Theatre & Context -- Julius Caesar

This summer there was quite a controversy surrounding the Public Theatre (NYC) and their recent production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar due to the directorial choices made, specifically to portray Julius Caesar in the likeness of Donald Trump.

Major sponsors, Delta Airlines & Bank of America, withdrew their support for this (SPOILER ALERT) gruesome portrayal of the assassination of Caesar on-stage.

Read more about it here in the NY Times article about the incident.

This raises all kinds of questions for me:

• What is the purpose of theatre? Should theatre be political? 
• What influence should a producer have on the choices a director makes? Does this impede freedom of speech? 
• What is the role of the audience? 

Elizabeth Marvel as Antony, left, Tina Benko as Calpurnia and Gregg Henry as Caesar in a preview of “Julius Caesar” at Delacorte Theater in Central Park last month. CreditSara Krulwich/The New York Times

• Even Donald Trump Jr. is thinking about theatre and its purpose: 

Significantly, I thought about how essential understanding CONTEXT surrounding a play is and how that influences the production.

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HOMEWORK: Research and find at least two sources of information discussing how context affects this performance. Write a brief summary of what you found about the context of each of the above and how you believe it might affect the performance. Write this on YOUR BLOG, and copy the link in the comments below. Due before class, Oct. 24.
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How does the political climate (current context) of the production affect the show?
* Performance Location -- NYC (SOFIA O.)
* Current Political Climate (CHLOE)

Audience -- 
How do we each bring our own context to a piece? How will our personal identities affect how the show is received? Do we need to watch theatre that we agree with? Why or why not?

Director's Context -- JENNY
What lens does a director bring to the performance? How does his/her personal context affect the choices and intentions?

Theatre Company-- Shakespeare in the Park @ Public Theatre EMILIANO
What role does the company and it's history have on the performance and their choices/intentions?
Link to Public Theatre's note about the show.

Performance History -- ELIZA
What other interpretations have there been? What choices have been made? Were they as controversial? Why or why not?

Playwright's Context -- MARIA
What was happening at the time when the playwright [William Shakespeare] wrote the piece? How might that have affected the story? How would Elizabethan England have received this piece?

Historical Context -- SOFIA H.
As Julius Caesar is a play based on real events, what was happening in Rome that would affect this story?