Translated and adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Original music by David Lang
Directed by Carey Perloff
An exquisite new translation of the timeless Greek tragedy—featuring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis
Running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes. There will be no intermission.
Love and revenge take center stage in this new interpretation of the timeless Greek tragedy, featuring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis as the Chorus Leader and A.C.T. core acting company member René Augesen in the title role. A sleek, 90-minute production, Elektra arrives direct from its sold-out premiere in Los Angeles. After her father is murdered by her mother, Elektra is driven by grief, perpetually reliving the horrific event to refuel her burning need for revenge. A feast of poetic language featuring haunting original music by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer David Lang, Elektra is a gripping thriller—of epic proportions.
A behind-the-scenes look at this timeless thriller featuring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, directed by Carey Perloff.
A new sneak peek video of Elektra! Watch clips from the show including epic performances by Olympia Dukakis, René Augesen, and Caroline Lagerfelt.
"Perloff's production weaves its spell [with] searing revenge [and] fierce performances . . . anchored by René Augesen's tormented, unyielding, even frighteningly vengeful Elektra." —San Francisco Chronicle
"Piercing . . . Olympia Dukakis brings her always formidable intelligence and charisma to bear as the leader of the chorus." —San Jose Mercury News
"Gripping . . . at once epic and deeply personal" —theaterdogs
"Shattering in its poignancy" —Los Angeles Times
"[Dukakis's] every gesture serves to communicate; this is a study in the art of acting." —Variety
"Enthralling . . . a stunning Greek tragedy that closely mirrors the vengeance/justice questions we grapple with in our own modern-day democracies" —Broadway World
"All-consuming . . . the chorus is superbly embodied in the intelligent and compassionate presence of a single woman, Olympia Dukakis." —The Huffington Post
InterACT Events Splashy parties, lively discussions, and more—all free with your ticket.*
Prologue
October 30, 5:30 p.m. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., get inside the artistic process of Elektra at this lively preshow discussion with A.C.T. Artistic Director (and Elektra director) Carey Perloff and A.C.T. Artistic Associate (and Elektra dramaturg) Beatrice Basso.
Theater on the Couch
November 2, 8 p.m. Following the show, discuss the minds, motives, and behaviors of the characters with Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco’s Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
Audience Exchanges
November 11, 2 p.m.
November 13, 8 p.m.
November 14, 2 p.m. After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the cast, featuring director Carey Perloff and special guest Mark Griffith, professor of classics, theater, dance, and performance studies at UC Berkeley, where his research and teaching have focused on Greek drama and performance.
OUT with A.C.T.
November 7, 8 p.m.
The best LGBT night in town! Mingle with the cast and fellow theatergoers while enjoying free drinks and treats at this popular afterparty.
Wine SeriesNEW!
November 13, 7 p.m. Before the show, raise a glass at this wine tasting event featuring leading sommeliers from the Bay Area's hottest local wineries.
PlayTimeNEW!
November 17, 12:30 p.m.
Get hands-on with theater with the artists who make it happen at this lively preshow workshop. Theresa Wong, who plays the cello onstage during Sophocles' Elektra, will discuss the role of music in the show (and what it's like being onstage with the actors!), perform a bit of the music, and answer audience questions. Read more about Theresa at theresawong.org.
*Most events are free for ticket holders. Please note that performance times vary.
Insight into the Play, the Playwright, and the Production
Each entertaining and informative issue of Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth performance guide series, contains a synopsis, advance program notes, study questions, and additional background information about the historical and cultural context of the play.
Words on Plays is available for purchase in the lobby of the theater during performances or online ($12 each + postage and handling or $5 each for the electronic edition). For more information about how to subscribe to a full or partial season, click here.
Words on Plays Prepared by
Dan Rubin, Editor Elizabeth Brodersen, Director of Education
Michael Paller, Resident Dramaturg
Amy Krivohlavek, Marketing Writer
Cait Robinson, Publications Fellow
Emily Sloan-Pace, Contributing Writer
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October 25–November 18, 2012
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