A word about Cleopatra:

We are extremely excited to have you join us for the world premiere of Cleopatra. Tonight’s performance is our most ambitious and immersive dance theater experience to date. As you sit back and take in the show, imagine yourself walking through an ancient ruin, or strolling through a museum that features artifacts from a time long ago. The dancers and their actions in the blank space before you represent the scenarios we create in our heads as we attempt to place ourselves in the past. It's impossible to rid ourselves of our modern perspective as we ‘try on’ the lives of historical figures. We ask ourselves, “What would I have done in their place? Are they good or evil? How do they compare to the political figures of today?” But there are no concrete answers to these questions because real people are, and have always been, unique, richly complex and a product of their environment. These stories take place within a culture that has some shocking similarities to our own, along with some disturbingly brutal differences. Try not to pass judgment from the lens of today. Let the experience roll over you like a dream as your imagination takes the reins. Enjoy.

casting and credits

CLEOPATRA

Concept, Story, Score Curation and Choreography: Heather Maloy

Choreographic Assistant: Christopher Bandy

Production Manager and Lighting Designer: Joshua Paul Weckesser

Stage Manager: Adam Cohen

Costume and Set Concept by: Heather Maloy

Costume Designer: Jayne Harnett-Hargrove

Costume Team: Becky Ewing, Anne Knight, Anne Mettee, Scott Thompson

Set Designer: Sylvia Pierce

Projections Artist - Christian Faur

Crew - Mary Gonzalez, Sydney Jones, Gabriella Titilo

Music selections written and/or performed by:

Dead Can Dance, Svarte Greiner, Petros Tabouris Ensemble, Solace, Murcof, Ludi Scaenici, Derya Turcan, Irfan, Nils Frahm, Lisa Gerrard, Louisa John-Krol, Kreng, Thievery Corporation, Vas, Khaled Mouzaner, Renaud Garcia-Fons and A.R. Rahman

Act one - The Birth of Isis

The story of Cleopatra’s tumultuous path to become the undisputed and final Pharoah of Egypt following her father’s death.

Cleopatra VII - Madeline Bay

Julius Caesar - Morgan Stillman

The Akh (Spirit) of Ptolemy XII - William Brewton Fowler Jr

Pothinus, Regent for Ptolemy XIII - Jeff Ewing

Cleopatra’s Sister Arsinoe - Florrie Sese Geller

Cleopatra’s Brother Ptolemy XIII - Patricio DiStabile

Cleopatra’s Youngest Brother Ptolemy XIV - Sean MacCauley

Cleopatra’s servants, Iras and Charmian - Betsy Lucas, Alexandra Butman

Roman Soldier - William Brewton Fowler Jr

People of Egypt - Brooke Amundrud, Elizabeth Brooks, Ida Cacanindin, Annabelle Cook, Stephanie Eggers, Cooper Verona, David Ward

- 10 minute intermission -

Act 2 - Rome

A look at life in Rome during the time Cleopatra lived in Julius Caesar’s Villa with their infant son Caesarian and her brother/husband Ptolemy XIV

Cleopatra VII - Madeline Bay

Julius Caesar - Morgan Stillman

Caesar’s Wife Calpurnia - Betsy Lucas

Arsinoe - Florrie Sese Geller

Brutus - Cooper Verona

Casseus - Jeff Ewing

Mark Antony - David Ward

The Priests of the Lupercai - Jeff Ewing and Patricio DiStabile

Roman Soldiers - Cooper Verona, William Brewton Fowler Jr

The People of Rome - Brooke Amundrud, Elizabeth Brooks, Alexandra Butman, Ida Cacanindin, Annabelle Cook, Stephanie Eggers, Patricio DiStabile, William Brewton Fowler Jr

- 10 minute intermission -

Act 3 - Aphrodite and Dionysis

In the aftermath of Julius Caesar's assassination, the Mediterranean world was sent into a time of even greater upheaval. When Marc Antony, known as the living Dionysis, witnessed Cleopatra make her grand entrance in Tarsus dressed as Aphrodite, it was both the start of a great romance and an integral part of the tragic end of a 3,000 year old civilization.

Cleopatra VII - Madeline Bay

Marc Antony - David Ward

Octavian - Patricio DiStabile

Lepidus - William Brewton Fowler Jr

Arsinoe - Florrie Sese Geller

Cleopatra’s Servants, Iras and Charmian - Betsy Lucas, Alexandra Butman

Roman Soldiers - Cooper Verona, William Brewton Fowler Jr

Hiereiai, the Priestesses of Artemis - Brooke Amundrud, Elizabeth Brooks, Alexandra Butman, Ida Cacanindin, Annabelle Cook, Stephanie Eggers

Aphrodite’s Entourage - Ivy Anderson, Emory Capp, LillyAna Warren, Jennifer Cui (WS), Kate Fowler (WS), Louise Johnson (WS), Hannah Boudreaux (ASHE), Adalyn Lane (ASHE), Amelia McSwain (ASHE)

Cleopatra's Children - Charlie Berry, Tucker Berry, Adella Escobedo, Sean MacCauley

People of Egypt - Brooke Amundrud, Elizabeth Brooks, Ida Cacanindin, Annabelle Cook, Stephanie Eggers, Jeff Ewing, William Brewton Fowler Jr, Morgan Stillman, Cooper Verona

Please join us immediately following the performance for a Q&A on stage with the dancers and creative team