RESONANCE ENSEMBLE Announces Cast for 23 Knives & Caesar & Cleopatra

Resonance Ensemble proudly announces the cast for both shows in rep, 23 KNIVES, by Christopher Boal (Crazy for the Dog), directed by Eric Parness and Bernard Shaw's CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA adapted by Eric Overmyer and directed by Kent Paul. During this politically charged season, it is fitting to have Julius Caesar as the inspiration for both productions in rep. Resonance Ensemble is a Theatre-in-Residence at Theatre Row (410 West 42 Street). Performances will begin January 11, opening on Sunday, January 18 and will run through February 7, 2009. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased through Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 or at www.ticketcentral.com.

23 KNIVES by Christopher Boal, directed by Eric Parness

In 44 B.C., the fate of the Roman Republic hangs in the balance. The most powerful man in the world, Julius Caesar, lies dead in the Theatre of Pompey, as politicians and military men ambitiously move to fill the void of power. Marcus Antonius summons the physician Antistius to uncover the truth about the assassination through a Greek technique called "autopsy". But as Antistius discovers more about the crime, the real truth becomes harder to find. Inspired by history's only mention of Antistius in Seutonius's The Twelve Caesars, 23 Knives utilizes contemporary language to weave a darkly comic mystery about politics, patriotism, and the nature of truth.

Cast includes: Brian D. Coats (FOR FLOW, "Sopranos," "Law & Order: SVU"), Todd Alan Crain ("Important Things With Demetri Martin," The Producers: The Movie Musical), Rafael Jordan ("Wraiths of Roanoke"), Patrick Melville (My Brother's War, Crazy for the Dog) and Ryan Tramont (Crazy for the Dog, My Brother's War). Creative team includes: Sarah B. Brown (Scenic Design), Sidney Shannon (Costume Design), Pamela Kupper (Lighting Design), Nick Moore (Original Music and Sound Design).

CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA by Bernard Shaw, adapted by Eric Overmyer, directed by Kent Paul

Four years before Julius Caesar sailed to Rome to meet his untimely end, the great leader sought to conquer the outer reaches of the land, always questing for a kindred spirit to rival his own. What he finds, sitting on top of an ancient Egyptian Sphinx, is a young Queen Cleopatra, who beguiles him not only with her beauty, but because she may be the very match he's been seeking. Shaw's witty, satirical masterpiece personalizes the political relationship between an occupying force and a foreign power, and demonstrates that modern civilization has done little to advance the basic nature of the human soul.

Cast includes: Pun Bandhu (Film: Burn After Reading, Ugo's Last Dance), Alberto Bonilla (Resonance's The Cherry Orchard, Film: My Best Friend's Girl), Chris Ceraso (On the Road to Ruin, "Hot for Teacher"), Michael Chmiel (EST Perfect & Constant , "The Bronx is Burning"), Rand Guerrero (Richard III), Christopher Hayes, Rafael Jordan ("Wraiths of Roanoke"), Jon Levenson (Gaslight, The Hairy Ape), Geraldine Librandi ("The Sopranos"), Joe MacDougall (Tom Cruise Get Off the Couch), Sophie Maerowitz (The Actor's Practicum), Brad Makarowski (Our Country's Good) , Jessica Myhr ("All My Children," The Cherry Orchard), Wrenn Schmidt (Broadway's Come Back Little Sheba), Sarah Stockton (Time of Your Life), Grant James Varjas (33 To Nothing, Film: The Laramie Project), Maxwell Zener (American Girls). Creative team includes: Sarah B. Brown (Scenic Design), Michelle Eden Humphrey (Costume Design), Pamela Kupper (Lighting Design), Robert C. Rees (Original Music), Nick Moore (Sound Design).

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