Based on the work by William Shakespeare, the Karamu House Production JULIUS CAESAR SET IN AFRICA is adapted by Rome Neal, Audelco award winner and the Artistic Theatre Director of the Nuyorican Poets Café theatre program in New York City. This production is directed by Fred Sternfeld, a nationally renowned award winning director who has received over 100 awards and member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 

The play is set in Mali, Africa in the 13th century. The show is filled with African drummers and dancers appearing with authentic Nigerian attire and accents revealing an all too familiar Shakespearean storyline with an African backdrop to a new setting. 

"In a clever, urban twist to Shakespeare in the park, Karamu Theatre Artistic Director Terrence Spivey has launched "Classics in the Lot," a summer production staged alfresco in the Karamu House Outdoor Amphitheatre at 2355 East 89th St., Cleveland. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs" - [Andrea Simakis, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 2014] 

Classics in the Lot first premiered in the summer 2014 with ROMEO AND JULIET: AN AFRICAN LOVE STORY adapted and directed by Michael Oatman. Bringing back the classics to Karamu with colored blind casting is in honor of the historical theatre's first Shakespeare play TAMING OF THE SHREW which was staged in 1946. 

In addition to Fred Sternfeld, the production team includes Prophet Seay as the Set Designer, Miguel Osborne as the Costume Designer, Talise Campbell as Choreographer and Lisa Langford serves as the Dialect Coach. 

Specific details for this event follow: 

What: Classics in the Lot – JULIUS CAESAR SET IN AFRICA 

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, 2015 Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9, 2015 Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2015 Saturday Performances – 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM Sundays Performances – 3:00 PM Bring Your Own Chair and Coolers – This is an outside production. In the event there is rain, the production will be held in the Jelliffe Theatre. 

Where: Karamu House Amphitheatre, 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106 Tickets: Tickets are still available. $15 (rain or shine). Tickets can be purchased at the box office gate. 

Who: 

Production Staff 

Director - Fred Sternfeld* 

Set Designer - Prophet Seay 

Costume Designer - Miguel Osborne 

Properties - Richard Morris, Jr. 

Choreographer - Talise Campbell 

Dialect Coach - Lisa Langford 

Stage Manager - Andre Brown 

Assistant Stage Manager - Danie Nicole 

Karamu House 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44106 

Office – 216-795-7070 

Box office – 216-795-7077 

www.karamuhouse.org 

Cast of Characters 

Julius Caesar - Stephen Hood 

Calpurnia, Caesar's wife - Kristi Little^ 

Marcus Brutus - Greg White 

Portia, Brutus' wife - India Burton 

Caius Cassius - Jimmie Woody 

Marcus Antonius - Robert Grant III 

Casca - Nathan Lilly 

Lucius - Michael Swain 

Metellus Cimber, Cobbler - Prophet Seay 

Cinna - Corin B. Self 

Flavius, Caesar's Servant - Kym Williams 

Decius Brutus - Miguel D. Osborne 

Marullus, Cicero - Luther Robinson^ 

Marcus Lepidus - John Sturdivant 

Soothsayer - Keeya Chapman-Langford 

Octavius Caesar, Popilius Laena - Derick Mayes, Jr. 

Drummers - Assane Mbaye, Durotimi Troy 

Malian Ensemble 

Chennelle Bryant-Harris, India Burton, Keeya Chapman-Langford, Erin Dorsey, Jessica Fain, Nathan Lilly, Kristi Little, Kennetha Martin, Derick Mayes Jr., Cassandra Miller, Miguel Osborne, Geoffrey Peak, Luther Robinson, Roberta Robinson, Prophet Seay, Corin B. Self, Johnny Sturdivant, Michael Swain, Phillia Thomas, Michelle Wilkerson-Guerry, Kym Williams 

(^) Member SAG/AFTRA – Screen Actor’s Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists 

(*) Member SDC – Stage Directors and Choreographers Society 

Other: For more information about the theater or the production call 216-795-7070 or visit www.KaramuHouse.org 

About Director Fred Sternfeld: 

Fred Sternfeld is an award-winning stage director, with more than 100 shows to his credit. Fred is widely represented on Northeast Ohio stages through diverse projects, garnering numerous honors and awards. For Karamu, Fred has previously directed YELLOWMAN, THE BLUEST EYE and THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. For more information about Fred, visit www.fredsternfeld.com. 

About Karamu House: 

Karamu House, located in Cleveland, Ohio is a nonprofit organization established in 1915 and is the oldest African American arts and education organization in the United States and kicked off its Centennial celebration in June of 2014. On June 13, 2015 Karamu House officially celebrated its first 100 years in grand style at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its mission is to strengthen community through quality arts education programming with an emphasis on African-American culture. Our vision is to be a premier African American performing arts and community educational center. Today Karamu House boasts two theatres: the 200-seat Jelliffe Theatre and the100-seat Arena Theatre, and is a respected training ground and place to especially showcase the talents of African American Artists. Under Artistic Director, Mr. Terrence Spivey, Karamu House recently won the 2013 Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Award for Repertory Company of the Year in New York City. This year, Karamu was given a proclamation by Mayor Jackson for outstanding achievement locally and nationally. The Karamu Preschool for the Arts is a modern arts-focused educational facility with an atmosphere that encourages experimentation, exploration, investigation and play with materials in a challenging and supportive environment. With its one-of-a-kind arts education program, Karamu House has helped to educate generations of aspiring youth and artists to achieve their dreams. # # #