EHS Onstage Presents Julius Caesar

EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

PRODUCER LEVEL

A Friend of EHS

Catherine and David Crabtree (Brooke and Andrew)

Julie and Robin Goytia (Harrison)

Allyson and Jason Kinzel (Meredith)

Lauren and John Suttle (Kenna)

Kim and Je Van Gundy (Grayson)

DIRECTOR LEVEL

Joanie and David Andrews (Catherine, David, Sarah)

Cynthia and Mark Hazard (Taliana Stoy)

Kimberly Bell and Brent Schnitzius (Avalon)

PERFORMER LEVEL

Madonna and Brad Bauch (Grace)

Vanessa and Sergio Garza (Carina)

Jana Grauberger and Samuel Gay (Mathieu)

Heather and James Reardon (Alexander)

Claire Carruba

Brooke Crabtree

Stella Frank Harrison Goytia

Joaquin Hartsfield

Brooklyn Hermance

Olivia Jameson

Henry Harkins

Charlie Karlgaard

Mary Katherine King Meredith Kinzel

Bella Marquez

Taft Mohair III

Marco Montoya

Quinn Morgenroth

Myles Patterson Kyriaki Postolos

Luke Smith

Taliana Stoy

Ruby Theriot

Grayson Van Gundy

Julia Zichy

CAST

In Alphabetical Order

Flavius, Plebian 3, First Soldier

Calphurnia, Volumnius Marullus, Plebian 4 Julius Caesar

Lucius Trebonius, Lucilius Portia, Dardanus Carpenter, Lepidus, Messenger

Cicero, Pleb 2, Second Soldier Trebonius Cimber, Clitus Casca

Decius, Titinius Popilus, Octavius Ligarius, Messala Cinna, Pindarus Cobbler, Antony’s Servant, Plebian 1 Metellus Cimber, Strato Caesar’s Servant, Octavius’ Servant, Cina the Poet Marcus Brutus Mark Antony Soothsayer Cassius

Mariana Alercon John Herda Katherine Weigand George Brock Ava Toubassi Ava Gami Lindsey Levan

Avalon Bell, Priya Parekh, Chloe Plusquellec, Simona Karnani Paul Revaz

Tessa Twiford Mathieu Gay

Robin Bowman Sophia Espinoza, Hannah Smith, Mia Tribble Peter Hutcheson Jack Anderson Sophia Berumen, Kate Kaminsky, Julia Lang, Catherine Miller Aidan Murphy, Charlotte Murry, Rachel Rambo Stagecraft classes, Jack Anderson,Tait Love James Neeriemer

George Brock

Full disclosure: I love Shakespeare...particularly the later tragedies and romances, the ones written after 1599. That being said, I am not a fan of Shakespeare set outside of the context in which it was written. I once saw a production of Two Gentlemen of Verona set in a circus that made that play completely unfunny and quite frankly of fensive. That all changed after seeing a production of Julius Caesar on PBS one night.

Julius Caesar was never one of my favorites. Even though the play is very important in the Shakespeare story (it opened the Globe Theatre in the summer of 1600) this centuries old tale with its musty togas and indecipherable names never really impact ed me until I stumbled across a filmed version of a production done by the Donmar Warehouse in 2019. Set in a women’s prison without togas or Doric columns, the play’s themes suddenly crystalized for me, and I felt the rawness of these characters and their struggle with what it means to govern and be governed; what the desire for power can do to a community. Suddenly this 450+ year old text was speaking to me and the time I live in, and it was speaking loud and clear.

It was after seeing that production that I knew I wanted to explore this play with the students, and I wanted that exploration to be as raw and vital as we could make it. We were originally going to do the show in the fall of 2020, but with all that followed in March of that year, we felt Twelfth Night was a better fit. In conversation with the students during classes and last year’s retreat I finally landed on the concept of a small self-governing encampment called “Rome” in a future following some unde fined cataclysm somewhere in what used to be America. That was our jumping off point.

There was a lot of discussion with the design team and the result, I feel, is striking and quite fits the story that Mr. Shakespeare crafted back in 1600. The use of found objects to create an underscore is something that I have been wanting to explore with the students as well and I am very proud of how they have leapt, head-first, into creating their own music that reflects the chaos of the world we have created. Big thanks to Joe Beam for taking a day to come in and assist with some helpful advice to the actors tasked with providing the heartbeat of the play.

As always, a big thank you to everyone who helped make this show possible. Thank you to the parents for your patience and commitment to a robust schedule. Thank you to Mr. Revaz for stepping for a week while I had surgery for a sudden case of ap pendicitis! Thank you to the coaches and teachers who work hard to make sure that all students can explore each and every desire they have – who embody that Four Pillar philosophy that makes EHS such a very, very special place to work and create.

George Brock

COMPANY BIOS Acting Company

Claire Carruba ’25 (Flavius/Plebian 3/First Soldier) is thrilled to be part of Julius Caesar! She has previously been in last year’s Student Directed One Act The Cave (The Dreamer) and Puffs (Professor Locky). Claire would love to thank her family and friends for their ongoing support and encourage ment!

Brooke Crabtree ’25 (Calphurnia) is thrilled to partici pate in Julius Caesar for EHS Onstage. She has previously performed in Our Town (Rebecca Gibbs), Eurydice (Little Stone), Chicago HSE (Ensemble), and most recent ly Puffs (Megan Jones). She would like to thank all the faculty of EHS Onstage that put together this production, and her family and friends for their support.

Stella Frank ’25 (Marrulus/Plebeian 4) is so excited to be participating in Julius Caesar. Stella has appeared in Our Town, A Prologue, Chicago HSE, and The Cave. She also has appeared in the JCC/PAC productions of Beauty and the Beast, Joseph, The Lion King, Cats, Seussical, The Addams Family, Pippin, Freckle Face Strawberry, Camp Rock, Game of Myths, and FAME.

Harrison Goytia ’24 (Julius Caesar) Previous EHS Onstage productions include: Chicago: HSE (The Judge), And Action (Dean), The Prologue (Hades), Our Town (Constable War ren), Beauty and The Beast (Beast), Twelfth Night (Antonio), and Puffs (Wayne Hopkins). Other productions include Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), Our Town (Simon Stimson), Godspell (Disciple), The Music Man (Mayor George Shin) and Urinet own: The Musical (Hot Blades Harry).

COMPANY BIOS

Henry Harkins ’26 (Lepidus) is very excited to be taking part in his second production at EHS. He was most recent ly in Puffs (Viktor). Previous productions at ROBS include: Annie (Daddy Warbucks) and The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble).

Outside of school, Henry has been in many other shows including: Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), West Side Story (Tony), and 13 the Musical (Archie). He is looking forward to future productions at Episcopal.

Joaquin Hartsfield ’25 (Lucius) is excited to continue his EHS Onstage career. Joaquin has previously been in Puffs (Seamus/Wayne Rivers-Jones), The Cave (The SelfDeceiver), Chicago: High School Edition (Ensemble), and the tech crew for Eurydice. In his free time Joaquin likes to read, listen to music, and play the guitar. He thanks his family and friends for their support in his interests and is very excited to perform with an amazing company.

Brooklyn Hermance ’26 (Trebonius/Lucilius) is honored to be in her second EHS Onstage production! She was most recently seen in Puffs (Prof. Sprouty/ Ensemble). Previous credits include: Alley Theater Conservatory: Shift/Change. Wildfish Theater: Urinetown (Little Becky Two-Shoes) and Bat Boy (Shelley Parker). Middle School: Moana Jr (Hei Hei) and Madagascar (Marty the Zebra). She would like to thank her mom (her #1 fan) and the EHS theatre family!

Olivia Jameson ’25 (Portia/Dardanus) is excited to be performing in Julius Caesar! This is her fourth production at EHS. She has previously been in Chicago: HSE, The Cave, and Puffs. Olivia would like to thank her parents for cooperating with her schedule!!

COMPANY BIOS

Charlie Karlgaard ’26 (Cicero/Plebian 2/2nd Soldier) is in credibly excited to participate in his first ever Shakespeare production. You may have seen him as Oliver in Puffs, or as Mr. Brownlow in Oliver.

Mary Katherine King ’26 (Trebonius Cimber/Clitus) at tended St. Thomas Episcopal School where she performed in two different productions: The Elephant Man (Ensemble) and Double Double (Ursula). She was also in Puffs (Ghost Teacher).

Meredith Kinzel ’25 (Casca) is so excited to be a part of her first Shakespeare play. She has previously been in Puffs (Zach Smith), Chicago: HSE (Liz), and Our Town (Stage Manager). She is looking forward to the spring musi cal Mamma Mia! and can’t wait to be a part of more EHS productions! She thanks her friends and family for all their loving support!

Bella Marquez ’23 (Decius/Titinius) is very excited to be a part of her thirteenth production at Episcopal. She has pre viously performed in over twenty other productions includ ing Snow White (Sneezy), Anne of Green Gables (Diana), Peter Pan (Wendy), and most recently Puffs (Susie Bones). She would like to thank everyone who made this production possible and she hopes you enjoy the show.

COMPANY BIOS

Marco Montoya ’24 (Ligarius/Messala) has been in Our Town, Eurydice, and Twelfth Night, and Puffs. Marco is super excited for upcoming shows!

Quinn Morgenroth ’25 (Cinna/Pindarus) is thrilled to per form in Julius Caesar. She has previously performed in Our Town (Lady in the Box), Eurydice (Little Stone), Chicago: HSE (June), and Puffs (Hermione 1). In her free time, she is an EHS cheerleader, sings, and hangs out with friends. Quinn would like to thank her family, friends, and her cat, Hope, for their support.

Taft Mohair III ’26 (Popilus/Octavius) has previously performed in productions with EHS Onstage and the Ronald Thornton Production Theatre Program including: Puffs (Clumsy Longbottom), Cinderella (Coachman), The Longview (Alex), Offerings (Sam), Bad Auditions on Camera (Director’s Assistant), and An Absolutely True Story as Told by a Bunch of Lying Liars (Student Director). Taft thanks his friends and family for supporting him and being there for him throughout the process.

Myles Patterson ’26 (Cobbler/Plebian 1/Antonius Servant) has previously performed in musicals with Wildfish Theatre Company including: The Jungle Book (Mowgli), Once on This Island (Agwe), The Granny Awards (Prince Charming), Alice in Wonderland (the King), Mary Poppins (Ensemble). He looks forward to future productions with EHS Onstage and is very excited to keep honing his craft. He thanks his friends and family for their love and support and for being here today.

COMPANY BIOS

Kyriaki Postolos ’25 (Metellus Cimber/Strato) started acting professionally at 5 in A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre where she played Fan Scrooge, Claire Fezziwig, and other roles. Previous credits include: EHS Onstage Our Town (Stage Manager), A Prologue and Chicago: HSE (Roxie Hart) Ruthless (Tina), The Lion King (Rafiki), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (White Witch), The Jungle Book (Baloo), Into the Woods (Little Red), Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie), Annie (Tessie), and Willy Wonka (Violet Beauregard).

Luke Smith ’26 (Caesar Servant/Octavius Servant/Cinna the Poet) is excited to perform at his second show at EHS! He enjoyed being in Puffs and enjoys performing in Julius Caesar just as much!

Taliana Stoy ’23 (Brutus) is thrilled to be in yet another production at Episcopal! Past productions include: The Man Who Came to Dinner (Ensemble), King Charles III (Butler), Tuck Everlasting (Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Ensemble), Letters to Sala (Laya Dina/Glika), Beauty and the Beast, (Ensemble), Our Town (Stage Manager), Chicago: HSE (Kitty) and Puffs (Assistant Director).

She thanks her friends, family, and wonderful cast for love and support!

Ruby Theriot ’23 (Mark Antony) Previous EHS per formances include: Our Town (Stage Manager), Twelfth Night (Maria), Beauty and the Beast (Enchantress), and 3 Characters Figure it Out (Character 2). Ruby is ex cited to be performing in her last EHS show. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her friends. She is grateful to the students involved in the theatre program for making her experience fantastic.

“For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head is cut off.”

COMPANY BIOS

Grayson Van Gundy ’23 (Soothsayer) is so excited to per form in her last Shakespeare play at EHS. She has previ ously performed in Puffs (Bippy), Chicago: HSE (Clerk/ Ensemble), Eurydice (Loud Stone), Our Town (Professor Willard/Assistant Director) and one other Shakespeare production, Twelfth Night (Ensemble). The cast and crew of this production are amazing, and Grayson wants to thank everyone in this particular process and everyone who has supported her theatre journey over the last four years at EHS.

Julia Zichy ’23 (Cassius) is thrilled to perform in her final winter production! Past credits include: Man Who Came to Dinner, Puffs, Eurydice, King Charles III, Our Town, Chicago: HSE, Tuck Everlasting, Beauty and the Beast, and Letters to Sala. She would like to thank her friends, her mamae, her papai, Jim Reynolds, the Evans Family, and her sister Katarina.

Crew

Ava Gami ’23 (Stage Manager) has previously been in Puffs (stage crew) and is very excited to be helping in another show for EHS Onstage as she finishes her time at Episcopal.

Lindsey Levan ’25 (Stage Manager) is excited to be working on Julius Caesar! Previous EHS productions include Chicago: HSE (Crew), The Cave (SM), and Puffs (Crew). She can't wait to be part of another show and thanks her friends and family for their support!

Ava Toubassi ’23 (Production Stage Manager). Past productions include: Eurydice (Production Stage Manager), Chicago: HSE (Assistant Stage Manager), Beauty and the Beast (Stage Crew), and Tuck Everlasting (Stage Crew).

Rehearsal