WORLD PREMIERE OF “FALL OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC… ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET” AT THE 2026 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

The Fall of the Roman Republic... on a shoestring budget.

Our Republic would never descend into fascism… right? James Donovan and company present the world premiere of “The Fall of the Roman Republic … On A Shoestring Budget,” a political comedy satire that examines current events through the story of Julius Caesar’s rise to power, his assassination, and the subsequent birth of the Roman Empire. PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT JUNE AT THE ACTORS COMPANY (OTHER SPACE THEATER).

The new comedy is part of the 2026 Hollywood Fringe Festival and performs at Actors Company (Other Space Theater) throughout June. Select showtimes and tickets are available here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/13868

“The Fall of the Roman Republic … On A Shoestring Budget” is a modern-English adaptation of William Shakespeare’s seminal works Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra.

“We are excited to present a comedic, modern-English take on the greatest story history ever told, one more relevant now than ever: the story of how the Roman Republic descended into an authoritarian dictatorship,” said James Donovan, the show’s writer/director and recipient of the 2023 John Ritter Memorial Award for Outstanding Comic Performance. “You’ll die laughing—unlike Caesar—at our hilarious versions of classic characters like Cleopatra and Marc Antony. You’ll also see colorful-but-lesser-known historical figures, such as Rome’s most fabulous cross-dressing gang leader, who are all important to the republic’s demise.”
The “The Fall of the Roman Republic … On A Shoestring Budget” cast features, Maquade’ Allen, Meg Barton, Nicholas Bennet, Allyse Besné, Thalia Colon, James Donovan, Alec Mendez, Cameron Arthur Morris, Rory Quinn, Michelle Takla, Sierra Tsementzis, and Shane Weikel.

“Everyone wants to see women slay as violent historical figures,” said Donovan, “so we enthusiastically embraced non-traditional casting. Future productions of this show can adapt parts of the script to best satirize the status quo of the time. For instance, Caesar and Marc Antony shared the U.S. government’s hyperfixation on Middle-Eastern regime changes, so this production satirizes the parallels with the current Iran War.”

CONTACT: James Donovan: [email protected], (860) 391-3603

Tickets for “The Fall of the Roman Republic … On A Shoestring Budget” are available online at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/13868?tab=tickets. Performances run throughout June as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival schedule at Actors Company, 916 N.Formosa Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.