Previews begin March 12 with an opening set for March 19. The is a La MaMa project with Hammerstein & Weiner, LLC, Christopher McElroen, Alfred Preisser and Kingsize, USA.
Written by Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner, Caligula Maximus is directed by Preisser and will feature Ryan Knowles as Caligula, adult film star Justine Joli, Lady Circus troupe aerialist Anya Sapozhnikova, Coney Island's tattooed muscleman Tim Dax and Raheem Green as gladiators, and competitive bodybuilders Myra Adams and Roxanne Edwards as "gladiatrixes." The cast will also feature Alexandra Bernard, Luqman Brown, Angela Buccinni, Claire Buckingham, Eric Dorfman, Alicia Giangrisostomi, Jeff Goldfisher, David King, Jessica Krueger, Andrews Landsman, Channing McKindra, Ella Mische, Alexandra Petrova, Charletta Rozell, Alicia St. Louis, JerZ Short, Aaron Strand, Miriam Tabb, Jenny Weinbloom and Elian Zach in multiple roles.
In Caligula Maximus, according to production notes, "Caligula senses the encroachment of monotheistic religions (Christianity and Judaism) and holds a phantasmagoric revival meeting in which he attempts to save the world by ushering in a new religion with himself as its principle prophet and god. As the revival meeting reaches fever pitch, his troupe grows weary of being used as toys, gains a sense of their own power and, bedecked in the war paint and leather costumes of barbarian invaders, descend upon him and murder him in mob frenzy."
The design team for Caligula Maximus features Evan Collier (sets, rigging and lighting), Laura Clarke (costumes) and Joe Shavel (musical direction).
Performances continue to April 3 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th Street between Second Avenue and The Bowery. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through ovationtix.com.