres, Thia Stephan, Francis Mateo, and Mark J. Quiles.

* *     * * *

About Shakespeare@

Shakespeare@, Jersey City's premier classical theatre, tells epic stories in intimate and unique spaces, with a mission to revitalize the performance, education and audience for Shakespeare and classic drama. Shakespeare@ is committed to international and cross-cultural exchange in its productions, reflecting the diversity and roots of the community they serve. In response to the pandemic, the company formed Shakespeare@ Home, the all-sonic performance project, to recapture the great heyday of serialized radio drama of the 1930’s and 40’s.

 Sean Hagerty (Artistic Director) trained under Sanford Meisner and studied classical theatre at the renowned Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He holds a Masters Degree in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he graduated with Distinction. Sean has worked as an actor, teacher, director and producer regionally and internationally for many years. Credits include: New York Classical Theatre, The Lord Chamberlain's Men, The Group Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Bath Shakespeare Festival, The New Vic, Theatre Royal Bristol, and BBC Radio, among others. Previously, Sean was the resident Shakespeare and Style teacher at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre for over 14 years and was the Associate Artistic Director for New York Classical Theatre. He has served as the chair of Education & Training for the international Shakespeare Theatre Association and as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

www.shakespeare-at.org

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Interview with Sean Hagerty (Shakespeare@)

Photography by Will O’Hare.

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Large, diverse casts. Epic stories. Intimate and unique settings. Thursday, March 28th will mark the first performance of Hamlet by the newly formed Shakespeare@ theatre company. Shakespeare@’s performances will be like no other Shakespearean performances you’ve seen. Why? Because they’re tailored specifically to Jersey City, its vibe, and its people. Check out our interview with Shakespeare@’s Founder & Artistic Director, Sean Hagerty, to learn about the inspiration behind Shakespeare@ and his love for Jersey City.

Hamlet will take place at Grace Church, March 28th through April 14th. For showtimes and tickets, visit www.shakespeare-at.org.

Where are you from originally, where are you based now?  

SEAN HAGERTY: I grew up in West Virginia. Now I’m based here in Jersey City.

Tell us about Shakespeare@. What is it, when did it start, what’s your role?

We tell epic stories in intimate and unique spaces. We’re committed to diverse, large casts, with a focus on international and cross-cultural exchange. The idea is that the ‘@’ places us. So for Hamlet we’re Shakespeare@ Grace Church. We want to showcase the venue as well as the production.

The idea had been knocking around for a while. Then a couple of years ago, a few things fell into place and it seemed right to give it a go.

My role is the Artistic Director. I run the company and direct the current production.

Tell us a little bit about your personal background and journey. What inspired you to start Shakespeare@? Why Shakespeare? What is it about Shakespeare’s works that still resonates with people of all ages today?

Funnily enough I was never a big fan of Shakespeare growing up. I had the typical middle school exposure to Shakespeare where you’re sat down, given a copy of Romeo & Juliet, and told to read it. Which is kind of like asking a child to appreciate Beethoven by handing them the sheet music. So for years I had no desire to perform or even see Shakespeare. But as a young actor, I was on tour with a show over in the UK and while we were in London, one of my cast-mates had an extra ticket to see a production of The Tempest and asked me if I wanted to go. I had no inclination at all but he cajoled me into coming and what I saw blew my mind. Here was something that was theatrical and poetic. At once hysterically funny and powerfully moving. At the risk of hyperbole, I can honestly say it was one of those moments you can look back on and recognize as a game changer in your life. I remember standing outside the theatre after and saying to myself, if this is what Shakespeare can be, then I have to figure out how to do that.

Shakespeare@ was partially inspired by my time in England. I lived, studied and worked there for many years and loved the storytelling I experienced there. When I came back what I found (when it came to Shakespeare) was really two options: Large casts in large-scale venues with mic’d actors, or small casts in black box venues presenting two, three, or four-person deconstructions of the plays. Now, that’s not to denigrate those kinds of theatre; I see them all the time and have enjoyed them, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted large, diverse casts in intimate settings where the audience could reach out and touch the actors, feel a part of these mythic stories.

Why Shakespeare? Such a simple question and yet I’m not sure I can answer it. For 400 years people have been going back to his plays and finding inspiration or even solace. The stories, the characters, the language, all transcend the everyday and put us in touch with something larger, something truthful. Something we all have within us by virtue of being human. 

Why Jersey City? What kind of impact do you hope Shakespeare@’s productions will have on the local community and the region at large?

Oh, there was no question it was going to be Jersey City. My wife and I have lived here since 2008. We’ve seen the city go through some incredible growth and change. There’s always been a huge arts scene here, which now is only bigger and even more deserving of attention. The artists and community are incredibly supportive of each other. And I think, perhaps, living in the shadow of NYC across the river lends us a scrappiness and hometown feel that I wouldn’t want to be without.

I think what I can honestly say about this production is it’s going to be the kind of theatre that Jersey City residents are used to going across the river to see. We’ve got incredible people involved. We’re aiming to be a vital part of the cultural and social growth of this incredible city.

What can people expect from your production of HAMLET? How do you want people to feel when they’re watching it, and what do you hope they’ll do afterward?

The actors are phenomenal and every day I walk out of rehearsal excited to see what they do tomorrow. Our version of this story is definitely unique. I’m excited to share it and in such a stunning venue. I think even the most seasoned theatre-goers and Hamlet lovers are going to be pleasantly surprised by our production.

I don’t know that I’d want to put an expectation on what to feel. I hope they’ll be thrilled, challenged, moved, inspired.

As for what I hope they do afterwards, I don’t know… Donate? Haha.  

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

Just a big thank you to Jersey City—the community really rallied behind us from the moment we began.

Finally, how can people follow and connect with Shakespeare@ (Facebook, Twitter, IG, website, etc.)?

Our website: shakespeare-at.org
Facebook: Shakespeare.at
Instagram: Shakespeare.at
Twitter: Shakespeare_at

But the best way to connect is to come see the play. Introduce yourself. Come talk to us! Get Involved. We love that!