STRATFORD, Ont — Acting legend Christopher Plummer will play Julius Caesar in "Caesar and Cleopatra'' at the Stratford Festival of Canada next year.

The 77-year-old, who was born in Toronto, will share the stage with "Dreamgirls'' star Anika Noni Rose, who will play Cleopatra, officials announced Tuesday.

Des McAnuff, co-artistic director of the production, calls Plummer "an international treasure'' and says the veteran actor gets on "like a house on fire'' with Rose.

Plummer -- who is perhaps best known for playing Capt. Georg von Trapp in the "The Sound of Music'' -- has appeared at Stratford before, including turns in "King Lear'' in 2002 and "Barrymore'' in 1996.

Other productions announced for next year include "The Music Man'' and "Cabaret.''

Stratford officials say they want to give audiences a variety of plays but still remain committed to Shakespeare works.

As of November, the renowned southwestern Ontario theatre company will be known as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.