Shakespeare Theatre Company presents Julius Caesar Free For All

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 20 years. This year the beloved tradition kicks off the Company's 25th Anniversary Season by reviving the politically charged Julius Caesar, originally presented during the 2007-2008 inaugural season at Sidney Harman Hall. Julius Caesar will again run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from August 18 - September 4, 2011: the perfect summer capstone for residents and visitors to D.C.

Hailed by The Washingtonian as "one of the best productions of this or any season," Julius Caesar portrays the life-and-death struggle for power in Rome. Fearing that Caesar's growing strength and imperial ambitions threaten the Republic, a faction of politicians plots to assassinate him. But when Caesar is killed, chaos engulfs Rome. Alive with stunning rhetoric, Julius Caesar investigates the intoxicating effects of power and the dangers of idealism. In Caesar, Brutus and the young Marc Antony, Shakespeare created three fascinating, dynamic characters. Originally directed by David Muse, this production of Julius Caesar will be restaged by David Paul and feature returning cast members Aubrey Deeker, Tom Hammond, Tyrone Henderson, Dan Kremer, Kryztov Lindquist, Scott Parkinson and Kurt Rhoads. Several new cast members join the production, including local favorites Rachael Holmes and Naomi Jacobson and STC newcomer Geoffrey Owens (The Cosby Show).

More than 600,000 people have attended the Free For All since 1991, when Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Kahn and Founding Chairman R. Robert Linowes inaugurated the tradition of free Shakespeare in D.C. with Kahn's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. "We are pleased that, with the help of Target and many other generous sponsors, we are able to offer free Shakespeare productions to as wide of an audience as possible even during these challenging economic times," said Artistic Director Michael Kahn. "One of the major goals of the Free For All is to make Shakespeare accessible to diverse audiences-people who have never been to the theatre, people who are unable to pay for tickets or afford a babysitter, young people, students, people on fixed incomes. They all come to experience the magic of Shakespeare, to see how his words and ideas still resonate with us more than 400 years later."

The Free For All will be staged at STC's state-of-the-art theatre, Sidney Harman Hall, for the third year (610 F Street NW; Metro Stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown). Performances will take place August 18-20, 25-27, and September 1-3, at 8 p.m.; August 23, 24, 30 and 31, at 7:30 p.m.; and August 21 and 28 and September 4 at 2 p.m. 2011-2012 Season subscribers and Friends of Free For All may reserve tickets in advance for select performances. Anyone may become a Friend of Free For All by making a tax-deductible contribution of $200.

Julius Caesar is presented by Target, with leadership support from Ameriprise, the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, CoStar Group and the Real Estate Community Partners, Friends of Free For All, the Philip L. Graham Fund and exclusive media partner The Washington Post. Additional support is provided by PEPCO and Zaytinya. The Shakespeare Theatre Company is proud to partner with Metro for the Free For All.