Philadelphia Theatre Company Presents Streamlined 'Caesar' Adaptation

The production emphasizes spareness but loses some of Shakespeare's depth in the process.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Philadelphia Theatre Company's adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' streamlines the cast and text, moving the action to a modern political setting. While the production features strong performances from the lead actors, the rapid pace and technical flourishes often underserve the material, resulting in a conceptually muddled take on the classic play.

Why it matters

This production is the latest in a long line of modern political adaptations of 'Julius Caesar,' which have often used the play as a parable for present-day events. However, this particular version struggles to find a cohesive vision, raising questions about how to effectively translate Shakespeare's complex drama to a contemporary context.

The details

Adapted by Tyler Dobrowsky and directed by Morgan Green, the Philadelphia Theatre Company's 'Caesar' features a cast of four actors who take on multiple roles. J Hernandez and Matteo Scammel play Cassius and Brutus, respectively, while June Sandy and Jaime Maseda double as Caesar/Octavius and Antony/Casca. The production emphasizes a sparse, minimalist aesthetic, with a horizontal array of overhead screens used for various technical elements. While some of these effects, like Antony's speech, work well, others, such as an autotuned TikTok delivery of 'Beware the Ides of March,' feel incongruous. The show also incorporates interpretive dance and ritualistic staging, but these moments fail to fully integrate with the more realist elements of the production.

  • The Philadelphia Theatre Company production of 'Caesar' opened on February 16, 2026.

The players

Philadelphia Theatre Company

A regional theater company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is presenting this adaptation of 'Julius Caesar.'

Tyler Dobrowsky

The adapter who has truncated the original Shakespeare text and transposed the action to a modern political setting.

Morgan Green

The director who has overseen the production and its blend of realist and experimental elements.

J Hernandez

The actor playing the role of Cassius in the production.

Matteo Scammel

The actor playing the role of Brutus in the production.

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What they’re saying

“Beware the ides of March”

— Cinna the Poet (TikTok)

“Friends, Romans, countrymen”

— Jaime Maseda (as Antony), Actor (broadstreetreview.com)

The takeaway

This production of 'Caesar' highlights the challenges of adapting a complex Shakespearean drama for a modern audience. While the creative team aimed for a streamlined, technologically-enhanced take on the material, the end result feels conceptually muddled, with the technical elements often overshadowing the performances and the core themes of the play. The production serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of over-adapting classic works in the pursuit of contemporary relevance.