Beware the Ides of March: A Digital Journal on the Acting Process in Julius Caesar

In January 2022, Theatre major Sterling Barbett was cast in the University of Mary Washington’s workshop production of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. He played the Soothsayer, Claudius, Octavius’ Servant, and Servant to Caesar in the final performances, which took place close to the ides of March (March 10-13). Throughout rehearsals, he conducted research of Ancient Rome and acting processes by renowned Shakespearean actors to better analyze his characters. Personal accounts were documented to foster a sense of belonging: not only in this dystopian version of Rome, but also in a strong ensemble. He writes about self-reflection and the feelings of performance as well. This is all digitized in the form of an accessible blog to preserve its contents and allow for a chronological display of growth