“The Bard in the Quad” plays their interpretation of “Julius Caesar” from August 1 – 4 and August 8 – 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Union Quad.

According to Elizabeth Helman, theatre arts area coordinator at Oregon State University, “Julius Caesar ” is a play adapting a conspiracy on the assassination of the Roman dictator.

“In essence, it’s part political thriller and part revenge tragedy exploring a variety of themes including ambition, loyalty, and the manipulation of the masses,” Helman said. “In our production, we are dislocating it from the specific setting of ancient Rome and placing it in a distant future world where fascism is on the rise,”

The play is about two and a half hours long and runs until 10 p.m. Doors and seating open at 6:30 p.m. so people can settle down or have pre-show picnics in the nice summer weather.

The ticket prices for the Bard performance this summer are $17 for general admission and $12 for seniors and youth. It is free to all OSU students with a valid OSU ID.

“Audience members should definitely bring something to sit on (a blanket, beach chair or camp chair) to make their experience more comfortable since the seating area is on the MU lawn,” Helman said. “The summer weather can go from hot to cool during the performance, so I always encourage people to bring a blanket or warm clothing for when the sun goes down.”

Food is also provided with a minimum of a $1 donation cost. The food offered is hot chocolate and cookies during intermission.

“The Bard in The Quad” is a once-a-year performance. However, the University Theatre will perform five other plays throughout the year. The first play of the 2024-2025 season will be “Vinegar Tom” by Caryl Churchill on November 14 – 16 and 21 – 22 at 7:30 p.m. and November 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the Edward J. Ray Theater in PRAx.

To find out more information about Bard in the Quad, go here.