PORT TOWNSEND — As part of a Jefferson Community School senior’s senior project, his classmates this week will perform a staged reading of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”
Senior Adam “Red” Riggle, 18, will direct the edited staged reading performance for his senior project.
“I took on this project because I wanted to challenge myself with the leadership that would come with it,” Riggle said.
“I also took it on because I absolutely love this play.”
Scripts, period costumes
During the reading, actors carry scripts but will fully perform their roles and will be in adorned period costume, organizers said.
The performances will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Julie Marston Great Hall of Jefferson Community School, 280 Quincy St.
Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door with a suggested donation of $5, although no one will be turned away for inability to pay.
Eight actors
The cast of eight actors is made up of middle and high school students from the school’s Shakespeare class, including Rowan Gallagher, 17, in the title role of Julius Caesar.
Gallagher recently portrayed Tony in the Port Townsend High School production of “West Side Story.”
Rounding out the cast are Riggle as Marc Antony; Orion Weinblatt Dey, 14, as Brutus; Hanna Bahls, 15, as Cassius; Mira Stewart, 13, as Casca; and Junah King, 16, Tommy Pollock, 14, and Aaron Walter, 14, as plebeians or in supporting roles.
The entire project is under the guidance of local theatre professional and school instructor, Marc Weinblatt, who serves as acting coach for the production.
“I am astounded and thrilled at Red’s passion for this project,” Weinblatt said.
“He was not particularly interested in theatre before our Shakespeare class, but something lit inside him first semester. He chose to take this on and he is doing so with his newly discovered creative power which is formidable.”
For more information, call 360-774-2999 or send an email to adam.r.mullet77@gmail.com.
