This year, John Cabot University’s Performing Arts Program will be organizing a production of Antony and Cleopatra: A Memory in Ruins, a retelling of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. First performed in 1607, Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy following the love affair between Mark Antony, the Roman military leader, and Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt.
The reimagined play was written and will be directed by James D. Blundell. Blundell is a British actor and theater director based in Rome. Degree-seeking student and Performing Arts intern, Nadine Anaclet, will serve as AD/Stage Manager. The show’s cast consists of 12 students along with five crew members, featuring a mix of degree-seeking students and visiting students.
According to Director James D. Blundell, “Antony & Cleopatra: A Memory in Ruins is staged as a fractured memory-play, where Octavius Caesar’s recollections — unreliable and haunted — dictate the order of events.” Blundell says the effect of the play is both classical and disturbingly contemporary. “Audiences see Shakespeare’s text unravel, repeat, or collapse in ways that mirror how memory works. It’s less about historical pageantry and more about immediacy, intimacy, and rupture.”
Blundell felt Antony and Cleopatra, specifically, was a necessary story because it held a resonance to the present day. The story itself is a tale as old as time, but it focuses on themes of political power struggles, the obsession with reputation, and the price of ambition.
Antony & Cleopatra cast and crew
Shakespeare‘s plays are still relevant today because they are rooted in the same “deep human contradictions” that were felt centuries ago. However, Blundell claims there seems to be a bit of an over-reliance on Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s work is so universal and relatable that it occupies a “default cultural position.” Blundell explains, “What we risk losing is diversity of voice — if Shakespeare is the only voice we hear. The goal, I think, is to keep him alive while making space for other voices, too.”
This marks the third year since the reactivation of John Cabot University’s Performing Arts Program. An annual play is presented in the Fall, and a musical in the Spring. Antony & Cleopatra: A Memory in Ruins will be performed in Aula Magna Regina on November 24 and 25. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Cast and Crew of Antony & Cleopatra
Cleopatra: Ellen Culloty Ellen is a degree seeker here at JCU majoring in history with a minor in legal studies and this is her senior year. This is Ellen’s fifth production for the JCU Performing Arts Company, her most recent role being Miss Fleming in Heathers, the Performing Arts Company’s Spring 2025 musical.
Antony: Mattia Martino Nevoso Mattia is glad to take part in his second JCU production as Mark Antony. He is an International Affairs Major and a Junior at John Cabot University; after his role as Kurt Kelly in JCU’s production of Heathers during Spring Semester 2025, he has undertaken the challenge that putting Shakespeare on stage presents.
Octavian Caesar: Ethan Fideli Ethan is attending JCU as a classics major degree seeker, but will be transferring to his hometown university in Buffalo, NY next semester. This production is Ethan's first time being involved in performing arts!
Charmian: Alexis Steelman Alexis is so excited to be in her second JCU Performing Arts production. She was last seen as Heather Chandler in the spring musical Heathers. She is a degree seeker at JCU and is graduating in Spring 2026 with her major in Communications and minor in International Affairs.
Enobarbus: Nathan Flores Hailing from the Philippine theater industry, Nathan Flores takes on the role of Enobarbus in his third John Cabot University Performing Arts production. Nathan is a Psychological Science major.
Alexas, Attendant, 2nd Guard, Egyptian, Clown: Levka A. Starkova Levka is elated to be working on this production with the rest of the cast. This is their second production with JCU and they look forward to many more. They are double majoring in Psychological Science and art & design.
Iras, soldier: Eleonora Carnimeo Eleonora is majoring in English literature and it’s her first semester here at John Cabot University. . It’s her first time acting and she can’t wait for the show to be performed on the Aula Magna stage!
Philo, Mecaenas, Scarus, Diomedes, Dolabella and Crew: Samy Khelifi Samy is majoring in communications but wishes to broaden his horizons as much as he can by exploring the world of theatre and acting. Samy felt very optimistic and enthusiastic to be a part of his first university Performing Arts Company production Antony and Cleopatra: A Memory in Ruins!
Eros, Proculeius, Euphronius: Carina Da Silva Renna Carina is currently at JCU after completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Stirling and now hoping to pursue her love of art history. After appearing in Grease, Anything Goes, and James and the Giant Peach, in her high school theatre company she’s excited to dive into Shakespeare.
Lepidus, Taurus, Canidius, Dercetas, Selecus: Eleonora Boscia Eleonora is an Italian freshman here at JCU majoring in Business Admin and she's really excited to be working on her first theatre production! It has been so much fun learning to view first-hand how a show gets created.
Stage Manager and Assistant Director: Nadine Anaclet Nadine has spent the past two years studying film production and cinematic arts. As an intern with the JCU Performing Arts Company, she has been able to re-enter the theatrical world as part of the production team.
Deputy Stage Manager and Sound Designer: Tobi Litterst Tobi is thrilled to be the deputy stage manager, and sound designer for his first university production, Antony and Cleopatra: A Memory in Ruins! He is a theater major from the University of Delaware, and is studying abroad at John Cabot University through the UD World Scholars Program.
Crew Member: Even Christiansen Even is a Psychology major at John Cabot University as a degree seeker. Even has participated in a few theatre productions as an actor and is very excited to be a crew member and try new things.
Crew Member: Julia Shavel Julia is excited to work on a show for the first time as a crew member! She is a Public Relations major from Pittsburgh, PA, who attends American University but is spending the semester studying abroad at JCU.
Crew Member: Maria Sole Specchio Sole is happy to be part of this amazing production as part of the crew. She is an English Literature major at JCU. Sole was part of several plays as cast prior to joining JCU. This is her first experience as a member of the crew.
Crew Member: Margherita Intoci Margherita is a freshman at JCU majoring in English Literature. This is the first production where she’s a part of the crew, and it has been the most fun process for her.
