This document outlines the directorial concept and production design for a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar set in a corporate office environment. Key elements include casting Leonardo DiCaprio as Brutus and Kevin Spacey as Cassius. The theme explores the balance between private interests and public good. Scenes will take place in a realistic office setting with cubicles representing the characters. Costumes will consist of modern business attire. Lighting and other design elements aim to set a serious tone and reflect the mood of different scenes.

1. Julius Caesar: The White Collar
Experience
By Poria Dorali, Stephanie Turcotte, Faheem Ershad,
and Miguel Ibanez

2. Director: Poria Dorali
Julius Caesar: The White-Collar Experience

3. Reason
for
Choosing
Julius
Caesar
It’s an interesting plot that
addresses the dichotomy between
the private life and the public life.
The growth of unchecked power
and the resistances to is a
situation that can be applied to
innumerable situations.
Stalin Khomeini

4. Leonardo DiCaprio
Brutus
Casting
Kevin Spacey
Highlights:
Cassius
William Shatner
Julius Caesar
Jon Cryer
Antony

5. The Spine: ▪ Doing what is Best.
As contextualized in the play, Caesar
and Brutus independently feel they
are doing what is best for Rome, or in
this version of the play, the company.

6. The theme of play is balancing the dilemma
between the private and public life.
The private life is accepting changes to
society.
The Theme:
While the Public life questions
changes in society for one’s
belief of the public good

7. The
Style:
- The style of the play falls under the
realism category.
○ The scenes/actions are going to
be akin to events that could
happen in the corporate world right
now.
- The play will be conducted in a very
serious manner as life or death
decisions are on the line.

8. Directorial
Concept:
Period
▪ We argue that Julius
Caesar can even be
applied to the status
quo. Thus, we present
the play from the
perspective of a
modern day rich
corporation.
Changes Include:
- Conspirators “Killing” =
Conspirators
Whistleblowing
- Conspirators dying =
End of conspirator’s
careers

9. The Whistle
- Symbolic of the public life/ maximizing
one’s perceived public good
- It is a physical object that will given to
the conspirators, separating them from
the many
- It will appear in many posters around
the company to symbolize the general
public’s neglect of the public life for the
private life.
Directorial Concept:
Central Image

10. Set Design
Stephanie Turcotte

11. Creating Environment for Performance and
Performers
• Engaging Audience by keeping the
stereotypical office scenes busy and varied
• Modern theme to reflect Caesar’s high
status
• Each cubicle for the character would
reflect their personality
• Ex. Brutus’s desk would be organized
while Cassius’s is cluttered and
nonprofessional
• Cubicles placed in back area of theater to
allow space for characters to interact

12. Setting Mood and Style
• Since it’s a tragedy
• Sober, straightforward, serious
• Office setting as depicted in movies
• Modern, high quality
• Use of dark woods and glass for sober
mood
• Lack of nonprofessional props in setting,
excluding characters office desk, to
maintain straightforward
• Serious setting created by cool and dark
colors

13. Realistic
• Made to look like real life office
• Lack of walls, for easier access to exits
for performers
• Exception is background piece to act as
wallpaper
• Impression that space is businesslike
and professional
• But feeling the same emotions in a
tragedy despite setting change from
ancient Rome to modern office

14. Locale and Period
• Main setting in an office
When- March
Where- Silicon Valley
• Time period set in the 21st century
• As opposed to Old Rome
• Shown immediately to the audience in
the opening scene
• Act 1 setting is the outside of the office
building, as everyone watches Julius Caesar
enter

15. Design Concept
• Created through the use of cubicles reflecting personality traits
• The setting is fashioned around the character
• Julius Caesar always carries an air of importance and high class by the objects placed around him
• Once Caesar is retired, the setting becomes more chaotic and disorganized
• Only near the end of the play will there be a feeling of stabilization and resolution

16. Central Image
• Symbolic of theme
• Always out in the open while in inner office setting
• Represents ownership of the company
• Embodies all of characters traits
•Their want to be the leader of Caesar Corp.
• Adds to design as whole
• Stock Certificate
• Red in color- representing violence from original play
• Enlarged onstage for the audience to see

17. Coordination
• Costume is coordinated
• Professional dress attire matched to the setting
• Scenic elements coordinated with lighting to add
depth and texture
• Related to designers concept and script
• Setting displays both physical and emotional levels
• Chaos or structure
• Use of warmer colors at the climax of the play to excite the
audience and reflect the characters actions
• Cooler colors placed at heavy dialogue scenes to focus
attention onto the characters

18. Practical Design Problems
• To accommodate performers, main
props, such as desks, will be placed
near the end and back of the stage
• Type of theatre taken into account for the
ground plan, this play with be in a
Proscenium
• Heavy things will be placed on wheels
for easy mobility in between scene
changes
• Limit on amount of props and
decorations so that the audiences
main focus will be on the characters

19. Light Design
Faheem Ershad

20. Types of Lights We Plan to Use
Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight
Used to create bright, hard edge spot
Intended for characters that like being in the
limelight, limited distribution
Standard yellow light for general visibility of
characters
High intensity light to show strong office
setting lighting
Pointed mainly at Julius, Cassius, and Brutus
Denoted by
Mainly used in indoor scenes

21. Types of Lights We Plan to Use
Floodlights/Fresnels
Creates a diffused wash of light, even
distribution over setting
High intensity to show daylight,
noon/afternoon times
Will illuminate entire stage and scenery
Used for outdoor and indoor scenes
Multiple lights used in order to brighten the
tone of the setting
Light movement, slow fade in between scenes
Denoted by /

22. Types of Lights We Plan to Use
Automated Light
Only used for creating special effects/patterns
to highlight emotions of characters
Will add different colors (e.g. purple, red, blue)
on top of the ellipsoidal light
Low intensity light to present slight hues of
colors
Limited distribution
Denoted by

23. Stage Lighting
A similar light rig
(picture to the right) will
be utilized for the
proscenium arch stage
Brown line represents
front rig which contains
lights configured
exactly like the back rig
Rhythm involves slow
fades in/out in order to
keep audience
engaged conceptually
Focus will be on actors,
scenery, and
background on stage
2 4 6 2 2

24. Stage Lighting
45 Degrees Upward
Straight Downstage
Color: Blue
Used for darker
scenes, single actor
45 Degrees Upward
Straight Downstage
Color: Pink
Used for brighter
scenes, single actor
90 Degrees SL/SR
Straight Downstage
Straight Upstage
Used when multiple
actors on stage

25. Stage Lighting
90 Degrees SL/SR
Used for conspirators and
exchanges between
Cassius and Brutus
45 Degrees SL/SR
Used for when Julius is
judged/Cassius and
Brutus kicked out

26. Mood and Style
Mood
In the presence of Julius: blithe, joyful
In the midst of conspirators: dark, somber
Style
Realistic
Lights will not be overly bright or dark
LIghts will reflect the size of the setting

27. The Central Image
Julius at Downstage
Cassius at Stage Right looking away
Brutus at Stage Left looking back at Julius
Symbolic of the relationship between the three
Purple - glory, power, ambition
Red - anger, malice
Blue - loyalty, trust, wisdom

28. Costume Design
Miguel Ibanez

29. Style of Production
• For a production set in modern day,
costumes used would reflect professional
business attire.
• Suits, ties, shoes, for both male and dresses
for female.

30. Historical Period and Locale
• Present 21st century.
• Business office, with individual cubicle
corresponding to each of the characters
• Business attire reflects the modern setting of
the play.

31. Nature of Characters
Julius Caesar: Black suit with red
accent to symbolize the power and
leadership that Julius has. Along with
jewelry and suit cuffs.
Brutus: Black and blue suit,
professional look but not as sharp
as Julius. But also unique since he
is the hero of the tragedy.

32. Nature of Characters
Antony: one of the more “rat”
like personalities. Skinny in
size, and messy in attire and
sharpness.
Octavius: Son of Caesar, young
adult doesn't dress in
professional attire until he
controls business after the
death of his father. Button up
shirt and jeans.
Cassius: lacks integrity,
wears button up shirt and
slacks.

33. Nature of Characters
Calpurnia: Caesars wife, black dress. Flavius, Cicero, and
Decius are dressed
more casual since there
roles are of less
authority.

34. Relationship Among Characters
Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius all are of high
authority and belong to their own group.
Emblem sewn on ties resemble their
authority and closeness.
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus all
are in the same “alliance” in the
play, so are dressed more
similarly.

35. Relationship Among Characters
Octavius has a unique look to him that
makes him stand out, suggesting his
importance in the play.
Flavius, Cicero, and Decius are
dressed more casual since they
don’t have leadership roles in
the play.

36. Sources
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Sources

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