MSUM students present contemporary version of Greek tragedy
A contemporary adaptation of Euripides’ The Bacchae opens Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through April 18 on the Gaede Stage in MSUM’s Roland Dille Center for the Arts.
Renamed The Scream, the play takes the Greek tragedy to a whole new level of drama, incorporating video, dance and live music. The Scream depicts a power struggle between Greek mythology figures Dionysus, Agave and Pentheus. The production is the result of collaboration between students in The School of Performing Arts, The School of Media Arts and Design, and The School of Visual Arts.
“Students have spent many hours of creative and research work,” says MSUM’s Director of Theatre, Craig Ellingson. “These students have truly evolved this retelling of an ancient tale, into what we hope will be an exciting, muscular, and powerful evening of theatre.”
Ellingson says the main themes of Greek tragedy are warnings: uncontrolled power corrupts; excessive pride brings heroes to tragic ends. “The Greeks sought to provide audience members with a holistic catharsis or a spiritual awakening that would make them fuller, more useful and responsible citizens.”
The play contains adult content, including language, violence, sexual situations and nudity. For more information, contact Elizabeth Evert Karnes at (218) 477-2267 or evertel@mnstate.edu. For tickets, go to mnstate.edu/tickets or call the MSUM Box Office at (218) 477-2271 Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or arrive early and pick up at the door.