Q Brothers Collective reimagines William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' through rap, hip-hop in 'Rome Sweet Rome' on Navy Pier
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Bard has never been so hip-hop, and the Q Brothers Collective is getting rave reviews for “Rome Sweet Rome.”

It’s the company’s latest “Add-RAP-Tation,” a stage innovation the group made famous.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The performers said the show at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a rousing take on “Julius Caesar.”

The Q Brothers Collective seeks to bond in a brotherhood of dynamic music with a message, and plenty of humor.

JQ is a founding member, with sibling GQ.

“So we started grabbing toys and had a small Fisher-Price recorder. We would dress up in their clothes and start creating silly game shows, along with little plays and short sketches. Around the same time, in 1985 and 1986, hip-hop began to emerge. This all happened on the Northwest Side of Chicago,” shared Jeffery Ameen Qaiyum.

JQ shared why they tackled William Shakespeare.

RELATED: ‘The Lion King’ returns to Chicago this week

“Crafting an entire 90-minute narrative from scratch, complete with a plot, is quite a complex task. So, being able to rely on these stories and their structure was fantastic because it let us concentrate on what we were good at, like making jokes and writing rhymes,” he added.

Postell Pringle, “Pos,” plays Caesar, and co-created the show.

“Shakespeare resembled the first rapper. He observed the world and essentially reported on it, but did so through captivating lyrical storytelling. His plays were written in verse,” Pringle noted. “Attending one was akin to going to a rap concert. We aim for the era to resonate with everyone in the family, from kids enjoying the dance, color, and rapid movement, to adults appreciating the wit and insight.”

Jackson Doran, “Jax,” is a writer, director and part of the ensemble.

“You take the core of these old stories and blend them with modern music and rhymes. They naturally merge together,” Doran explained. “I adore celebrating the culture and hold it in high regard. I deeply respect it and see it as a significant part of American history.”

“It is like nonstop; it is an assault of humor, and and dance, and beats and music. I mean, it is the funnest show we’ve ever created,” Pringle said.

“Rome Sweet Rome” is at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier through Oct. 19.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Attorney says Virginia school missed warnings before 6-year-old shot teacher

Virginia School Ignored Critical Red Flags Before 6-Year-Old’s Shocking Shooting Incident, Attorney Reveals

Lawyers representing a Virginia teacher, who was shot by a 6-year-old student,…
Bloody blue city crime wave shatters college homecoming in one of year’s most violent stretches: report

Report: Surge in Crime Disrupts College Homecoming in Urban Area During One of the Year’s Most Intense Periods

The nation’s capital endured one of its most turbulent weekends this year,…
Lawsuit accusing Mayor Adams of anti-Muslim bias reveals heated debate inside City Hall after Oct. 7

Controversy Erupts in City Hall: Mayor Adams Faces Allegations of Anti-Muslim Bias Post October 7

Following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Mayor…
Private investigator challenges Houston officials on bayou serial killer theory after 16 deaths this year

Private Investigator Questions Houston Authorities Over Bayou Serial Killer Theory Amid 16 Deaths This Year

In the wake of a series of unexplained deaths in Houston’s shadowy…
Illegal immigrant deported 30 years after brutal murder of Philadelphia teen Eddie Polec on church steps

Justice Served: Illegal Immigrant Deported Decades After Gruesome Murder of Philly Teen on Sacred Grounds

In a significant development, immigration authorities have deported an illegal immigrant connected…
Indian national allegedly stabbed 2 teens with fork on flight

Shocking Incident: Indian National Accused of Stabbing Teens with Fork Aboard Flight

An unsettling incident unfolded aboard a Lufthansa flight en route from Chicago…
2 men face sentencing in plot to kill Iranian American journalist

Sentencing Looms for Duo in Foiled Assassination Plot Against Iranian American Journalist

NEW YORK (AP) — A foiled assassination attempt targeting Iranian American journalist…
DHS shares 'video evidence' to justify Border Patrol's tear gas use during chaotic Chicago immigration raid

DHS Releases Video Evidence Supporting Border Patrol’s Tear Gas Deployment in Turbulent Chicago Immigration Operation

Footage released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims to justify…
Jacksonville University leadership appoints Dr. Lisa Sutherland as future interim president

Breaking News: Dr. Lisa Sutherland Named Interim President at Jacksonville University – A Vision for the Future

The Jacksonville University Board of Trustees has taken decisive steps to ensure…
Illinois lawmakers could take up RTA funding bill in veto session in Springfield as transit agency faces fiscal cliff

Illinois Faces Transit Funding Crisis: Lawmakers Poised to Tackle RTA Fiscal Cliff in Critical Veto Session

The legislative halls of Springfield are abuzz as the veto session kicks…
River North bar shooting: Machael Matthews partially acquitted in murder of Sound-Bar Nightclub security guard Thurman Bailey

River North Shooting Verdict: Michael Matthews Partially Acquitted in Sound-Bar Nightclub Security Guard Murder Case

A partial acquittal has been reached in the case of a man…
Jaguars' Arik Armstead hosts dozens of local kids for a career camp

Jaguars’ Arik Armstead Inspires Future Generations with Career Camp for Local Youth

The Armstead Academic Project is actively organizing events for young people in…