BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Awake your senses! The Rustic Mechanicals are proud to present Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Julius Caesar to West Virginia Wesleyan College as part of their 2024 Lend Me Your Ears Tour! The Mechanicals have performed on the beautiful campus of WVWC several times, their latest performance being The Tempest for the Governor’s School for the Arts. Founded by Celi Oliveto in the summer of 2014, The Rustic Mechanicals is the only troupe of actors in the state dedicated to touring the works of William Shakespeare and other classical playwrights.

In Shakespeare’s epic political tragedy, Caesar returns from war, all-conquering, but mutiny is rumbling through the corridors of power as the race to claim the empire spirals out of control. This production, dedicated to replicating Shakespeare’s true-to-life staging conditions, will feature modern music, a three-quarter thrust, and audience interaction that is sure to entertain, enthrall, and embrace the attention and hearts of its audience. 

Jim Warren, director of the Mechanical’s Julius Caesar, reiterates his wonder for the relevance of this piece to a modern world. “The world of Shakespeare’s JC is not black and white, it’s shades of gray in ways that can be gripping, loving, noble, thrilling, sometimes funny, and sometimes just plain stupid. That’s our world too. That’s why this play is about us. We hope our production makes you think, makes you laugh, makes you feel. Join us on the journey, become one of the thundering hearts pounding throughout West Virginia this fall. And don’t slip on all that blood on the floor; there’s a lot of it.”

Directed by Jim Warren, alongside Intimacy Director and Fight Choreographer Jessica Morgan, assisted by Matthew Fry, Voice & Text Coach Bridget Rue Esterhuizen, and Dramaturg John S. Shirley, with Technical Direction by Justin Grow, Production Design by Jason A Young, original Hair, Make-Up, and SFX Design by Samantha Huffman, and Production Management by Niki DeWitt, the Mechanicals featured in this production include Josh Brooks, Seret Cole, Isaac Covey, Derek Hess ’23, Stephen Phillips, Sinead Tobin, Jason A Young, and Sarah Young. 

Tommy Schoffler, Professor of Theatre at WVWC, is thankful for the opportunity to host the Mechanicals. “WV Wesleyan is committed to the arts and we love hosting WV’s only professional touring Shakespeare company. It’s especially wonderful to see some of our graduates working with the troupe and to hear their stories from the road. The Mechanicals are sponsored by our Arts Alive! Series, which brings live performances to Buckhannon, free for everyone in the community.”

The Mechanicals will be touring the historical play Julius Caesar throughout the fall months for schools and educational purposes. The Mechanicals focus on making Shakespeare’s plays accessible to modern audiences by utilizing dynamic and extreme casting techniques paired with Shakespeare’s staging conditions. For more information on booking these touring shows, you can email vtcrusticmechanicals@gmail.com. 

This performance of Julius Caesar will be held in the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center on West Virginia Wesleyan’s campus in Buckhannon on November 1. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and all tickets are free! Show your support for this event on the Mechanicals’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RusticMechanicals!”

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.