Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Rome Sweet Rome, a wild and satirical new “add-rap-tation” of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar from Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX and POS). The production was developed in collaboration with Chicago Shakespeare’s Artistic Director Edward Hall and Literary Manager Ericka Ratcliff, as part of CST’s new work development program. The production runs September 23-October 19 in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, featuring performances by JQ, JAX, POS, Janyce Caraballo, Danielle Davis, Victor Musoni, Cage Sebastian Pierre, Maya Vinice Prentiss, Jonathan Shaboo, and Bri Sudia.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it only takes a moment for the balance of power—and the breadbasket—to crumble. The charismatic tyrant Caesar rules over his realm with an iron fist and a string of increasingly ludicrous executive orders. When delicious carbs are officially kiboshed, Brutus, Cassius, and the Senator crew decide the madness must end. Set to the electrifying beats of ’90s hip hop and New Jack Swing, razor-sharp wit collides with revolutionary rhythm, proving that political power struggles never go out of style. This is Shakespeare that bumps, breathes, and breaks boundaries... Can we get a “Hail Caesar”?
Internationally acclaimed theater artists, Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX and POS) generates original work fusing hip hop and theater, adapting classic stories to a wholly original, entertaining, and fast-paced style of comedic performance that has been energizing audiences for over two decades. The world premiere of Rome Sweet Rome marks the long-awaited return of the Collective to Chicago Shakespeare Theater after hugely successful collaborations including Othello: The Remix, Funk It Up About Nothin’, and Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol.
Q Brothers Collective shared, “We’re excited to be back home at Chicago Shakes. Rome Sweet Rome is just us doing what we love—celebrating and satirizing Shakespeare, and the world at large.”
“It’s a real joy to be collaborating with Q Brothers Collective, who bring such a unique and joyful perspective to Shakespeare,” shared Chicago Shakespeare’s artistic director Edward Hall. “Julius Caesar has been a story of our times for centuries and now it gets the Q treatment, which guarantees to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Hail Caesar…”
The production features an ensemble cast, including JQ as DJ/Cicero/Meta World War Three (original score for FX’s The Bear; Othello: The Remix, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, and Funk It Up About Nothin’ at Chicago Shakespeare); JAX as Tre Bone/Billy/DJ (Othello: The Remix, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, and Funk It Up About Nothin’ at Chicago Shakespeare); POS as Caesar/Octavius (A Free Man of Color on Broadway, Othello: The Remix, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, and Funk It Up About Nothin’ at Chicago Shakespeare); Janyce Caraballo as Lucy/Anne Marellus (The Hero Within at Chicago Shakespeare, Little Women at Northlight Theatre); Danielle Davis as Casca/TV Reporter (Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, and more at Chicago Shakespeare); Victor Musoni as Brutus/Chuck D (Fat Ham at the Goodman Theatre, The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington at Steppenwolf Theatre); Cage Sebastian Pierre as Tony (Romeo and Juliet, Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more at Chicago Shakespeare); Maya Vinice Prentiss as Flavius Flav/C-Pimp (The Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet, and more at Chicago Shakespeare); Jonathan Shaboo as Cash/Soothy Sue (The Band’s Visit at Writers Theatre, Layalina at Goodman Theatre); and Bri Sudia as Purney (Emma, Red Velvet, and more at Chicago Shakespeare, A Beautiful Noise on Broadway). Understudies include Madeline Baird, Theo Gyra, and Elexis Selmon.
The creative team for Rome Sweet Rome includes Tanji Harper (Choreographer), Collette Pollard (Scenic Designer), Jos N. Banks (Costume Designer), Jesse Klug (Lighting Designer), Stephen Ptacek (Sound Designer), Bob Mason (Casting), Joe Disbrow (Associate Sound Designer), Rita Vreeland (Production Stage Manager), and Danny Fender (Assistant Stage Manager).
More information at chicagoshakes.com/romesweetrome or on social media at @chicagoshakes.
Rome Sweet Rome
Created by Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX and POS)
Based on Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
September 23 – October 19, 2025
The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater
PERFORMANCE LISTING
- Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (no matinee September 24)
- Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
- Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (no matinee September 27)
- Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print and Braille programs, and sensory tools are available at every performance. Enhanced performances include:
- Audio-described performance – Sunday, October 5 at 2:30 p.m.
A program that provides spoken narration of a play’s key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Touch Tours provide patrons the opportunity to experience, firsthand, a production’s design elements.
- Open captioned performance – Wednesday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.
- ASL interpreted performance – Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.
All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters
CREATIVE TEAM
Created by Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX and POS)
Tanji Harper – Choreographer
Collette Pollard - Scenic Designer
Jos N. Banks - Costume Designer
Jesse Klug - Lighting Designer
Stephen Ptacek - Sound Designer
Bob Mason - Casting
Joe Disbrow – Associate Sound Designer
Rita Vreeland - Production Stage Manager
Danny Fender - Assistant Stage Manager
CAST
JQ - DJ / Cicero / Meta World War Three
JAX - Tre Bone / Billy / DJ
POS - Caesar / Octavius
Janyce Caraballo - Lucy / Anne Marellus
Danielle Davis - Casca / TV Reporter
Victor Musoni - Brutus / Chuck D
Cage Sebastian Pierre - Tony
Maya Vinice Prentiss - Flavius Flav / C-Pimp
Jonathan Shaboo - Cash / Soothy Sue
Bri Sudia - Purney
Madeline Baird Understudy
Theo Gyra Understudy
Elexis Selmon Understudy
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)
CST is a leading international theater company and the nation’s largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST’s artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago’s foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com