C.W. Post Theatre Company Presents Contemporary Adaptation of Aeschylus’ ‘Oresteia’ Nov. 9-19

Brookville, N.Y. -- The Post Theatre Company, the not-for-profit resident theatre company of the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, will present nine performances of a modern adaptation of Aeschylus’ “Oresteia.” The performances, directed by Rick DesRochers, will run Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 15-19 at 8 p.m., except the Sunday performances, which will be at 3 p.m. The production will be staged on C.W. Post's Little Theatre Mainstage.

Working from British poet laureate Ted Hughes' translation of the “Oresteia,” this adaptation imposes a modern sensibility on ancient text. In this production, the company analyzes the traditional text of the three plays in the trilogy (“Agamemnon,” “The Libation Bearers” and “The Eumenides”), distills the essence of the trilogy, and creates a new adaptation.  The production will piggyback on the company’s October 2006 production of “Orestes 2.0,” looking at the same themes through a different lens, and incorporating the same design elements.

DesRochershas worked at premier theaters in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and London. His New York City directing credits include Joseph Papp Public Theater, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Circle Repertory Theatre/Circle East and Rude Mechanicals. He has worked with a number of playwrights, including: Luis Alfaro, Janet Allard, Nilo Cruz, Rinne Groff, Jordan Harrison, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Craig Lucas, Suzan-Lori Parks, Eric Pfeffinger, Christopher Walken, Tracey Scott Wilson, Karen Zacarias, and the composers Adam Guettel, Jim Bauer, and Joe Tech Huppert.

Tickets for performances of the “Oresteia” are $10 for the general public, and $5 for students and seniors, general admission seating. For more information on the performance or to purchase tickets, call the Post Theatre Company Box Office at (516) 299-2356. All ticket revenue benefit a scholarship fund for theatre students at C.W. Post. Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus is located at 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) between Glen Cove Road and Route 107. There is free parking.

Posted: October 12, 2006