The School of Drama will kick off the new year by presenting something very old in a new way.
"Troy Women," a modern adaptation of Euripides' centuries-old play "The Trojan Women," will be staged Tuesday-Saturday, Jan. 14- 18, in the University Theatre, 222 York St.
Laura Stribling, a third-year directing student at the drama school, is presenting "Troy Women" as her thesis production. Collaborating with her on the production are Karen Hartman, who recast Euripides' verse play in a contemporary poetic style for her adaptation, and Tamar Muskal, a composition student at the School of Music, who has created original music for the show.
The story takes place at the end of the Trojan War, as the conquering Greeks are preparing to set sail for home with their spoils -- which include the city's former queen, Hecuba; Andromache, widow of the Trojan warrior Hector; the prophetess Cassandra; and Helen, whose abduction inspired the war. As they wait to board the ships that will carry them to enslavement by the very warriors who killed their husbands and sons, the women of Troy mourn the circumstances that led them to this fate and consider what the future might hold.
"With its political, sociological and mythical implications, this work is as immediate to modern society as it was over 2,000 years ago," says Ms. Stribling. "I am also impressed with the scope and size of the play -- in particular how it deals with myth and examines individuals trapped inside the myth."
The cast of "Troy Women" includes Tessa Auberjonois, Meg Brogan, Amy Cronise, Jackeline Duprey, Joshua Grubb, John Hines, Vivian Keh, Jill Marie Lawrence, Patti Lewis, Paul Niebanck, Joe Reynolds, Kyle Rivers, Kimberly Ross, Alex Weikel-Feekes and Brandy Zarle.
Louisa Thompson's set design calls for the theater's stage to be expanded to encompass much of the 470-seat orchestra. Seating will be limited to 150 people per performance. Also collaborating on the project are Louisa Arkoumanea, dramaturg; Merredith Scott Brittain, stage manager; Cristina M. Desrosiers-Ruales, costume designer; Elisa Rena Griego, technical director; Daniel Meeker, lighting designer; Katherine Profeta, choreographer; Jane Shaw, sound designer; and Brad Wells, music director.
Performances are at 8 p.m. each night, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for Tuesday-Thursday and $15 on Friday and Saturday. Student tickets are $8 for all performances. Tickets are on sale at the Yale Repertory Theatre box office, corner of York and Chapel streets. For information and reservations, call 432-1234.