Clemson Players, Students to Present 'Medea' at the Brooks Center

The Clemson Players and the Clemson University performing arts department will present the classic story "Medea" Feb. 28-March 3 on the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts stage.

Written and first presented in ancient Greece, the tale by Euripedes follows the ill-fated Medea as she seeks revenge against Jason after he abandons her for King Creon’s daughter. Scorned, exiled and alone in a foreign land, Medea vows to destroy all that Jason holds dear.

Assistant Director Gabby Norris, a junior from Travelers Rest, is excited about the opportunity to present a classic Greek tragedy.

“Early on, everybody learns that the Greeks made the first steps towards what we know as theater today,” she said. “People write it off, but we don’t. We say this story is timeless. Even today you can find an 'us vs. them' ideology in every society, which makes 'Medea' a story worth telling.”

Director Shannon Robert said that the chosen translation of "Medea" by Kenneth McLeish and Frederic Raphael has text that is very approachable for a contemporary audience and provides unique style challenge to the theater students.

“The piece infuses choral odes with Medea’s struggle in a unique way that is respectful to the poetry and language of the original text by maintaining dramatic intention and structure,” Robert said.

The peformances by Clemson students and faculty will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 2, and conclude with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, March 3.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and are available for purchase online at www.clemson.edu/Brooks and from the box office at 864-656-7787 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.