It’s a statistic women know all too well. Their gender makes up the majority of theatergoers, but most of the roles for the stage are written for men.

“We have amazing women actors in this community fighting for roles that really don’t showcase their talents,” said Kim Akins, executive producer of the Mahoning Valley Players.

The troupe, which stages free productions of William Shakespeare plays every year in Mill Creek Park, is addressing the issue by staging an all-female version of the Bard’s “Julius Caesar” this weekend.

“This just seemed to be the year for it,” Akins said. “In light of the #metoo movement, in light of the record number of women running for office and simply because there is a shortage of meaningful roles for women in the theater.”

MVP has focused primarily on Shakespeare’s comedies in the past, but “Caesar” is a historical drama that focuses on the the response of the Senate after Caesar’s triumphant return from war. The senators fear the return of a dictatorship, conspire to prevent it and must live with the consequences of their plan.

“We haven’t done a lot of the dramas, and this seemed like an intensely political year,” Akins said. “When you listen to the dialogue, the issues in this play are really current. How does this person get picked to be the leader? What qualities do they have over the person standing next to them? The real question is how much power is too much?

“Cassius has a whole monologue, ‘Explain to me how this person is better, more qualified, more skilled than I am.’ It has a real resonance for me about politicians. These people really aren’t better than you are, they aren’t smarter than you are and we really need to challenge those people.”

Christopher Fidram directs a cast that features Jenna Cintavey, Liz Conrad, Liz Nalepa, Noelle Bowles, Mary Boldish James, Brandi Baros, Shba Cochrane, Holly Ceci, Joanna Andrei, Denise Sculli, Abigail A. Kremm, Denise Cintavey, Pat ogan, Missa M. Eaton, Brenda Zyvith, Elis Kibler, Kimberly Carson, Janelle Yohman, Tricia Terlesky, Monica Beasley and Alyssa Olsen.

Joyce A. Jones is the stage manager and Zara Markman is the fight choreographer.

Akins already is thinking about how this year’s casting plan could influence future productions.

“I’m mulling over the idea of a gender-free casting system,” she said. “I want the best possible person who shows up for a role to get cast, whether its Hamlet, whether it’s Macbeth, whether it’s Falstaff. Why can’t Molly Galano play Macbeth? Why can’t Liz Conrad be Hamlet?”