“The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite” will be presented at the SUNY Potsdam’s Proscenium Theater from May 4 to May 7
SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance presents a theatrical production of "The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite" as part of the Lougheed-Kofoed (LoKo) Festival of the Arts. The play is an adaptation of Euripides' Ancient Greek classic, adapted by Nigerian playwright and Nobel Prize Winner Wole Soyinka.
The play will be performed on Thursday, May 4 through Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances on Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. The performance will be staged at SUNY Potsdam's Proscenium Theater, which is located in the Performing Arts Center.
After the opening night performance on Thursday, May 4, Dr. Steven M. Stannish, an expert in Ancient Greek history, will provide a short presentation on the historical context of the Bacchae, and lead a question and answer session with the director & several cast members.
Under the advisement and direction of faculty, the piece is completely student-run with over forty members of the production and performance team. The original play by Euripides was performed in 405 B.C. at the Theater of Dionysos in Athens, Greece, while Soyinka's version was written in England and performed at the Royal National Theater in 1973.
"Although Soyinka's play holds close to the story told by Euripides, it brings out more relevant themes to today's society," says Director and SUNY Potsdam professor Joshua Vink. "The piece is about issues of social tension and the dangers of extremism, as well as the role of the divine in bringing about justice for humanity."
Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be picked up at the door one hour before each performance. There are no reserved tickets available for this event.
About the Play:
The Greek God Dionysus returns to the place of his birth to reclaim authority over an autocratic ruler (Pentheus) who denies his divinity. As Pentheus tries to restore order by repressing Dionysus and his people, the women worshippers (The Bacchae) of the god and a band of slaves rise up against him. As Dionysus exerts his eternal will, all learn harsh lessons about the true nature of the gods, and the dangers of extremism.
The play is part of the LoKo Festival of the Arts, a ten-day arts and cultural celebration on SUNY Potsdam's campus featuring a variety of performances, workshops and other special events. For more information on SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance and the LoKo Festival of the Arts visit
www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Theatre
New this year for the LoKo Festival of the Arts is the free LoKo Festival mobile app. To keep up with all that's happening, please go to the App Store or Google Play Store, search for and download Guidebook. After downloading the app, search for "LoKo." The interactive app features the full schedule, artist bios, and festival updates.
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam's arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.
Arts & Culture