Charles Busch's CLEOPATRA Begins Tonight Off-Broadway

The new comedy Charles Busch's CLEOPATRA, directed by Busch's longtime collaborator Carl Andress (The Tribute Artist, Judith of Bethulia, The Divine Sister), begins performances tonight, March 25, 2016 at Theater for the New City.

This marks the third consecutive sold-out run for Busch at Theater for the New City. He previously sold out runs for 2010's THE DIVINE SISTER and 2012's JUDITH OF BETHULIA at the landmark downtown venue.

Joining Charles Busch as 'Cleopatra' will be a comedic ensemble of frequent Busch collaborators and new friends. Returning to Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue) are: Lawrence Bullock (Times Square Angel, Judith of Bethulia) as Apollodorus, Jennifer Cody (Judith of Bethulia, Taboo) as Iras, Andy Halliday (Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, The Lady in Question) as The Soothsayer, Ashley Austin Morris (Die Mommie, Die!, Times Square Angel) as Charmion, and Jennifer Van Dyck (The Divine Sister, The Third Story) as both Octavian and his twin sister, Octavia. Tony Sheldon (Tony Nominee for Priscilla Queen of the Desert) will play both Julius Caesar and Caesar's wife Calpurnia, and Joe Zaso (The Wolf of Wall Street) appears as Marc Antony.

Following in the footsteps of Sarah Bernhardt, Tallulah Bankhead, Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor, Charles Busch gives us his own original, outrageous, majestic and bawdy interpretation of the fabled Egyptian queen. History shall be portrayed... and made!

Busch returns to Theater for the New City following the 2010 premiere of THE DIVINE SISTER, which Daryl Roth transferred for a record-breaking and highly acclaimed Off-Broadway run, and 2012's JUDITH OF BETHULIA. Both productions, directed by Andress, became immediate sold out hits for the landmark downtown theater. In December, Busch and Andress brought the 17th edition of the staged reading of Times Square Angel, which has become an annual holiday tradition for Theater for the New City.

The creative team for Charles Busch's CLEOPATRA includes: Scenic and Graphic Design by B.T. Whitehill, Lighting Design by Zach Blane, Costume Design by Jessica Jahn, Sound Design by Bart Fasbender, and Wig Design by Katherine Carr.

Photo by David Rogers