Directing Thesis: Cleopatra

An Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
Adapted by Liz Peterson and Alexis Williams

Columbia University School of the Arts is proud to present Cleopatra directed by current student Liz Peterson.

The power of a Queen is its own kind of power, and Cleopatra’s court is the microcosm of her vision for a better future. But the war is lost, the Roman invasion is imminent, and being taken prisoner is not an option. As soldiers encroach on Cleopatra and her closest advisors, the toxins take hold and a lifetime flashes before their eyes. Both challenging and building on Shakespeare’s text, Cleopatra rewrites what we know about her legacy as a military strategist, political leader, and queen, and the women who helped shape her into the icon she is today.

Ticket Information

There is a limit of one (1) reservation per person and each reservation must be held in the name of the guest attending the event. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate late seating.

All guests entering the building must also show proof of vaccination. Visitors 18 and older are also required to show an accompanying ID. Green passes and CUIDs are accepted if you are a Columbia University affiliate.

Content Warning

Please be aware that this production contains suicide and discussion of war and violence.

Running Time

2 hours and 15 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission

Featuring

Laurel Andersen, Sanam Erfani, Joe Laureiro, Saskia Naidoo, Oreine Robinson, Claudia Thiedmann, and Will Thomae.

Production Team & Crew

Director: Liz Peterson (student) 
Dramaturgs: Alexis Williams (student) & Phoebe Brooks (student) 
Producer: Joanna Pisano (student) 
Assistant Producer: Abigail Williams-Joseph (student) 
Company Manager: Eva Wang (student) 
Production Stage Manager: Amy Rauchwerger (student) 
Assistant Stage Manager: Sam Clarke (student) 
Scenic Designers: Liz Peterson (student), Tavish Miller, & Josh Barilla
Costume Designer: Rachel Dozier-Ezell
Lighting Designer: Betsy Chester
Sound Designer: Lucky Bommireddy
Props Designer: Josh Barilla
Projection Designer: Davine Byon

Liz Peterson is a theatre director and maker-of-performances. Liz’s perennial curiosities feature alternate dimensions and mixed-race identities, while her current obsessions include the end of empire, femme solidarity, and hallucinatory states. Born in Manchester, UK, to a Mancunian mother and Anglo-Indian/Burmese father, Liz is from St.John’s, Melipilla and Tkaronto. Recent collaborations include live broadcast CLOUDS, and You Can’t Touch my Sister I Ate In The Womb by Fiona Gorry-Hines. Studies: University of Toronto, BA in Theatre / French Linguistics; Columbia University, MFA in directing. lizpeterson.org.