The Acting Company tour of X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation and William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, presented in repertory at nearly 30 universities, colleges, and community partners across the country, arrives in New York City March 17.

The Acting Company’s 44th tour runs through March 26 at The New Victory Theater.

Marcus Gardley's X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation concerns the assassination of Malcolm X. The cast comprises Jimonn Cole as Malcolm X, Jonathan-David as Louis X, William Sturdivant as Elijah Muhammad and Bootblack, Joshua David Robinson as Brother Eugene X and Doc, Gabriel Lawrence as Muhammad the First, Chelsea Lee Williams as Betty Shabazz, Kevis Hillocks as Wilbert X, and N’Jameh Camara as the Judge with ensemble members Austin Purnell and Tatiana Wechsler, all under the direction of Acting Company artistic director Ian Belknap.

The creative team also includes Lee Savage (scenic design), Candice Donnelly (costume design), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting design), Justin Ellington (sound design/music composition), Byron Easley (choreography), Elizabeth Smith (voice, speech, and text consultant), and Orlando Pabotoy (fight direction).

Gardley adapts the framework of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar for his play to “deepen our understanding of one of America’s most complex, compelling historical figures and explores the tumultuous landscape of ideology and activism in the 1960s," according to press notes. “Through the story of Julius Caesar, a rising political star torn down by his most trusted allies, audiences witness the art of persuasion, the ugliness of backroom politics, and the historical patterns we can’t stop repeating. Tackling essential questions about the balance of ambition, personal loyalty, and love of country, Shakespeare’s timeless political masterpiece has never been more relevant.”

Devin Brain directs the Julius Caesar cast, which includes Gabriel Lawrence as Julius Caesar, William Sturdivant as Caius Cassius, Jimonn Cole as Marcus Brutus, Jonathan-David as Mark Antony, Joshua David Robinson as Casca and Titinius, N’jameh Camara as Calpurnia, Chelsea Williams as Portia, Kevin Hillocks as Octavius, Austin Purnell as Soothsayer, and Tatiana Wechsler as Trebonius.

The creative team also features Lee Savage (scenic design), Jennifer Moeller (costume design), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting design), Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes (music and sound design), Elizabeth Smith (voice, speech, and text consultant), and Orlando Pabotoy (fight direction).

The company is also joined on tour by Lindsey Turteltaub (production stage manager) and Geoffrey Boronda (assistant stage manager).

For more information and ticketing visit www.theactingcompany.org.

(Updated March 17, 2017)