April 5, 2012
Contact David Gardiner at
608-796-3790 or dmgardiner@viterbo.edu
VITERBO TO PRESENT HIPPOLYTOS APRIL 20–21, APRIL 26–29
LA
CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University will present Euripides’ Greek tragedy Hippolytos Friday, April 20–Saturday,
April 21 and Thursday, April 26–Sunday, April 29 in the Fine Arts Center La
Croix Black Box Theatre.
Hippolytos is a classic tale of love,
passion, and obsession. Hippolytos is a mortal prince who prefers chastity and hunting to
the pursuits associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. He therefore
worships Artemis, goddess of the hunt and virginity, to the exclusion of
Aphrodite. Furious at this slight, Aphrodite avenges her honor by causing
Hippolytus’ stepmother, Phaedra, to fall in love with him.
“People who like theatre will enjoy Hippolytos,” said David Gardiner, the
Viterbo theatre faculty member who is directing the production. “It is 2,500
years old and it is still performed around the world in many languages. It has
very powerful themes, obsession, religious freedom, and politics all rolled
into one. The story is just as relevant today.”
The
cast includes Viterbo student actors Libby Anderson, John Dobbratz, Rebecca
Johnson, Chelsea McManimon-Moe, Jhardon Milton, Margaret Teshner, Courtney
Toepel, and Charlie Ward.
“Greek tragedies, like Shakespeare, are an important
part of an actor’s training,” Gardiner said. “They have very demanding roles
for the actors, heightened language, characters, situations, and emotions are
all outsized. It is all about super humans involved in universal stories that
apply to all of us of real size and stature. Fortunately, Viterbo’s actors are
always up to the challenge.”
Performance times are 7:30 p.m. except for the April
29 production, which is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission
seating. For more information, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100
or visit www.viterbo.edu/fac.
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