I am incredibly excited to introduce Court Theatre audiences to the iconoclastic insights of JoAnne Akalaitis," said Chicago's Court Theatre artistic director Charles Newell, in announcing three of the Court's classic five play season, which includes Joanne Akalaitis' staging of Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis and Iphigenia in Tauris, presented together in The Iphigenia Cycle.

The Cycle opened Sept. 15 and was supposed to run through Oct. 5 but recently extended to Oct. 12. According to spokesperson Marlo LaCorte, Iphigenia can't extend past the 12th, because the Sondheim revue Putting It Together needs to go into the theatre at that time.

In The Iphigenia Cycle, sponsored by the Sara Lee Foundation, Nicholas Rudall's new translation melds two Euripides texts into one. It follows the dramatic plight of Iphigenia, who journeys from nearly being sacrificed by her father Agamemnon during the Trojan War, to her postwar existence as a priestess for Artemis, who almost sacrifices her brother Orestes until she recognizes him for the adult he has become.

Starring are Anne Dudek (Iphigenia), Ora Jones (Clytemnestra), Wilson Cain III, Genevra Gallo, Michele Graff, Lynn M. House, Taylor Price, Carmen Roman, Eddy Saad and Genevieve Ven Johnson. Designing the show are Paul Steinberg (set), Doey Luthi (costumes) and Jennifer Tipton (lighting). Music is composed by Bruce Odland; Ginger Farley serves as choreographer.

For more information on JoAnne Akalaitis, former artistic director of NY's Public Theatre, please see Playbill On-Line's Sept. 5 feature story interview with her. For information on the Court Theatre season call (773) 753-4472, or refer to the regional theatre listing on Playbill On-Line.

--By Blair Glaser and David Lefkowitz