Eastern Michigan University Theatre is about to perform its upcoming production "Metamorphoses" by Mary Zimmerman. The production, which was directed and choreographed by Jennifer Felts, brings to life the myths of renowned characters King Midas, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Orpheus, Eurydice and many others.
"Metamorphoses" will be at the Sponberg Theatre on Oct. 8, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. and October 10 and 11 at 2 p.m. The show is recommended for ages 13 and older and is open to the public.
The EMU Theatre page said that "Metamorphoses" explores this myriad of stories in an imaginative and captivating series of vignettes, weaving together tales that are passionate, funny, heartbreaking, whimsical and resonant; stories that touch upon the beauty and ugliness of human nature, the mystery of the divine and the theme of transformation.
"This production is a love letter to the CAS reorganization and to our newly formed School of Performing Arts. It is truly a year of 'Metamorphoses,'" Felts said. "These beautiful myths are brought to life with water as a central element. To create this world, we have engineered a pool into the set, designed by Kristin Ellert-Sakowski and built by technical director Dustin Miller alongside our talented student staff."
There will be a pool of water onstage that is meant to help with shifting from one world to another, being able to represent the metaphorical and the literal. Audiences should be aware that some splashing from the pool may impact the first few center rows during the show.
"There's a lot of taking care of things, whether it's people or props or the actual space we're in because of the pool. And so it's not just making sure that actors are feeling safe on stage, but also that they are physically safe on stage and they're not slipping and that they're not freezing cold. It's a lot of just protecting the space and protecting the props and making sure that we're putting in extra care and effort into the show," Lily Ban, the assistant stage manager, said.
Levi Greunke, the scene shop worker and cast member, said that the pool brings some fun challenges for the show.
Dustin Miller, the technical director, said that working on this production has been an incredible learning and teaching experience as a technical director.
"With the added element of the pool in the Scenic Design by Kristin Ellert-Sakowski we’ve been able to dive into the world of plumbing, waterproofing and safety that will be invaluable to the students as they enter the workforce," Miller said.
Felts described the show as a story of hope, love and resilience. She said that it is an exciting, moving and poignant piece of theater.
"Our students have worked incredibly hard to bring this production to life," she said. "We are so proud of their creativity, dedication, and artistry, and we can’t wait to share this extraordinary production with our audience."
Grace Gil, the assistant stage manager, said that people should come to see "Metamorphoses" because of how much work everyone involved put into the production.
"It's gonna be sick as hell and you should come see it," Gil said. "If you are a student, you get a discount."
Ban told The Echo that this show brings accessible language to the audience to help them comprehend Greek myths.
Those who are interested can purchase tickets online which can be found on the "Metamorphoses" webpage on the EMU Communication, Media & Theatre Arts site.
