Step right up and behold!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! 

Caesar returns home from battle and the villagers are flocking to the Concourse Maximus to celebrate her victory. News spreads fast in Rome and the streets are on fire with all the local celebrities gathering for the feast of Lupercal. Don't miss their amazing feats of strength and seduction! 

Our glorious leader Julius Caesar has won another stunning victory against the enemies of Rome! It all began when former ally Pompey the Great objected to Caesar’s new title of Dictator-For-Life. Pompey, a Senator, put together a striking team of wealthy and stylish Romans, including the hometown favorite Marcus Brutus. But Pompey never had a chance against the greatest general in the known world. Caesar is merciful, and after the ferocious pounding, she forgave her beloved Brutus! Caesar may be getting that crown after all. You heard it here! Happy endings really do happen.

In other news, Cinna the Poet has been spotted singing outside Caesar’s window at all hours of the night. “Caesar loves me well” the well known street singer admitted to yours truly, “I have a new song coming soon, O Cesare!” Caesar’s wife Calpurnia declined to comment at this time, although she did have good words for the patent medicine she’s been popping: “keeps the organs youthful!” affirms the soon-to-be Empress of Rome.

Are the rumors true? Does domestic disharmony dwell in the Brutus household? Gossips whisper that Rome’s favorite senator has been keeping to himself, taking long walks late into the night. What does his little lady Portia get up to when the noble Roman is not around?

Speaking of Noble Romans, the well given Caius Cassius has pledged a thousand drachmas to repair the defaced statue of Pompey at the Capitol. A risky move from the normally cautious gentleman. Sources have spotted him behind pillars having shadowy conversations with Rome’s elite. What could the senator be up to?

Rome’s most eligible Bachelor Marc Antony has announced he will lead the festivities at the Feast of the Lupercal. “This will be a traditional Lupercalia” insists Antony.  Know for his lavish parties, the carrouser continued, “But we’ll also have some fun!” Antony has climbed the ladder of Roman Politics with ease, recently named Master of the Horse. That’s second in line to Caesar!

If this year’s Feast of the Lupercal is anything like last year’s, all of Rome will be in their best attire, some of them will climb on rooftops, and a small fringe may turn violent and burn several buildings. Remember to vote Caesar in the next election! 

From the Editor's Desk: Caesar Maximus is infused with 19th century popular entertainments of circus and opera, and the glitz and glitter of modern Imperialism echoes it's ancestry in ancient Rome. Is it any wonder? The wheel of fortune spins, time comes round...

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CAESAR MAXIMUS at The Music Concourse

Thursdays-Sundays now through September 30

Step right up and get your ticket to a show you'll never forget!

We Players in the SF CHRONICLE

"We Players’ second riff on ‘Julius Caesar’ this season has a female lead" by Lily Janiak

"Time has come round" - CAESAR MAXIMUS previews begin tomorrow!

CAESAR MAXIMUS: A show not to be missed, folks!

Experience Julius Caesar as you never have before, at The Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, surrounded by iconic San Francisco landmarks.

Don’t take our word for it, get a taste of our Rome in this sneak preview!

Get your tickets before they’re gone!
http://weplayers.org/caesar-maximus-2018

Be our hero - help GUARD ROME

"LET LUCIUS AND TITINIUS GUARD OUR DOOR"

-Brutus, Julius Caesar

We Players is seeking security warrior/ stuff guardians for CAESAR MAXIMUS.

The job is simple but VITAL! We've had some valuable production elements stolen in some recent break-ins and need a volunteer to stand watch (or sit watch, up to you) for us during the performance. 

Bring a book and snacks and chill while vigilantly watching our production vehicle and storage container (they have fun names like Animo and Momoco)! Your post will be in the parking lot behind the bandshell in the Music Concourse at Golden Gate Park. The lot is safe for people, but not so much for props. It's lit and night will only just be falling as the show ends. There is foot and vehicle traffic as well. 

We just want to communicate to potential thieves that we are watching. Your mere presence will prevent crime! 

Work as many or as few shifts as you like, we're happy to have your help! You'll receive a complimentary ticket to the show for every shift you work, plus you'll totally have our undying gratitude!

We so appreciate your enthusiasm to support our work.  Thank you! 

-We Players

CAESAR MAXIMUS takes place at The Music Concourse,
Thursdays- Sundays August 16 - September 30. 

Spotlight on: Micael Bogar

We are proud to introduce Micael Bogar! Roman Women is Micael's debut with We Players, and we are so happy to have her wit, depth, and collaborative spirit.

Here's what Micael had to say about the process:

Q: What's been the most profound aspect of working on Roman Women?
A: Feminist theatre so often goes into what's wrong with society and how women are unequal in so many ways. While this play certainly has a lens to that, this play also stands on its own two feet as a piece of bad ass theatre. The physicality, language, relationships, musicality, and space make it a damn good piece of theatre that was created by women and is performed by women. What's more feminist than that?

Q: What's been the most surprising part of the process?
A: The wind. It's so windy and cold. If you're coming, dress for the arctic. It's cold outside at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Q: Do you have a funny memory of the process?
A: There's been a lot of laughter and some tears too, throughout the process. The funniest memory was when we were exploring bird bodies in a studio space and we turned into a pack of vultures and descended onto a bathroom. We shredded this handful of paper towels. It was intense. Wasteful to the environment, but seriously intense. I guess you had to be there.

Q: Why should people attend Roman Women?
A: Getting to spend two hours (if dressed appropriately) at the Palace of Fine Arts is reason enough, its a beautiful beautiful venue. That coupled with the music in the show is even more of a plus. And then when it comes to the actual show, there's a lot to explore in terms of the power of ritual, the power of women's voices, the power of seeing and being seen. There's orgasms, there's blood, there's a birth canal. I mean...ya....

Q: What makes Roman Women relevant?
A: We've taken the text of an old well-known Shakespeare play and turned it on its head. We've shaken it and seen what's left standing. We've done this with a feminist lens and our hope is that you will never experience the roles of women in Shakespeare plays the same way again.

Don't miss Micael in Roman Women, extended by popular demand through June 3rd. Get your tickets now!
http://www.weplayers.org/roman-women-2018

Spotlight on: Emily Petrice Stone

It's our great pleasure to introduce you to Emily Petrice Stone! Roman Women is Emily's first production with us and we are so glad to have her! We caught up with Emily to ask her a few questions about the piece and its process. Here's what she had to say:

Q: What's been your favorite aspect of working on Roman Women?

A: Working in the Palace after dark, when the stars come out and the lights come on! Or rehearsing while facing out onto the lake and witnessing a swan or night heron doing its thing, grooming itself and bobbing out on the water.

Q: What's been the most surprising part of the process?

A: How much the space itself influences the development of the piece. This is the first full-length devised piece I’ve been a part of, and it’s also a site-specific piece. The Palace of Fine Arts shapes the production in fascinating and unexpected ways.

Q: Do you have a funny or amusing memory of the process?

A: All of the women in our ensemble are hilarious. They make me laugh every day. So much raunchy humor.

Q: Why should people attend Roman Women?

A: You can bask in the majesty of a landmark of San Francisco, while experiencing a unique and thoughtful piece of theater that strives to do the space justice!

Q: What makes Roman Women relevant?

A: The female experience in the last 2,000 years has changed and certainly improved, but we are still grappling with many of the same questions, the same demons, the same barriers. Roman Women follows the thread that unites women of today with women of the Roman Republic.

Don't miss Emily in Roman Women running through May 28th only! http://www.weplayers.org/roman-women-2018

Photo by Lauren Matley
Costumes by Brooke Jennings