The Company Theatre presents
JULIUS CAESAR
by William Shakespeare
directed by Carl Del Buono
March 6-22
28 Lawn Street
this production is made possible by our sponsors:
This project is made possible with funds from the Aid to Localities Program through the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts
and the New York State Senate.
With generous support from our media sponsor:
THE CAST OF JULIUS CAESAR
Julius Caesar — Tim Banning
Marcus Brutus — Jonathan Ntheketha
Mark Antony — Anthony Haitz
Caius Cassius — Evan Miller Watelet
Casca — Sam Melita
Portia — Liz Preston
Octavius — Wil Clancy
Calpurnia — Brook Mordenga
Metellus Cimber — Ben Gillooly
Decius Brutus — Lauren MacDonough
Trebonius — Aung Phyo
Cinna — Alessandro Martellaro
Soothsayer/Lepidus — Jean-Paul Klem
Lucius — Ty Freeman​
CREATIVE TEAM
Director — Carl Del Buono
Assistant Director — Jael Lopez
Stage Manager — Beverly Bauman
Assistant Stage Manager — Kaylyn Nichols
Set Design — Brodie McPherson
Lighting Design — Matt Oliner
Sound Design — Noah Morris, Beverly Bauman
Costume Design — Carl Del Buono and Kendall Del Buono
Intimacy Director — Jill Rittinger *
Fight Director — Richard Steele *
Promotional Photography — Sammi Cohen
Production Photography — Ron Heerkens, Goat Factory Media
Dramaturg — Amy Canfield *
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ASL INTERPRETERS
Rebecca Klosko and Isabella McGuire
ASL Consultant: Joseph Fox *
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* Artist in Residence
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THE COMPANY THEATRE STAFF & BOARD
Artist Director: Carl Del Buono
Technical Director: Brodie McPherson
Board President: Susan Murad
Vice President: Meaghan Finlay
Treasurer: Doris Ludek
Secretary: Jael Lopez
Board Members: Sammi Cohen, Christopher C. Conway, Ron Dufort, Caitlin Kenyon, Jill Rittinger, Jessica Ruby​
Photo Credit: Sammi Cohen
JULIUS CAESAR runs approximately 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission.
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Please note: This production uses realistic-looking weapons, sound effects including gunshots and bombs, occasional strobe lighting, depictions of violence, self-harm and suicide, and the use of theatrical cigarettes and atmospheric fog.
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ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Tim Banning (Julius Caesar) is thrilled to be a part of this incredible cast at The Company Theatre. Previous credits include Mr. Daldry in In the Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play) at Blackfriars Theatre, Neil Labute's world premiere of The New Testament at the Open Fist in Los Angeles, and Chekhov’s The Proposal at North Coast Rep in San Diego. Film/TV credits include Modern Family, Stumptown, Training Day (TV), and Ford v Ferrari. He would like to thank our fierce and resilient director Carl Del Buono, the Rochester theatre community as a whole for being so welcoming, and his wife Melissa and children for letting him out of the house for the winter.
Wil Clancy (Octavius) is a Maryland-raised software engineer and RIT grad returning for his sophomore performance with The Company, following his appearance as Damis in 2025's Tartuffe. His other recent credit is Frank Thorney in Penfield Players' Witch. He would like to thank his incredible parents, Tinka and Brian, and his amazing girlfriend, Meghan, for their endless, enthusiastic support, as well as his fellow cast and crew for their consistent inspiration. Now is the envy of all of the dead.
Ty Freeman (Lucius) is so excited to make their debut with The Company Theatre and this amazing cast and crew bringing Julius Caesar to life. This is the first performance they’ve been in since graduating from RIT in 2023 where they acted in numerous shows with the RIT Players. Ty would like to thank everyone, onstage and off, that worked so hard to put this wonderful show together. Please enjoy!
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Ben Gillooly (Metellus Cimber) is always pleased to be in the presence of such wonderful, kind, and talented Company members, and this cast & crew are no exception. Previous adventures with The Company Theatre include Tartuffe (Laurent), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bert Jefferson), and Romeo & Juliet (Tybalt). You may have also seen him in the Highland Bowl, if you managed to catch A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pericles: Prince of Tyre, The Merry Wives of Windsor, or Antony & Cleopatra. Between productions, you might even spot him walking around NOTA, where he lives, works, and almost certainly overwaters his houseplants.
Anthony Haitz (Mark Antony) is is excited to be making his Rochester debut with The Company Theatre! A native of Batavia, his favorite past roles include Daniel E. Reeves (9 Circles), Tartuffe (Tartuffe), King John (King John), Paul Sheldon (Misery), Mr. Paravicini (The Mousetrap), Leontes (The Winter’s Tale), and Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), for which he received a 2025 TANYS award for Outstanding Achievement in Performance. Anthony would like to thank Carl for giving him this opportunity, as well as Georgia and Sophie for their unending love and support.
Jean-Paul Klem (Soothsayer/Lepidus) recently moved back to Rochester from Albany after pursuing a degree in English and a career in sandwiches. He is excited to make his acting debut in Julius Caesar, and would like to thank The Company Theatre, and his fellow actors, for being ever so wonderful and inspiring.
Lauren MacDonough (Decius Brutus) is thrilled to help bring Julius Caesar to life alongside such an extraordinary cast and creative team. Her favorite murderous and Shakespearean credits include Mrs. Lovett in Pittsford Musicals’ Sweeney Todd, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Rochester Shakespeare Players, and the Nurse in The Company Theatre’s Romeo & Juliet. When not onstage, Lauren serves as Director of Marketing for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (and may be best known as the pre-concert voice reminding you to silence your phones). She also teaches marketing in the Eastman School of Music’s Arts Leadership Certificate program and leads WERQ Dance Fitness on Tuesdays at the JCC. Lauren extends her deepest thanks to this remarkable cast and crew for their generosity, trust, and collaborative spirit, and to her friends and family for their constant encouragement and unwavering support.
Alessandro Martellaro (Cinna) is just happy to be here. This is his third show with The Company Theatre, previously being involved with Tartuffe (Officer), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Richard), and Spring Awakening (Music Director). Other previous credits include Carl Voldman et al. in Survivors (JCC CenterStage), Antonio in Twelfth Night (Rochester Community Players), and various roles in Too Much Light... (Blackfriars Theatre). When not on stage, Alessandro can be found baking sweets, watching baseball, playing board games, or some combination of the three.
Sam Melita (Casca) is thrilled to be making his debut with The Company Theatre. Sam recently appeared in The Light in the Piazza (Roy/Ensemble) and Shrek: the Musical (White Rabbit/Ensemble). Sam would like to send his love to the whole cast and crew. Special thanks to Carl, Mom and Dad, and Nina.
Evan Miller Watelet (Caius Cassius) is beyond excited to return not only to The Company Theatre, but to Shakespeare. It’s been three years since he did Shakespeare last, in The Company Theatre’s Richard II (Mowbray/Exton), and five years since he did it first, in Rochester Community Player’s Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio). Both productions were directed by Carl Del Buono, who always paints such vivid pictures. In the intervening years, Evan has focused more on musical theatre, with roles in Oklahoma at the Webster Theatre Guild (Jud Fry), School of Rock at the JCC (Dewey Finn), and Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas at OFC Creations (Yancy Woodchuck). You can find out what Evan’s doing next by following him on Instagram: @evan.j.miller.
Brook Mordenga (Calpurnia) is thrilled to be in her first production with The Company Theatre. It has been a delight exploring the richness of Shakespeare's text with a wonderful team. Brook holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Nazareth University and continues her studies in Voice Acting.
Jonathan Ntheketha (Marcus Brutus) is o’erjoyed to make his debut with The Company Theatre! Favorite roles include The Color Purple (Preacher/Grady/Buster - u/s) at Geva Theatre; Othello (Othello), Macbeth (Macduff), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), with Shakespeare Players of Rochester; Once On This Island (TonTon Julian), Avenue Q (Brian), PUSH Physical Theatre’s Dracula (voice of Dracula), Ragtime (Company), Surely Goodness and Mercy (Dir.) at Blackfriars Theatre; Speed The Plow (Bobby Gould) at JCC Centerstage; as well as Closer (Daniel Woolf), and Two Trains Running (Mr. West). Eternal love to his wife for her unyielding support, a crisp but stern high five to our two boys, and to those who celebrate with us from the other side of this life's voyage, Tutaonana Tena! '06
Aung Phyo (Trebonius) is a local theater and film actor based here in Rochester, NY. Following his performance as Valere in The Company Theatre’s Tartuffe, he is excited to be returning to perform with such an amazing and talented cast for Julius Caesar.
Liz Preston (Portia) is so incredibly excited and honored to be returning for their sixth production for The Company Theatre! Some of their favorite shows include The Ferryman (Caitlin Carney), The Summer Land (Kate Fox), Pride & Prejudice (Jane Bennet), Peter Pan (Wendy), The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor), Lord of the Flies (Ralph), My Medea (Medea), The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Susan Pevensie), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), and The Flower Debt (Persephone). They would like to thank their family for their never-ending support, and their cat Ahsoka for putting up with them endlessly running lines at home. Enjoy the show!
Carl Del Buono (Director)'s regional credits include PERSUASION (Director) at The Company Theatre, VENUS IN FUR (Director) at The Company Theatre, THE SUMMER LAND (Director) at The Company Theatre, SWEENEY TODD (Sweeney Todd) at Blackfriars Theatre, MACBETH (Macbeth) at The Company Theatre, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Director) at The Company Theatre, ROMEO & JULIET (Director) at The Company Theatre, RICHARD II (Director) at The Company Theatre, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Director) with Rochester Community Players, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Director) with Rochester Community Players, THE SEAGULL (Director) at The Company Theatre, LITTLE WOMEN (Prof. Bhaer) at Bristol Valley Theater, SISTER ACT (T.J.) at Redhouse Arts Center, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (George) at Blackfriars Theatre, CARL AT BLACKFRIARS: A Benefit Concert, MY FAIR LADY (Quartet/First Cockney) at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (now The REV), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Jamie) at JCC CenterStage, DIE FLEDERMAUS (Frosch) with Finger Lakes Opera, ROMEO & JULIET (Friar Laurence) with WallByrdTheatre Co., and ANGELS IN AMERICA (Prior) with Method Machine. In addition to acting and singing, Carl is an experienced voice actor, acting coach, and director as well as the founding artistic director of The Company Theatre in Rochester, NY. He’s also cohost of the popular podcast BROADCAST REVISITED! For more information, follow Carl on socials @carldelbuono and @broadcastrevisited
Upcoming productions: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at The Company Theatre, June 5-21; INTO THE WOODS at Pittsford Musicals, August 7-9.
Jael Lopez (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be part of this production of Julius Caesar, which marks her first time serving as Assistant Director. She feels honored to collaborate with such a dedicated team and bring this timeless story to life. Being part of the artistic process has been an inspiring and educational experience that deepened her love for theatre. Enjoy the show!!
Beverly Bauman (Stage Manager) has served as the stage manager for a multitude of productions around Rochester. Some of Beverly’s notable credits working with The Company Theatre include stage managing Great Expectations and Macbeth. Other notable credits in Rochester include: Do You Feel Anger (Director), The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Assistant Director), Souvenir (Stage Manager), Sweeney Todd (Stage Manager), Cabaret (Stage Manager), Once On This Island (Stage Manager), and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (Stage Manager) at Blackfriars Theatre; End of the Rainbow (Stage Manager), School of Rock (Stage Manager), Ragtime (Assistant Stage Manager), and An American in Paris (Assistant Stage Manager) at JCC CenterStage; and Gianni Schicchi (Stage Manager) and Rigoletto (Assistant Stage Manager) at Finger Lakes Opera. In addition to her theatre work, Bev spends her days educating young minds as an early childhood educator at the Children’s Center of Brighton.
Kaylyn Nichols (Assistant Stage Manager) is a freelance stage manager and wedding planner based in Rochester, NY. You might also have seen her recently at Rochester City Ballet & Blackfriars. She grew up in Memphis, TN, and earned a B.F.A. in Technical Theatre & Design, with a focus on Stage Management, from the University of Memphis in summer 2023. Her passion for theatre and coordination was sparked by her years of competitive dance with Dance Dynamics Memphis during childhood. Kaylyn is thrilled to join the team at The Company Theatre. It's been a wonderful experience! A special thank you to Carl for bringing them into the fold here in Rochester. She also wants to thank her partner, Ian, for their unwavering love and support. Website: www.kaylynnicholssm.weebly.com
Our 2025-26 season commemorative glasses are here! Purchase one (or more) at $10 each and your first beverage of choice is on the house! Available in the theatre lobby or at the concessions stand during intermission or after the show.
THANKS TO OUR 2025-26 SEASON DONORS:
PREMIERE ($1,000+):
Christopher Haitz
JoBeth and Noel Nichols
LEADING ($500+):
​Robert G. Barone
Sally Cohen
Ron DuFort**
​Brian and Suzy Kenyon
Sally Millick
Susan Murad**
MAJOR($250+):
Denise Bartalo
Raymond Donovan
​Ben Lichtin and Grace Seiberlng
Jacquelyn Murad and Joyce Tencza
SUPPORTING ($100+):
Paul Allen
​Anne Betts
Thomas Chew
Mary Criddle
Sharon Lauffer
Helene Newman
Sara Penner
Jill Rittinger**
Kate Royal
James Shaw
Meredith Smith
Diane Spacher
Rick Staropoli
Craig Zicari
ENTHUSIAST ($50+):
Tom Bigongiari
Vicki Casarett
Louis Cinelli
Chris McCormack
David Munnell
Peter and Elaine Royal
David Runzo
Deb VanderBilt
MEMBER ($25+):
Kathryn Borden
Wendy Dannels
Anthony Haitz
Ben Licheten
Dara Lubin
Doreen MacDonough
Lauren MacDonough
Eric McKinley​​​
​Catherine Nicastro
Donald Pingleton
Cheryl Preston
Jeremy Sarachan
Daniel Socci
Meredith Utman
Valentin and Jeannette Vargas
FRIENDS OF THE COMPANY THEATRE
Eugene Gallagher
David Jutsom
Judy Molner
Sreelehka Samala
Richard Steele
**Current Board Member
Any errors or omissions are purely accidental. Please email info@thecompanytheatreroc.org with corrections.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
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RIT|National Technical Institute for the Deaf
The Reverend Julianne Buenting and the Vestry of Christ Church
Monroe County Mid-Sized Arts Initiative
TheatreROCS
Blackfriars Theatre​
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And a special thanks to our donors and patrons who have joined us thus far and for the many seasons to come.