Fall 2023 Season
The Iliad, the Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less
Synopsis
"On a simple stage, with the clock ticking in front of everyone's eyes, the cast speeds through ALL of Greek mythology. It's funny, updated and made easy to understand.
The Gods walk the Red Carpet. The Creation of Mankind is a botched subcontractor's job. Man and Pandora try settling down despite an ominous wedding gift. Love Stories are a dating show and the Greek Tragedies are sports highlights!
And don't forget the two greatest stories ever told, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Kidnap Helen of Troy and you've got a 10-year slap-fight of epic proportions with pouty Achilles, war-hungry Agamemnon and Clever Odysseus, destined to wander the seas for 10 more years fighting giants, seductresses and the Gods themselves.
All the silly decisions, the absurd destinies, and the goofy characters are presented lighting-bolt fast with hysterical results as the clock is stopped with only seconds to spare."
The Team
Dir. April Chronowski | Asst. Dir. Aster Mehigan.
Stage Manager Leah Shankman | Asst. Stage Manager De'Angelo Blair
Director's Note
Written by dir. April Chronowski
It seemed like a no-brainer to stage a show like this in a frat house during a toga party—the Greek Life/Greek mythology connection is hard to ignore. Greek mythology has a tendency to delve into the most sordid sides of human nature, and in recent years stories have surfaced showing that fraternities are more similar to their namesake than some might like to admit. However, such heavy subject matter can seem out of place in a comedy. So, taking our cue from the show’s script, we wanted to present a slightly sanitized caricature of Greek life. Pulling inspiration from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, we leaned into a late 90s, early 2000s teenage dirtbag vibe. And then we tp-ed the Little Center.
When you have a group of theater-makers with more drive and enthusiasm than you think exhausted college students can possess, you don’t want to tell them how to do their jobs. You don’t need to—you just set the stage and let them run wild. In order to pull off a fast-moving, comedic show like this one, people must be given the opportunity to make each other laugh, to surprise each other, to help each other grow. I am of the belief that the best art is made not just by talented people, but by talented people who love and trust each other—this show is a stellar example of that.
