UMW Theatre will close its 2017-18 season with Medea by Euripides, translated by Robinson Jeffers. Performances will be April 12-14 and April 19-21 at 7:30 p.m., and April 15, 21 and 22 at 2 p.m. in Klein Theatre, duPont Hall at the University of Mary Washington.
There will be a sign-interpreted performance on April 21 at 2 p.m. Friday Night Out, a pre-show meet and greet with members of the cast, takes place on April 13. AfterWords, a post-show talkback with the cast, will take place after the matinee performance on April 15. Tickets are $20 for standard admission, $16 for students, senior citizens and military, and $35 for Friday Night Out, which includes a beverage, hors d’oeuvres, a chance to win door prizes and a meet and greet with members of the cast.
Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy based on the mythology of Jason and Medea. Medea finds her world and status in jeopardy when she discovers that her husband, Jason, has been unfaithful to her and plans to marry another woman. King Creon orders Medea and her children to be exiled so that Jason can peacefully marry his daughter, Glauce. Medea’s jealously and rage leads her to seek revenge to decide the fate of her family.
Medea was written in 431 B.C. and was presented at the City Dionysia festival in Athens. It is considered to be Euripides’ best known and most popular play. Euripides’ Medea has since
inspired numerous productions and adaptations for both theatre and film, including American poet Robinson Jeffers’ translation which was adapted in 1947 on Broadway.
Medea is directed by Helen M. Housley, associate professor of theatre. Scenic design is by assistant professor Michael Benson, and costume design is by associate professor Kevin McCluskey. Lighting design is by student designer Angel Cowen ’18 and sound design is by student designers Damon Dixon ’19 and Ben Lechtman ’21.
For further information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at 540-654-1111 or visit www.FredTix.com.