Georgia Shakespeare Presents THE ODYSSEY 10/7

Georgia Shakespeare announces the World Premiere of The Odyssey: a Journey Home, based on the work of Homer, adapted by Richard Garner and the Associate Artists of Georgia Shakespeare, and directed by Richard Garner. The show runs October 7-31 and there are several special events planned during the run to honor and raise awareness for veterans.

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary Season, Richard Garner, Producing Artistic Director, and Georgia Shakespeare kick off "The Icarus Lab" a 10-year long program that will produce company-generated and/or company-adapted work, giving the company's Associate Artists a vehicle through which they may flex different muscles and work from the other side of the table. The program launches with The Odyssey: a Journey Home.
In this clever adaptation of Homer's breathtaking epic, the physical, psychological and emotional challenges Odysseus overcomes in his return from fighting the Trojan wars mirror those of the modern warrior. Returning from war is a journey that only begins with arriving home. The Odyssey: a Journey Home examines the issues around re-entry and explores the actuality of "coming home".

"Our veterans arrive home in a matter of hours, versus Odysseus' 10-year trip, but their journey doesn't end at home's threshold. In many ways, it is just beginning," says Garner. "And yet, the parallels between Odysseus and today's soldiers are stunning. It's been a real eye-opener to explore this concept of warriors and to realize how very little has changed over these hundreds of years."

The cast features Joe Knezevich (in his 12th season at Georgia Shakespeare) as Odysseus, Chris Kayser (21st season) as Zeus, Carolyn Cook (16th season) as Athena and Neal A. Ghant (6th season) as Poseidon, among others.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Free and Open to the Public:

On Saturday, October 23, at 4:30pm, The ArtReach Foundation, Inc., will host a symposium to discuss issues facing veterans today. The panel will also discuss the play and how Odysseus' journey, and the demons he faced along the way, represent issues veterans are facing upon returning home currently. The panel consists of The ArtReach Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Susan Anderson; Psychologist and Co-Chair of Project America, Christiane O'Hara; and Georgia Shakespeare's Producing Artistic Director and The Odyssey: a Journey Home director and adapter, Richard Garner.
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Free and Discounted Tickets for Military Guests

Georgia Shakespeare will give away 50 tickets per performance to military personnel with a valid ID, on a first-come, first-served basis. Each military guest with an ID will be given two tickets, and the opportunity to purchase up to two more at the discounted rate of $15 each.

MEDIA INVITATION

The media are invited to attend Opening Night, Friday, October 8, 2010, 8pm curtain, reception following. Each member of the media is welcomed to bring a guest; please confirm your reservation of one or two tickets in your RSVP email to Jenny@KickStrategy.com by Tuesday, October 5.

Georgia Shakespeare is grateful for its sponsors

Season Sponsors: AirTran Airways, Bank of America, The Georgia Council for the Arts, Oglethorpe University

Shake at the Lake Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Bank of America, The Kendeda Fund, The Coca-Cola Company, The Charles Loridans Foundation, CornerCap Investment Counsel, Alston + Bird, LLP

Summer Festival Sponsor: CornerCap Investment Counsel

Shrew: the Musical Sponsor: Callner, Portnoy and Strawser PC, PBA:30, Reporter Newpapers

The Odyssey: a Journey Home Sponsors: DocAuto, Inc., Turner Broadcasting. Funding also provided by The National Endowment for the Arts

A Christmas Story: Publix Super Markets Charities

Georgia Shakespeare is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts, through appropriation of the General Assembly. The Council is a Partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art.

ABOUT GEORGIA SHAKESPEARE

Founded in 1985, Georgia Shakespeare creates thoughtful, bold and passionate interpretations of a diverse body of work rooted in Shakespeare and branching out to embrace the best writers and ideas of all eras. On the stage and through educational programming, we strive to entertain, to ignite the imagination and to creatively explore the journey of the human spirit. Our vision is to make Georgia Shakespeare a national model for establishing a welcoming creative home where artists and audiences unite in a shared discovery of the power of adventurous classic theatre. Georgia Shakespeare is a proud member of Theatre Communications Group, Shakespeare Theatre Association of America, Southeastern Theatre Conference, League of Resident Theatres (LORT), and Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts.
Georgia Shakespeare is the Professional Theater in Residence at Oglethorpe University, and is located at 4484 Peachtree Rd NE,?Atlanta, GA 30319.

ABOUT ARTREACH FOUNDATION

Since 1999, The ArtReach Foundation's mission has been to influence and assist, through creative expressive arts therapies, the growth and development of children who have experienced the traumatic effects of war, violence, and/or natural disaster.
The ArtReach Foundation is located at?30 Fifth Street, Suite 204, ?Atlanta, GA 30308,

Telephone: (404) 264-9349, Susan Anderson, Executive Director. The ArtReach Foundation is a (501)(c)(3) non-profit foundation.