Author: mistressq

Welcome to Julius Caesar

mistressq Before the Show, Uncategorized

A question that was discussed frequently during our rehearsal process was “Who is the villain?” Our conclusion: we’re not sure! Productions of Julius Caesar often seek to make a certain type of political statement, and indeed, one recent production cast an actor who resembled Obama in the title role, while another used an actor who resembled Trump. We all agreed that we did not want to take that route. Trying to tie Cassius, Brutus, Antony, or Caesar to a particular belief system, political party, or public figure would only lead our audience to, perhaps, assume that they know whose side they should be on – it’s so much more interesting to live in the ambiguity. 

For us, one of the most interesting and important “characters” was the crowd AKA The Citizens. It’s fascinating to see how quickly and easily they switch their loyalties. Listen carefully to the funeral speeches of Brutus and Marc Antony – whose side would you be on? 

The play opens as The Citizens celebrate the Feast of Lupercal. We discovered that the current celebration of Mardi Gras has its roots in the ancient festival. You might notice a few nods to that connection in our staging!! 

Our Players are taking on the monumental challenge of telling this story. What can you do to support them? While you are in the performance space, please keep your phone off and give them your full attention.

But before you turn your phone off, we encourage you to click here to read a synopsis of the story

Dramatis Personae

In Order of Appearance

Flavius, a tribune … Dash Kirkley, 12

Marullus, another tribune … Katya Pontell, 14

A Carpenter … Harrison Washburn, 10

A Cobbler … Teddy Lukas, 12

Julius Caesar, a general … Simon Manfredi, 11

Casca, a Conspirator … Arrow Hudson, 13

Calpurnia, wife to Caesar … Pierra Rozen-Nowac, 13

Marc Antony … Alexander Gumpert, 12

A Soothsayer … Harrison Washburn

Brutus, friend to Caesar … Kairo Pontell, 12

Cassius, a general … Hannah Gumpert, 14

Decius Brutus, a conspirator … Veronica Sefrioui, 13

Cicero, a Senator … Pierra Rozen-Nowac

Cinna, a conspirator … Dash Kirkley

Lucius, Servant to Brutus … Harrison Washburn

Metellus Cimber, a conspirator … Katya Pontell

Trebonius, a conspirator … Teddy Lukas

Another Conspirator … Pierra Rozen-Nowac 

Portia, wife to Brutus … Veronica Sefrioui

Servant to Caesar … Katya Pontell

Artemidorus, devotee to Caesar … Pierra Rozen-Nowac

Servant to Antony … Pierra Rozen-Nowac

Servant to Octavius Caesar … Katya Pontell

The Citizens … The Ensemble

Cinna, the Poet … Arrow Hudson

Octavius Caesar, successor … Pierra Rozen-Nowac

Lepidus, one of the Triumvirate … Simon Manfredi

Clitus, aide to soldier … Katya Pontell

Claude, the Poet … Arrow Hudson

Titinius, a soldier … Dash Kirkley

Messala, friend to Brutus … Veronica Sefrioui

Pindarus, bondsman to … Cassius Arrow Hudson

Cato, a soldier … Arrow Hudson

Dardanius, servant to Brutus … Teddy Lukas

Strato, friend to Brutus … Simon Manfredi

Julius Caesar Production Team

Julia Walker Wyson, director
Kila Packett, director

Addison Templeton, Artistic Associate
J. Bailey Burcham, Technical Assistance

Special Thanks to 

Zissy Rozen @zissyspaine – Prop Design

And to the Parents of our Players for their invaluable support and encouragement throughout the process

Shakespeare Youth Festival

Julia Walker Wyson, Artistic Director
J. Bailey Burcham, Executive Director

JULIUS CAESAR – Synopsis

mistressq Before the Show

As the play opens, enthusiastic citizens are celebrating the return of the heroic Julius Caesar, a general who is returning to Rome after being victorious in multiple foreign wars. A Soothsayer emerges from the crowd to warn Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.” At the celebration, the citizens, through Caesar’s dear friend Mark Antony, offer Caesar the crown, but he refuses … three times.

Cassius, a fellow general, is envious of the popularity Caesar seems to enjoy, and by the idea that he might gain absolute power. His friend Brutus is a supporter of the Republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators. While he, too, is a friend of Caesar’s, his fear of one person gaining too much power makes him vulnerable to Cassius’s maneuverings to convince him to join in the plot to bring down Caesar before he can gain too much power.

That night, a tormented Brutus debates with himself whether to join the conspiracy. His fear that Rome may lose its freedom wins out over his admiration for Caesar, and, after a late-night visit by a group of conspirators, including Cassius, he agrees own in the plot to assassinate Caesar the next day. He’s been so caught up in his plight that his loyal wife Portia confronts him and demands to know what has been preoccupying him.

The next morning is March 15, the Ides of March, and Calphurnia, Caesar’s wife, recounts her frightful dreams and insists that her husband to avoid danger and stay home from the senate that day. At first, Caesar fears that he will appear frightened or ignoble by staying home, and just as it seems that he will give in, the conspirators, acting as friends and supporters, show up, and convince him to come to the Capitol.

In the capitol, the conspirators surround Caesar on the pretext of discussing business with him—and each, in turn, stabs him. Seeing Brutus’s thrust, Caesar exclaims “et tu, Brute” (you too, Brutus) and dies. Mark Antony, Caesar’s friend, confronts the conspirators; and they seem to convince him that their actions were right, and they agree that Antony may speak at the funeral, as long as he does not condemn the conspirators.

A crowd gathers to mourn their beloved Caesar, but Brutus speaks first at the funeral and says that love of Rome alone made the murder necessary. The crowd seems to be swayed to his opinion, but then Antony follows, praising Caesar, while calling Brutus and the conspirators “honorable men.” He masterfully manipulates the crowd, without placing any blame on the conspirators, and moments after the crowd cheered Brutus as their deliverer, they turn on a dime, and are inflamed with rage and the desire for revenge on Caesar’s murderers. Indeed things become so chaotic that a poet named Cinna, who had nothing to do with Caesar’s death, is killed by the mob just because his name is the same as one of the conspirators.

In Rome, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, the ruling triumvirate formed after Caesar’s death, gather to plot revenge and organize a military force to fight the armies of Brutus and Cassius. The opposing armies gather on the battlefield of Phillipi.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Cassius and Brutus has deteriorated, and they quarrel. After the argument is settled, Brutus reveals to Cassius that his wife, Portia, has committed suicide. Later that night, unable to sleep, Brutus is stunned to see Caesar’s ghost, who warns that he will meet him again at the battlefield of Philippi.

That morning the armies meet and as the forces of the triumvirate appear to be winning, Cassius, unwilling to endure defeat, asks his bondsman Pindarus to stab him. After several other key players on his side, Brutus is devastated by the dishonor he feels, and he, too, asks one of his soldiers to stab him. Antony vows to give Brutus the funeral of a noble Roman and calls him “the noblest Roman of them all,” since he was the only conspirator whose motive was not envy of the powerful Caesar.

THE VILLAINS OF SHAKESPEARE

mistressq Summer 2024
THE VILLAINS OF SHAKESPEARE

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here!!“

This week, we’ll be delving into the intriguing world of Shakespearean villains. This unique exploration of the darker characters in Shakespearean plays provides children with an opportunity to delve into the complexities of these infamous figures and the moral dilemmas they present. Fictional villains have the power to captivate children, drawing them into the narrative, world, and characters of a story. Through games, scene work, group choral work, etc, our Players will be developing creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human nature as portrayed in literature and drama.

ACTING EXPLORATIONS
Our villains may include:

  • Iago from Othello
  • Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
  • Richard III from Richard III
  • Claudius from Hamlet
  • Aaron the Moor from Titus Andronicus
  • Tamora from Titus Andronicus
  • Macbeth from Macbeth
  • The Queen from Cymbeline
  • Angelo from Measure for Measure
  • Regan from King Lear
  • and more!!

GRADES 2 through 8 (Fall 2024)

DATES
July 8 – 12
Monday through Friday – 10 am to 3 pm

COST
Pay what you can.
We believe that every child who is drawn to this work should be able to participate. If you are able to pay something, your contribution will help us reach more children!

REGISTER TODAY

THE HEROES OF SHAKESPEARE

mistressq Summer 2024
THE HEROES OF SHAKESPEARE

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!!” 

What makes a hero? And where do we find them in Shakespeare’s plays? We’ll explore the comic heroes, the tragic heroes, and the accidental heroes, and we’ll dig into the plays to find the less-celebrated characters who commit acts of courage, compassion, and selflessness. Through theater games, scene work, and group choral work, this week will offer a unique opportunity for children to immerse themselves in timeless literature, develop critical thinking skills, and appreciate the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s works in today’s world.

ACTING EXPLORATIONS
Our plays may include:

  • Henry V from Henry V
  • Paulina from The Winter’s Tale
  • Kent and Cordelia from King Lear
  • Arviragus and Guiderius in Cymbeline
  • Lucius in Titus Andronicus
  • Isabella in Measure for Measure
  • Dogberry from Much Ado about Nothing
  • and many more!!

GRADES 2 through 8 (Fall 2024)

DATES
July 15 – 19
Monday through Friday – 10 am to 3 pm

COST
Pay what you can.
We believe that every child who is drawn to this work should be able to participate. If you are able to pay something, your contribution will help us reach more children!

REGISTER TODAY

Summer with SYF 2024

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Summer with SYF 2024

Registration is now open for Summer with SYF 2024 – a fantastic way to introduce kids to Shakespeare!

Each session meets Monday through Friday, and culminates with a recital, sharing the work with parents, friends and the community.

We believe that every child who is drawn to this work should be able to participate, so once again this Summer, tuition will be Pay-What-You-Can. If you are able to pay something, your contribution will help us reach more children!

Register here

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

mistressq Featured
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

Our 2023 in review …

After 18 years of growth and expansion, we have had a rich and notable year of milestones in 2023. 

After moving online during COVID, it was glorious to be together again in 2022 to present The Winter’s Tale and Much Ado about Nothing, and we continued to regain our momentum with Shakespeare Youth Festival LA ‘23.

SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL 2023

Using the amphitheater at Our Lady of Bright Mount (a hidden gem in Mid-City), our teen ensemble presented a sweepingly epic production of a condensed edit of all three parts of the rarely performed Henry VI – an almost five hour show each performance!

Running alongside Henry, our younger players gave us a dark and inspired production of Macbeth, made even more evocative by our setting outside of the opulent Catholic Church. 

SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL TODAY!
 

THE END OF AN ERA

Sadly, the end of our 2023 Festival also brought an end of an era as this was the final season for founder Blaire Baron Larsen as Artistic Director. After almost twenty years guiding the creative vision behind SYF, Blaire has taken her passion and talent across the country to Staunton, Virginia to begin a new chapter in her Shakespeare journey. Not having her in rehearsals and meetings leaves a massive hole that will never truly be filled, however, Blaire’s blood will always run through the veins of SYF and we are proud to announce that she will be joining as the first member of our newly forming Board Of Trustees. 

Although the “Bl-era” (Blaire + Era) is over, we are just getting started! Our Executive Director Julia Wyson has stepped into the role of Artistic Director to carry forward the vision of the organization. To fill her role as ED, one of our long-time teaching artists, and former manager of the Pasadena Playhouse, J. Bailey Burcham has taken the reins. Looking to the future, Julia and Bailey hope to continue the legacy of the Festival while also expanding our name to larger audiences of the greater Los Angeles community. 

SUMMER WITH SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL

This past summer we spent three weeks in Shakespeare Intensive heaven at Kenneth Hahn Park – two of those weeks were spent with our younger tragedians (mostly new to SYF) building the basics, while our final week featured our high school students, who, in just five magical days, directed and performed an extraordinary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Performed under a massive “wedding” tree at the idyllic Village Green, our “Renaissance Run” (replicating as closely as possible the norms of the original productions in Shakespeare’s day) was a difficult and rewarding process that we will be continuing in future summers. 

SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL TODAY!
 

SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL 2024

Since September we’ve been focused on our 2024 festival to be presented at the historic Hudson Theater Backstage in Hollywood – home to many theatrical world premieres, as well as Comedy Central stand-up specials. We hope you will join us – you can find performance details here!!

MOVING FORWARD

January will see us expanding our circle even further, as we return to our community outreach! We are establishing partnerships with local libraries and LAUSD schools to continue our goal of giving access to the magic of Shakespeare to every child in our city. 

We are fortunate to have a loyal staff of extraordinary teaching artists – Kila Packett, Esdras Toussaint, Anniwaa Buachie, and Stephanie Ferrell have all been with us for over a decade and although they may step away periodically to pursue other professional endeavors, they maintain roles within the festival and will always have an artistic home with us. We’ve also added two new teaching artists to our rolodex of talent – we welcome Alessandra Mañon and Anja Racíc to the 2024 season. 

The Future is bright for SYF. There is potential for us to travel again in Summer 2024 to spread the joy of theatre and the stories of Shakespeare across the globe. Many of our alumni have expressed interest in our goal to present Alumni Shows, possibly at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, allowing our past players to return to our stage. 

Here’s where you come in – It is time to rebuild our infrastructure to support the more than 1,000 young artists we will work with in the coming years – your donation can help us do that! Please help us continue our mission to make the magic of theater and Shakespeare accessible to all!

SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE YOUTH FESTIVAL TODAY!
 

With much love, and best wishes for a spectacular 2024!

Julia & Bailey

PS. Interested in helping Shakespeare Youth Festival in other ways? Check out our Wish List!!

Shakespeare Youth Festival LA 2024

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Shakespeare Youth Festival, presenting Julius Caesar, Richard II, and The Tempest

We are excited to announce our new season – three plays, to be presented in March of 2024, at the beautiful Hudson Theatre Backstage (6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038). The Box Office will open at the beginning of February – hope to see you in the audience!!

JULIUS CAESAR

What makes a tyrant? And who is the hero and who is the villain?

Saturday, March 2 at 2 pm
Sunday, March 3 at 2 pm

Saturday, March 9 at 1 pm
Sunday, March 10 at 1 pm

RICHARD II

Man vs. Martyr – the downfall of an insecure king …

Saturday, March 9 at 5 pm
Sunday, March 10 at 5 pm

Saturday, March 16 at 5 pm
Sunday, March 17 at 5 pm

THE TEMPEST

Marauders meet Magic – shipwreck and sorcery on an island of dreams!!

Saturday, March 16 at 1 pm
Sunday, March 17 at 1 pm

Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm
Sunday, March 24 at 2 pm


SYF announces new leadership

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Shakespeare Youth Festival

After seventeen years with Shakespeare Youth Festival, Blaire Baron is leaving Los Angeles as well as her position as Artistic Director of the youth arts non-profit that she founded. She will continue to serve on the Board of Directors and as a global ambassador from her new location in Staunton, Virginia (home of American Shakespeare Center). J. Bailey Burcham, who has been involved/engaged with the organization since 2015, will step into the Executive Director spot, replacing Julia Walker Wyson who, as the new Artistic Director, will focus on the artistic direction of the company.

Baron founded SYF (formerly, Los Angeles Drama Club) in 2005, with a handful of children in her backyard — home of the historic Brookledge Theatre, precursor to LA’s Magic Castle. Through her artistic vision, the group exploded into a thriving non-profit that has reached children not only all over LA, but in Kenya, Botswana, and Mexico. “We are delighted that Blaire will continue her association with Shakespeare Youth Festival,” Wyson commented. “Among other things, as a Board member, she will be integrally involved in developing our international program, which she initiated with a trip to Botswana in 2018.” 

As Executive Director, J. Bailey Burcham will focus on expanding the programming and reach of SYF to make the highest quality of theater and community even more accessible to the youth of Los Angeles and beyond. Burcham, who first became associated with SYF in 2015 as a cast member of a production of Baron’s original script “Outspoken: Shakespeare in Shackles,” is also a local Director, Producer and Award-Winning Writer.  He has directed and produced everything from Regional Musical Theater to Experimental Fringe offerings. Previously, in his role as the Manager of the Pasadena Playhouse, Burcham was an integral part of their Tony Award Winning season. “Shakespeare Youth Festival has changed the lives of so many people, including myself,” said Burcham. “I couldn’t be more proud to take on this position to bring more of what we do to the world.” Wyson added, “Bailey is a creative, dynamic, and multi-talented artist, and we are excited to see where he takes our organization. His deep connections to the Los Angeles theater community will benefit our young artists, and he is already using those connections to bring new and diverse talent to our teaching staff.” 

Shakespeare Youth Festival’s first project under Burcham’s leadership was the annual Summer Shakespeare Institute. Youth, ages 7 – 14, from all over Los Angeles gathered in Kenneth Hahn Park to explore Shakespeare and theater. Immediately following that, the SYF Teen Ensemble presented the 2nd Annual “Ren Week,” inspired by a tradition at Staunton Virginia’s American Shakespeare Center, where they met on Monday, rehearsed all week, and presented a full-length production (this year’s was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) on Friday and Saturday. 

In the Fall, the troupe will begin rehearsals for “Richard II” (first time for the company), “Julius Caesar,” and “The Tempest.” The productions will be presented at the 18th annual Shakespeare Youth Festival LA.

SYF awarded two grants from California Arts Council

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SYF awarded two grants from California Arts Council

The California Arts Council has announced a grant award of $18,000 to Shakespeare Youth Festival as part of its Impact Project program in its first round of funding for 2022.

Thanks to this generous support, in Fall 2023, we will launch a multigenerational community project between our students, and elder members of the West Adams community, consisting of meaningful interviews transformed into short plays, spoken word, poetry, monologues culminating in free performances for the community.

“The pandemic created a risk of isolation and depression in many of our community’s elders – as life moved ‘online,’ seniors, especially low-income seniors, risked being left out of many of the activities that would normally have provided them with connection,” says Blaire Baron, our Artistic Director. “Now that we can begin emerging out of our isolation, we want to send a message to them that we value their experience, their memories, and their wisdom. Being seen and heard, having one’s story told for others, and acknowledgement from one’s community is a profound stabilizing, healing and uplifting event.”

In addition, Shakespeare Youth Festival will receive a General Operating grant of $28,500. We are deeply grateful for this support, which will enable us to continue to expand our programs to pre-pandemic levels and beyond.

Shakespeare Youth Festival was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, with grant awards for its Cycle A programming totaling more than $31 million across more than 1,100 grants supporting nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state. The dollar amount already marks the largest annual investment in the California Arts Council’s 46-year history.

“We are elated today to be able to say that, with this first round of funds, we are placing a historic amount of money into the very worthy hands of California’s arts and cultural workforce—and with more yet to come,” said California Arts Council Chair Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez. “We have long since understood the value of our artists in this state, and we are incredibly grateful to our Governor and our Legislature for their support and sharing in a like-minded vision for a California where all people flourish with access to and participation in the arts.”

Organizations were awarded grants across seven different program areas within Cycle A, focused on the CAC’s efforts to address geographic equity, enable autonomy and sustainability for smaller organizations, and grow the strength of local arts agencies and their partnerships.

To view a complete listing of all California Arts Council grantees by county, visit this link.

For a complete listing of grantees by organization, go to this link.

The California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, initiatives, and services. The California Arts Council envisions a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez, Chair; Consuelo Montoya, Vice Chair; Gerald Clarke, Vicki Estrada, Jodie Evans, Ellen Gavin, Alex Israel, Phil Mercado, and Roxanne Messina Captor. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

The California Arts Council is committed to increasing the accessibility of its online content. For language and accessibility assistance, click here.

The Wild World of Shakespeare!

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The Wild World of Shakespeare!

Come to ACT, to listen, to move and to CREATE A SHOW in less than two hours. That’s right! Shakespeare is not just strange words on a page – it’s a living adventure with many wild stories and they include YOU!

Walk away from this workshop filled with excitement for Shakespeare and storytelling!

Thursday, June 9 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm

FREE and Open to Grades 2 through 8

Jefferson Branch
Los Angeles Public Library
2211 W. Jefferson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018

Thinking about joining us for the Summer? This workshop is a great way to get acquainted with Shakespeare, and learn what Shakespeare Youth Festival is all about. If you have questions, please email us at speak@shakespeareyouthfestival.com



RSVP for The Wild World of Shakespeare