Mulgrew To Play Cleopatra
2 min readKate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager‘s Captain Janeway, is taking on another leading role, that of Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.
The role of Cleopatra is one which Mulgrew has wanted to take on for some time. “It has been something I’ve wanted to do for many years,” she said during a break in rehearsals for the play. “But everything has to line up when you do a play like this; the stars have to line up and my star was [Artistic Director of Hartford Stage] Michael Wilson.”
“Doing the play has been a dream of mine,” Mulgrew continued, “but I knew it would be a herculean task, so we tossed around a few ideas. When he suggested (director) Tina (Landau), I thought that was a genius idea.”
Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra will be the first show performed since the renovations at Hartford Stage were completed. The play will run from Oct 8th through November 7th. “Hartford is lucky to have such an active and passionate (theater) board that found the money to mount this show and open a new space, but wait till you see it,” said Mulgrew.
Mulgrew has been preparing for her role by researching the real Cleopatra. “When I play a real person, I immerse myself in research up to the moment of rehearsal,” she said. “Then you must honor the text. The rest of it has to go away.”
John Douglas Thompson will be playing Mark Antony.
Tickets for Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra can be purchased here.