THE ORESTEIA

The Oresteia is based on the three plays by Aeschylus—Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides. They are among the oldest plays in the Western canon and consist of the only surviving trilogy from the ancient Greek theatre.

 

Due to the epic nature of the story and length of the original text, The Oresteia is rarely performed in its entirety, but McLaughlin’s version of the trilogy has been adapted into one sleek and fast-paced evening of theatre with a modern resonance. The Oresteia is the story of the House of Atreus.

 

The arc of the story begins with Agamemnon’s slaughter of his daughter, an act committed in the name of martial duty and pious sacrifice, but deemed unforgivable by his wife, Clytemnestra, who is undoubtedly one of the most primal and psychologically complex figures in all of literature. Her act of vengeance in turn sets in motion once more the bloody cycle of that family’s history and the events that follow cast a harsh and penetrating light on any assumptions we like to make about civilization and the nature of human justice. 

 

We are so grateful to all of you who have stood with us during this time. Please consider a fully tax-deductible gift of any size to our Recovery and Revival Fund to support our present work and plans for the future. New gifts will be matched dollar for dollar by a $200,000 Challenge provided by several anonymous donors. With your help our community can stay strong. Our shared conversation that is at the heart of great theatre will continue.

 

Theatre for a New Audience’s 2020–21 Season is Dedicated to the Memory of Terrence McNally, American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter.   

 

 

Theatre for a New Audience’s Artists & Community Series is presented under the auspices of the Merle Debuskey Studio Program. The program is named for Merle Debuskey, legendary press agent and long-time TFANA Board Member and advocate, through a bequest from his estate. Merle was an influential force on and off Broadway for decades, notably as chief promoter of Joseph Papp’s Public Theater and Shakespeare in the Park. He represented hundreds of shows, including the Broadway hits How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Chorus Line, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He served as President of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers for many years.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS
AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS
SAG-AFTRA
through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.