Event

David Rabe's The Orphan

David Rabe's The Orphan, is a comical but deeply disturbing modern retelling of Aeschylus' Oresteia with overlays of metaphysics, the Manson Family and the inner workings of the brain. The story follows Agamemnon's royal family through the devastation of the Trojan War and the repercussions of his murder. The Orphan deals with obsession, violence, and family. We are excited to introduce a new generation of theatre goers to the play as it has not had a major New York production since its premiere in 1973. David Rabe is the Tony award winning playwright of Hurlyburly and Sticks and Bones, and the screenwriter of films such as The Firm and Casualties of War.
This play presents an opportunity to see a rarely seen work from a significant and perhaps underappreciated artist at a time when one of the major themes of the play, the cost of violence, is a question of utmost importance in our country. We hope the show will provide a forum for thought and discussion on the role of violence in our society. We believe in the life-altering potential of great storytelling. Theatre provides us with a uniquely safe space in which we can to discuss issues that we wouldn't otherwise confront. We believe in the theatre's power as a catalyst for social justice and for understanding our world, each other and ourselves. Despite all the serious talk, the show is a funny, sexy, scary thrill ride. There will be music and Greek gods and a few hallucinogenic drugs. Come celebrate the shared experience that only theatre can create.