Dan Stone, LBCC theater director, is doing it again.Stone always takes an ordinary story and never does what is expected.
Sitting in his office with soft lighting, Dan Stone talks about his new stage production, Agamemnon. If you do not know of the reputation of this great director, Stone is known for putting an interesting spin on a story with innovative styles and different twists, which only enhance the experience.
With A Christmas Carol, Stone used human puppets to portray the Christmas Ghosts, with Wiley and the Hairy Man, Stone implemented hand and live puppets in a new and original fashion, which was far from the norm and with his latest Day of Silence, in the Courtyard, Stone used masks on mime performers to convey the message of tolerance.
This time Stone is “attempting to tell five stories” about Hecuba, Iphigenia, Agamemnon, Trojan Women and Electra-5 Greek tragedies, and has adapted them into a two-hour production in the future.
The 5 tragedies are two hours each when performed separately and it will be one of the highlights of the year to see this accomplishment.
Although Stone said he has a cast of 33, but there are always more people in the background who help to make each production, wardrobe, lighting, design and technical to name a few.
Stone explained that he has set up a “giant ritual” that the audience and the actors will participate in.
The story will be set 60 years in the post-apocalyptic future, in a society that needs rebuilding, said Stone. Stone says in this “retelling of the Trojan War and the tragedies of war, reverting to old ways and religion, he is trying to produce Greek theater like it was in ancient times but with relevance to today’s audience.
Murder and mayhem are abundant in Agamemnon.
Paris, son of Priam and Hecuba, King and Queen of Troy, is chosen to be the judge of a beauty contest between the goddesses Aphrodite, Athena and Hera, Zeus’s wife. Paris declares Aphrodite the winner and, as a reward, she promises him that Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, will be his wife even though she is already married to Menelaus, younger brother of Agamemnon.
Helen of Troy is kidnapped, while a guest in the home of Paris, son of Priam and Hecuba, King and Queen of Troy. Menelaus asks his brother Agamemnon to help rescue his wife,Helen, starting the Trojan War. Agamemnon sacrifices his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, to the goddess Artemis, to assure good winds for sailing, enraging his wife, Clytaemnestra, and she is determined that he will die for this.
Electra and her brother Orestes get revenge on their mother and their stepfather Aegisthus, for killing their father.
Hecuba is the wife of Priam who goes mad when she sees the bodies of her children who are murdered by Polymestor, whom she blinds and kills two of his children.
Stone has been directing for 20 years. When asked who influenced him, Stone said at 10, his parents took him to Universal Studios where he saw Conan the Barbarian. Stone stated it was not the best production but at 10, “it was the coolest thing he had ever seen.” He remembered getting upset that he could not stay at that moment and watch the production over and over. With the sword fights, spectacles and showmanship, he remembered seeing it many times later that day and he was hooked.
"Dan's training includes work with the American International School of Commedia dell'Arte based in Philadelphia and the International School of the Comic Actor in Reggio Emilia; he is also personally trained by world renowned Italian artist, Maestro Antonio Fava. Also, Dan's work in experimental theatre and developing original plays was fostered by Dr. Ron Argelander, former chair of the Experimental Theatre Wing at New York University."
Although supported by his parent in his endeavors, Stone suspects he got the artistic bug from his maternal grandfather, Russell Goodwin, a sculptor and painter from Dallas, Texas.
Stone is still working out details like a working title, procuring original songs written, and getting the production in the bag for the opening on May 10, 2012.
Please go to the Student Life and Leadership, right next to the clock in the courtyard, and fill out an entry to win 2 Free sets of 2 tickets to the play for the weekend of May 10-13, 2012. The drawing will be open for these tickets until the end of April. Two tickets will be held at will call in Takena Hall in your name for the date and time you choose.
To see more about Dan Stone or these tragedies, see http://www.ancient-mythology.com/greek and npalmtag.blogspot.com/ Greek Tragedies through Dan's Eyes.
More to come…..
At A Glance:
The Play (Epic Agamemnon)-5 Greek Tragedies by Dan Stone
Performances and prices:
(Russell Tripp Theater in Takena Hall)
May 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19, 2012
7:30 pm
Thursday, May 13 2 p.m.
$9 Adults, $7 Seniors (60 and over) and Students (with student ID), $5 under 18 (with adult
Box office information:
Online, in connection with Box Office Avenue No fee! By phone: 917-4531
At the door: beginning 2 hours prior to performance at the Russell Tripp Performance CenterBox Office Hours: Tues-Thur, 8:00 - 10:00am, 2:00 - 4:00pm & 2 hours prior to curtain
We accept cash, check, Mastercard, Visa or Discover.
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