The School of Drama will open its 2002-2003 season with a classic tale of selfishness and selflessness.
"Alcestis" by Euripides, as adapted and translated by poet Ted Hughes, will be staged Oct. 26-Nov. 2 at the University Theatre, 222 York St. It is directed by Alec Tok, a M.F.A. candidate in his final year of the directing program at the drama school.
The Alcestis of the play's title is the wife of King Admetos, who has been marked for death but, with the help of the god Apollo, arranges to postpone his demise by sacrificing another. When his parents and son refuse to give their lives for Admetos, Alcestis agrees to die in his stead. With the arrival of the hedonistic Heracles, however, the plot takes a different twist.
"Alcestis" is one of Euripides' earliest plays, believed to have been first performed in 438 B.C., and it is widely regarded as the first example of tragicomedy. Critics have speculated that Hughes was drawn to translate and adapt Euripides' text in response to his own grief over the loss of his wife, poet Sylvia Plath. This "Alcestis" was his last work.
Tok's previous directing credits include "December Rains" for Brink Creative Company, "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" for Theatreworks, "Wingtips and Shoulder Pads" for Action Theatre and "Kevin's Birthday Party" for The Singapore Armed Forces Music and Drama Company, where he was artistic director 1990-1994. He has worked with theatres in Los Angeles, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The cast of "Alcestis" features James Lloyd Reynolds as Admetos, Heather Lea Anderson as Alcestis, Leroy McClain as Heracles and Jacob Blumer as Apollo/God/Pheres. Rounding out the cast are Marnye Young (Death/Vulture), Rey Lucas (Iolaus), Kevin Rich (Lichas), Karron Graves (Maid), Nathan Johnson (Servant) and Matthew Humphreys, Tony Manna and Gabrielle Castellini as The Chorus.
The artistic staff of "Alcestis" includes scenic designer Sandra Goldmark, costume designer Amanda Walker, lighting designer S. Ryan Schmidt, sound designer Keith Townsend, dramaturg Izumi Bernadette Ashizawa and stage manager Sterling Michols.
"Alcestis" will be presented at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Monday-Friday, Oct. 28-Nov. 1; there will be a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Individual tickets range from $15 to $18. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For more information, or to order tickets, call the box office at (203) 432-1234 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
T H I S
Bulletin Home
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Retired chemical engineer wins Nobel Prize for work he did at Yale
Defeating terrorism will require 'last drop of resolve,' . . .
In Focus: Duke Elllington Fellowship
Former U.N. official urges an 'ethical globalization'
Author hopeful despite 'weight of memories' about Holocaust
MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWSProgram will train new experts in vector-borne diseases
Rakic honored for discovering principles of neuronal migration
Study: Physical therapy program curbs decline in elderly
Internal Medicine to host reunion of residents, fellows
Yale Rep's next play looks at a girl trying to break a cycle of violence
A classic is reborn in drama school production
Alumni will discuss 'ideal' undergraduate experience
Alumni will gather to celebrate 150th anniversary of Yale Engineering
Two Yale affiliates win the Frederick Douglass Book Prize
Soil expert Garth Voigt dies; helped establish environmental studies at Yale
Memorial service for King-lui Wu
Yale Books in Brief
Campus Notes
|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News|Bulletin Board
Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page