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in
association with the Ruhr-Triennale
The
Children of Herakles
by
Euripides
staged by Peter Sellars
January 4-25, 2003
at the Loeb Drama Center
ARTicles
- in-depth coverage from the A.R.T. newsletter and beyond
After
their father's death, the children of Herakles are exiled from their
home by a hostile regime. They flee from country to country in search
of sanctuary, finding every border closed to them. Euripides' twenty-four-hundred-year-old
investigation of the plight of refugees could have been written
this morning.
costume
design by Brooke Stanton
lighting design by James F. Ingalls
sound design by Shahrokh Yadegari
English translation by Ralph Gladstone*
casting by Bernard Telsey Casting (Will Cantler)
stage manager Nancy Harrington
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| program
- synopsis - cast - photos
- related links - sponsors |
| The
premiere of this production was produced by the Ruhr-Triennale
on September 19, 2002 - Gerard Mortier, Artistic Director. |
| *From
The Complete Greek Tragedies, Grene & Lattimore, eds.,
published by The University of Chicago Press. Produced by permission
of the publisher. |
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PROGRAM
- The
Children of Herakles is a two-part event:
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PART
ONE:
Discussion
and Testimony
(approximately 45 minutes)
Broadcaster
and journalist Christopher Lydon
engages an eminent policy maker, refugee expert, or scholar. Refugees
from the Boston area then give testimony on their experiences
in coming to the United States, moderated by Lydon. See schedule
of speakers and films (pdf format).
-
short coffee break -
Performance
of Euripides'
The Children of Herakles
(110 minutes)
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PART
TWO:
Half-hour
break for food and conversation
with cast members and panelists
Film
(approx. one hour, after evening performances only)
To
provide an artistic response to the current crisis, one of a series
of films made in countries that are generating large numbers of
refugees is shown each evening, and ticket holders are welcome
to attend any screening. Series curated by the Harvard
Film Archive, with additional films at the H.F.A.'s cinema
on Quincy Street in Harvard Square. See descriptions
of films and schedule of speakers and
films (pdf format).
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post-show discussions after every Saturday matinee, moderated by Peter
Sellars with Robert Woodruff
and/or Gideon Lester. |
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SYNOPSIS
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| When
Herakles dies, his children and mother flee their home and the persecution
of the tyrant Eurystheus, and seek sanctuary near Athens. The Athenians
are at first reluctant to grant them asylum, since the family of the
great demigod may bring political and military strife on the city,
but Demophon, King of Athens, agrees to admit them.
Eurystheus'
forces surround the city, and an oracle announces that the safety
of Athens depends on the sacrifice of a virgin. Herakles' daughter
Macaria offers herself as a sacrificial victim. Eurystheus is captured,
and Herakles' aged mother Alkmene insists that he be put to death.
Demophon explains that this would be a breach of Athenian honor,
but Alkmene insists on retribution for the wrongs the tyrant has
done her family.
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CAST
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| Iolaus,
an old man and friend of Herakles |
...
Jan Triska |
| Copreus,
special envoy of Eurystheus |
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Elaine Tse |
| Demophon,
daughter of Theseus and President of Athens |
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Brenda Wehle |
| Macaria,
daughter of Herakles |
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Julyana Soelistyo |
| attendant |
...
Albert S. |
| Alcmene,
mother of Heracles |
...
Julyana Soelistyo |
| Eurystheus,
President of Argos and Mycenae |
...
Cornel Gabara |
| music
performed and sung by |
...
Ulzhan Baibussynova |
| moderator/chorus |
...
Christopher Lydon |
| chorus |
...
Heather Benton |
| the
children of Herakles |
...
rotating cast of refugee and immigrant youth* |
| *Sajeda
Abdulla, Luam Adhanom, Bzumina Becho, Mamai Carter, Crist Cius,
Marina Costa, Carla de Oliveira, Simaben Dugla, Yasmin Dugla,
Juliane Farias, Mike Gauyo, Anayit Hailu, Beniyam Hailu, Ketna
Julmeus, Saint Luc Julmeus, Nijazi Jusufi, Arif Khalifa, Colleen
Laurent, CeClaire Lenius, Richardson Maurissaint, Begum Nabar,
Kamelia Ortega, Femida Sheikh, Sadip Tamang, Sofila Tamang,
Zelalem Tesfahun, Teshome Tsegay. |
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RELATED
LINKS
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- ARTicles
Online - the theatre newsletter and beyond
- Media
Coverage
- The
Connection (National
Public Radio) - Peter Sellars discusses the production
with host Dick Gordon
- HotReview.org
- Real Children and other Quandries - by Scott T. Cummings
- Boston
Phoenix
- Political Theater: Peter Sellars surrounds The Children
of Herakles - by Carolyn Clay
- Boston
Phoenix
- Modern Greek: Peter Sellars adopts Herakles' children
- by Carolyn Clay
- New
York Times
- Peter Sellars Returns With an Ancient Message - by
Stephen Kinzer (free registration required for nytimes.com)
- New
York Times
- What Euripides Knew About Refugees: Everything - by
Ron Jenkins (free registration required for nytimes.com)
Refuge:
Past > Present > Future
This information booklet, which is distributed to all audience
members, is available for download
in pdf format. A schedule of speakers
and films is also available as a pdf (courtesy of the
Carr Foundation
- requires the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader).
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Order
the poster
by designer Burt Sun from the zazzle.com
website!
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SPONSORS
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Production
Sponsor
Horace H. & Cassandra Irvine
Significant Additional Production Support from
The Carr Foundation
CrossCurrents, a program of Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
The Ford Foundation
The Open Society Institute |
Production
Director Sponsors
Ted & Mary Wendell
Opening Night Co-Sponsors
Carol V. & Harvey Berman
Beth Pollock |
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This page updated February 5, 2003
webmanager@amrep.org |
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