At a glance

Rather than a toga, Caesar wears a tie in a contemporary update of “Julius Caesar.”

Honor, betrayal and murder dominate Shakespeare’s historical drama, which will open the 36th summer season for Actors’ Theatre of Columbus tonight in the Schiller Park amphitheatre.

“It’s a fairly intimate look at what it means to be torn between duty and justice,” director Philip J. Hickman said.

“Today, in politics and media, we have a tendency to speak in extremes on both sides. That happens a lot in the play,” Hickman said.

The company previously staged “Julius Caesar” in 1988 and 1999. The revival provides lessons about violent extremism and abuse of power, Hickman said.

“Shakespeare demonstrates "Julius Caesar" Actors’ Theatre of Columbus Schiller Park amphitheater, German Village 614-444-6888, www.theactorstheatre.org 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through June 18 “pay what you will,” or $20 for a reserved chair

that our actions can spark violence that may be worse than we anticipate. … The result is a civil war that does great harm to the culture and the people.”

Set in a modern Rome where political leaders wear business suits and soldiers brandish guns, the two-hour two-act switches 10 male characters to female as six women and seven men perform 41 speaking roles.

“Having actors engaged through the entire show gives it more energy,” Hickman said.

Jennifer Feather Youngblood plays the politician Brutus, who is married to another woman, Portia (Treasure Davidson).

“Brutus is idealistic almost to the point of naivete,” Feather Youngblood said.

Although Brutus is loyal to Caesar, who befriended her, Cassius persuades Brutus that Caesar deserves to die for the good of the country.

“The choice she faces is that Caesar can live and cause millions of her countrymen to die as slaves or they can all live as free men and women,” Feather Youngblood said.

Victor D'Wayne Little is making his Actors’ Theatre debut in the charismatic title role. (He also plays a small role in the second act.)

“Caesar always has to be on when he’s in public, but there’s another side of him that is compassionate and tender, the opposite of his warrior persona,” Little said.

“He styles himself to be a man of the people. He’s a great orator, so he’s very convincing.”

Although Caesar abuses his power, Little doesn’t view him as evil.

“In his mind, he’s doing it for the good of all. He feels that ruling is his responsibility,” Little said.

“The play is a great example of how one man’s charisma can lead him to power and how power corrupts.”

Travis Horseman plays Mark Antony.

“Because he sees Caesar as a mentor and father figure, he takes Caesar’s murder very personally,” Horseman said.

“But his personal relationship with Caesar does make him somewhat blind to Caesar’s less-admirable aspects.”

After Caesar’s assassination, Antony launches a war for control of the Roman empire against a faction led by Brutus and Cassius.

“In his heart, he never considers peace,” Horseman said.

“Antony is committed to avenging Caesar but also sees himself as Caesar’s heir and successor. … He shares Caesar’s ruthlessness, but he’s a better general than a politician, without Caesar’s talent for making friends.”

Beyond its violent drama, “Julius Caesar” offers important history lessons.

“The play shows the parallels between Rome’s republic and our own and that traditions are only as strong as the people’s will to continue with them,” Horseman said.

“We tend to think of our governing traditions as set in stone, but plays like this show they’re much more tenuous.”