The Acting Company to Perform JULIUS CAESAR and the World Premiere of X

The Acting Company will kick off its 2017 season and 44th national tour with engagements in the Valley during the week of Jan. 31- Feb. 4. Two gripping dramas, Marcus Gardley's X and William Shakespeare's Julius Caesarwill be performed as part of a unique collaboration with Arizona State University's Herberger School of Film, Dance and Theatre, Herberger Theater Center, Mesa Arts Center and The Acting Company.

Tickets are on sale now and are available at mesaartscenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.

The visitation of The Acting Company includes events taking place in multiple venues, reaching students, audiences and school/community groups. This is one of the first in a wave of collaborations between the university, theaters/producers and presenting organizations, which will offer The Acting Company opportunities to take risks in the development of new work and share in that process with students and community. "It's an exciting, innovative approach that embraces America's current cultural landscape and better serves the communities we visit on tour," The Acting Company's Executive Director Elisa Spencer-Kaplan said.

X is a new play by Marcus Gardley, directed by Ian Belknap about the assassination of Malcolm X. The story we think we know and illuminating details that have seldom been shared, is brought to vivid, lyrical life. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar provides a framework to deepen our understanding of one of America's most complex, compelling historical figures and explore the tumultuous landscape of ideology and activism in the 1960s.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, directed by Devin Brain, tackles essential questions about the balance of ambition, personal loyalty, and love of country, Shakespeare's timeless political masterpiece has never been more relevant. Through the story of Julius Caesar, a rising political star torn down by his most trusted allies, audiences witness the art of persuasion, the ugliness of back-room politics, and the historical patterns we can't stop repeating

Mesa Arts Center is located at One E. Main Street in downtown Mesa.

World Premiere of X, Feb. 2-3, 7:30 p.m., Mesa Arts Center

Julius Caesar, Feb. 4, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Mesa Arts Center

Tickets to the performances are $25 and $40 when tickets are purchased for both Julius Caesar and X and are available through the Mesa Arts Center Box Office at MesaArtsCenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.

Herberger Theater Center is located at 222 East Monroe Street in Phoenix

Julius Caesar, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., Herberger Theater Center

First look at X, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Herberger Theater Center

Tickets to the performances are $25 and $40 when tickets are purchased for both Julius Caesar and X and available through the Herberger Theater Center Box Office at HerbergerTheater.org or by calling 602-252-8497.

In addition to the public performances, both venues will present performances of the plays for area high school students. Teachers and school administrators who are interested in learning more about bringing their students to these events are encouraged to contact the respective venue.

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