'Helen'
Ohio Wesleyan to Present Five Performances of Euripides' Reimagined Classic Oct. 3-6
DELAWARE, Ohio – In this fresh take on Euripides' tragicomedy, Helen never went to Troy but spent the war fought in her name in a hotel waiting for her husband to find her and take her home. But even his eventual arrival can't save Helen from the legend that has grown far larger than the woman who inspired it.
Ohio Wesleyan University's Department of Performing Arts will present five performances of "Helen" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, and 5 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6 in the Studio Theatre inside Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
Award-winning playwright Ellen McLaughlin adapted Euripides' tragicomedy to create "Helen," which was described by Variety upon its debut as an "impish, inquisitive new riff on the tale of Helen of Troy" and an "ambitious play is one part gleefully anachronistic comedy and two parts philosophical rumination on such ageless subjects as the futility of war and the dangers of icon worship."
Brian Granger, Ph.D., assistant professor of theatre, is directing "Helen," with staff Carrie Hurst providing scenic and lighting design and Jaylene Jennings creating costumes.
Granger, who joined the university in 2021, said he is excited to open OWU's 2024-2025 season of shows with "Helen."
"I fell in love with 'Helen' my first time reading it," said Granger, a musical theatre book writer, playwright, theatre scholar, singer-songwriter, and actor-director. "I grew up in a family that loved poetry – my mom was an English teacher, and my grandmother would recite Rudyard Kipling and Robert Frost poems to me by heart when I was a child.
"The playwright, Ellen McLaughlin – most famous for originating the role of the Angel in Kushner's 'Angels in America' – has a deep poetic storytelling voice, so that's one reason why I love it so much," Granger said. "But I think there is something here for everyone in our Delaware and OWU community in its meditations on the damages of fame and war, on violence against women, on valuing surface attraction over emotional/spiritual depth in relationships, on the struggle to find your own voice, and the absolutely crazy but super-fun collection of stories that is Greek mythology.
"We have a season all about existential reflections on the human spirit and what it means to live in a universe with divine beings while also having free will," he said, "so this is an energetic and literary way to kick off the mainstage season theme."
Admission is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required by visiting owu.edu/Helen beginning two weeks before the show debuts. The play contains adult language, including profanity, and is not recommended for young children. For more information, visit owu.edu/PerformingArts or call the box office at (740) 368-3855.
The Ohio Wesleyan students presenting "Helen" are:
Cast
- Olivia Feisel, a junior from New Albany, Ohio, as Helen
- Gillian Murray, a junior from Fairfield Township, Ohio, as Servant
- Carrinna Muncy, a senior from Obetz, Ohio, as Io
- Gen Maddox, a senior from Bridgeville, Delaware, as Athena
- Milo Morton, a junior from Dover, Delaware, as Menelaus
Understudy Cast
- Kaya Ferrell, a junior from Delaware, Ohio, as Helen
- Emily Clausing, a senior from Portsmouth, Ohio, as Servant
- Katie Davis, a senior from Bryan, Ohio, as Io
- Kai Nordlund, a senior from Galloway, Ohio, as Athena
- Nic Laurence, a senior from Medina, Ohio, as Menelaus
Production Team
- Elizabeth Sumoza, a senior from Chicago, Illinois – stage manager
- Michael Nimrick, a junior from Solon, Ohio – assistant stage manager
- Vincent Swindle, a freshman from Monroe, Ohio – scenic and lighting crews
- Lily Rekow, a senior from Columbus, Ohio – scenic and run crews
- Willow Brown, a sophomore from Elyria, Ohio – scenic crew
- Ami Hartshorne, a senior from Columbus, Ohio – master electrician
- Adrian Enrique, a sophomore from Farmington, Connecticut – light board operator and crew
- Owen Rehak, a senior from Willoughby Hills, Ohio – lighting crew
- Max Huntington, a junior from Newton, Massachusetts – lighting crew
- August Lemert, a senior from Granville, Ohio – costume crew head
- Madison Klinger, a sophomore from Wickliffe, Ohio – costume crew and makeup crew head
- Camryn Henderson, a sophomore from Wadsworth, Ohio – costume crew
- Morgan Gioffredo, a sophomore from Castalia, Ohio – costume crew
- Allyson Reich, a junior from Wadsworth, Ohio – props head
- Samara Clarke, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio – props and run crew
- Katelin McClure, a sophomore from Chagrin Falls, Ohio – props and run crew
- Isak Barnett, a freshman from Cleveland, Ohio – props and run crew
- Callie Staley, a senior from Columbus, Ohio – sound crew head and board operator
- Jakob Sanders, a senior from Maineville, Ohio – sound crew
- Celeste Thompson, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio – house manager
- Maja Todorović, a senior from Chicago, Illinois – publicity crew head
- Ishmir Watson, a junior from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – publicity
- Jack Miller, a junior from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania – publicity
For more information about OWU's 2024-2025 performance schedule or about studying theatre and dance at Ohio Wesleyan, visit owu.edu/PerformingArts.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.