Monday, March 28, 2011

The University of North Carolina Wilmington presents Karen Hartman's Troy Women, April 7-10 and 14-17 in the Mainstage Theatre of the Cultural Arts Building. A production by the UNCW Department of Theatre, this modern adaptation of Euripides is a story full of emotion, sorrow, celebration and war.

Troy Women is a modern-day, bold new take on Euripides' 415 B.C. classic about the horrible costs of war. The play deals with themes as resonant today as they were in the midst of the Peloponnesian War, when Euripides tragedy debuted. The story of the fallen royalty of Troy is offset and illuminated by the chorus, which consists of five distinct women whose voices become increasingly unified as the tragedy mounts. Hecuba and the women of Troy mourn and celebrate their city on the morning after its destruction. Together, they grieve the deaths of their husbands and children as they await their fates at the hands of their Greek captors. With modern elements adapted into Euripides' classic, Hartman's Troy Women adaptation is a chilling and brutal, but accessible portrait of women during war.

Troy Women is directed by Paul Castagno and produced by Frank Trimble, with sound design by Max Lydy. All are members of the theatre department faculty.

"Catastrophe is a word we've heard a lot over the past month. Its etymology is Greek and, in drama, refers specifically to the overturning and fall that follows from a climactic event," said Castagno. "Troy Women is all catastrophe; the event has already happened. We are here to witness what will become of these women-now, spoils of war."

As part of the production, the ensemble engaged in a week-long intensive Suzuki acting workshop conducted by Antony Sandoval and Natsumi Sugiyama. Castagno said the Suzuki training has helped the actors in 'physicalizing' the psychic states of their characters. The Suzuki techniques strengthen the actor's core while increasing flexibility and vocal articulation. The result is a disciplined and forceful theatrical style. Sandoval and Sugiyama were brought to UNCW through the Pat Hingle Guest Artist fund, an initiative established to honor actor Pat Hingle's significant contributions to the entertainment industry as well as to UNCW's theatre program.

"Body awareness and the skill to creatively communicate through movement are powerful tools for performers in all contexts," said producer Trimble. "Director Paul Castagno infused his production of Troy Women with Suzuki methods to create a timeless, global atmosphere. Both performers and audience members should be transported by the approach."

Design and costume production personnel roles are filled by theatre department faculty and students, with Gregg Alyn Buck in charge of set and projection design and Mark Sorensen and student Erica L. Mutton co- designing the costumes. Sorensen noted that by co-designing the costumes, which have a post-modern look with an archaic Greek feeling, he and Mutton have developed a strong creative collaboration. Mutton, who is new to design, said Sorenson has helped balance her ambitions and give the costumes a more dynamic look.

"The best part of this process has been combining the ideas that we both have in our heads to create one amazing costume," said Mutton.

The student ensemble for Troy Women includes Jeremy Deal as Poseidon, Davis Byrd as Athena, Kate MacCallum as Hecuba, Caitlynn Leary, Ashley Cashwell, Amanda Torpey, Kelly Mis and Katie Nemarich as the Chorus, Ross Helton as Talthybius, David Holt as a Greek soldier/voice of the city, Elisabeth Wallace as Cassandra, Claire Taylor as Andromache, Stephen Shaeffer as Menelaus and Lauren Berg as Helen.

Troy Women will run April 7-10 and 14-17, with shows at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday. Tickets are $12 general public, $10 UNCW employee/alumni or senior citizens and $5 students with valid ID. Tickets are available in advance through the Kenan Auditorium Box Office at 910.962.3500, online at www.etix.com (surcharge applies) and at the Cultural Arts Building Box Office 60 minutes prior to the performance on day of show. All seating is general admission. For group rates or special accommodations, call 910.962.2061 or e-mail theatre@uncw.edu.

Media contact: Emily Jones, media relations, 910.962.3171 or jonesel@uncw.edu

Media are welcome to attend production rehearsals and take video or still photos, or do a live preview. Rehearsal schedule available by request.