Playbill News: Mulgrew, Cumpsty, Stuhlbarg, Marvel Will Read Carson's Oresteia Adaptation at CSC

Mulgrew, Cumpsty, Stuhlbarg, Marvel Will Read Carson's Oresteia Adaptation at CSC

By Kenneth Jones
March 10, 2008

Classic Stage Company's popular First Look Festival — a program of one-night-only staged readings of rarely seen classics, performed by notable actors — will explore "one of Western literature's foundational dramas," The Oresteia, in March.

On three Mondays (March 17, 24 and 31) Kate Mulgrew, Michael Cumpsty, Michael Stuhlbarg and Elizabeth Marvel are among players who will participate in the readings of the tragic Greek triptypch of Agamemnon by Aeschylus, Electra by Sophocles and Orestes by Euripides. Three reading presentations of the plays (with different participants) will also happen in April.

"Providing the common thread through this kaleidoscopic tale of the house of Atreus is the stunning poetic voice of Anne Carson," according to Off-Broadway's CSC. "Ms. Carson is considered by many to be one of the leading poets now writing in the English language. She has the singular distinction of receiving The Lannan, Pushcart, Griffen, and T.S. Eliot Prizes for her poetry, as well as Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowships for her distinguished body of work that also includes her distinctive scholarly writing ("The Economy of the Unlost"). Her celebrated translations of Sophocles and Euripides have been heralded by the New York Review of Books as the 'gold standard' in bringing these works into the English language."

Tickets are $30 for each reading.

CSC First Look Festival schedule

Agamemnon by Aeschylus – March 17 at 8 PM, directed by Michael Cumpsty featuring Michael Cumpsty & Kate Mulgrew.

Electra by Sophocles – March 24 at 8 PM, directed by Brian Kulick; featuring Elizabeth Marvel.

Orestesby Euripides – March 31 at 8 PM, directed by Paul Lazar & Annie B. Parsons featuring Michael Stuhlbarg.

In April, expect Agamemnon and Electra at 7 and 9 PM April 7, and Orestes at 8 PM April 14.

Participating artists for these additional dates to be announced.

For more information about Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company, 136 East 13th Street, visit www.classicstage.org.

CSC's current production is The Seagull starring Dianne Wiest and Alan Cumming.

The company recently concluded a completely sold-out run of the critically acclaimed new play New Jerusalem, written by David Ives and directed by Walter Bobbie.