Payne Directs Reimagined Hecuba

Conservatory Theatre Company brings fresh perspective to classic Greek tragedy ‘Hecuba’

Directed by Monica Payne, the show previews Nov. 7, runs Nov. 8-24  at the Pittsburgh Playhouse

PITTSBURGH – Point Park University’s Conservatory Theatre Company presents a refreshingly new take on Euripides’ classic Greek tragedy, Hecuba, directed by Monica Payne.

Hecuba opens Friday, Nov. 8, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 24, with a preview on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Studio Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Performances will be at 8 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets range from $18 to $20 and can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412.392.8000, or at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

In Greek mythology, Hecuba was a queen, the wife of the King of Troy during the Trojan War, and mother of 19, many of whom became major players in The Iliad. In this fresh twist on Euripides' play, Hecuba is a tragic tale of a mother's grief and the power of revenge. Artfully reimagined, the Conservatory Theatre Company's production evokes striking images of more recent crimes against humanity.

Payne directs Hecuba, with scenic design by Jeff Fuga, costume design by Cathleen Crocker-Perry, lighting design by Cat Wilson, and sound design by Steve Shapiro. Nik Nemec is stage manager.

Payne directed the Playhouse Jr. production of Huck Finn in May. Her other directing projects include her own adaptation of The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Erendira and her Heartless Grandmother by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Elektra by Euripides, Gross Sales by Erica Jones, and Natural Affection by William Inge. As an actress, Payne appeared in several productions with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and worked with many off-loop companies in Chicago, including The Hypocrites, Famous Door, The Journeymen, and the Artistic Home. She is the recipient of the James Pendleton Foundation Prize and is a member of the 2008 Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, as well as the 2012 Director’s Lab West in Los Angeles.

Photo Credit:  Jeff Swensen

-30-

Contact: Ramesh Santanam | Director of Marketing & Public Relations
rsantanam@pointpark.edu | 412.392.8106

Laura Greenawalt | Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
lgreenawalt@pointpark.edu | 412.392.3175

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Sophocles' ELECTRA at Pittsburgh Public Theater

Contact Margie Romero, Communications Manager at Pittsburgh Public Theater


412.316.8200 ext. 707 or mromero@ppt.org

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

Electra

by Sophocles

adapted by Frank McGuinness

The fate of a family is revealed in 90 minutes of theatrical dynamite, directed by Ted Pappas.



Catherine Eaton Plays Electra


PITTSBURGH (September 1, 2011) Pittsburgh Public Theater launches its 37th season with Electra, written by ancient Greek master Sophocles and adapted by Frank McGuinness. After highly successful productions of Medea and Oedipus the King, Greek native Ted Pappas will now direct Electra. It runs September 29 – October 30, 2011 at the O’Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s home in the heart of Downtown’s Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. Electra is presented by First Niagara with production sponsors Jim and Electra Agras and Production Underwriters Jim and Kathe Patrinos.

Lisa Harrow/Clytemnestra

Electra brings to life the myths of ancient Greece while it tells a timeless story of one family’s tragedy. As the play begins, Orestes (Michael Simpson), his friend Pylades (David J.M. Bielewicz), and his faithful servant (Edward James Hyland) secretly return to the palace of Mycenae. Years before he had been sent into hiding after the murder of his father, King Agamemnon, by his mother Clytemnestra (Lisa Harrow) and her lover Aegisthus (David Whalen). Despite the passage of time his sister, Electra (Catherine Eaton), can’t get over their father’s death. Their other sister, Chrysothemis (Catherine Gowl), and the women of Mycenae (The Chorus: Glynis Bell, Shinnerrie Jackson, and Amy Landis), tell her to pull herself together. But that’s hard in the presence of her regal mother who proclaims her righteousness. Will fate give Electra her revenge? That answer will not be revealed until the play’s shocking conclusion.

The design team for Electra is James Noone (Scenic), Gabriel Berry (Costumes), Kirk Bookman (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Ruth E. Kramer is the Production Stage Manager and Fredric H. Orner is the Assistant Stage Manager.

About the Playwright

Sophocles was a leading dramatist during the Athenian Golden Age. Born in 495 BC near Athens, Greece, he was beloved in his day and is remembered more than two millennia later for his great works of tragedy. Sophocles wrote well over 100 plays but only seven have survived intact: Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. He is appreciated by modern audiences for his treatment of the individual and the complex issues he addresses. He died peacefully when he was over 90 years old, around 406 BC.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

What: Electra

When: September 29 – October 30, 2011

Performance Schedule

Tues. through Sat. at 8 pm (except Tues., Oct. 25 when the show is at 7 pm).

Sat. at 2 pm (except Oct. 1 & 8).

There will be an additional 2 pm matinee on Thurs., Oct. 27.

Sun. at 2 & 7 pm (except Oct. 30 when the final show is at 2 pm).

Press Night and Opening Night are Thursday, October 6.

Ticket Prices

$28.75 to $60.75.

$15.75 for students and age 26 and younger with valid ID.

For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org