The Suppliants at Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Inspired by Aeschylus' "The Suppliants" - one of the oldest surviving plays in the Western canon - this new ensemble-driven production reimagines an ancient story through the lens of Appalachian folklore.

A group of storytellers gathers to retell an old tale. As they do, the barriers between past and present dissolve. What first seems like an old legend gradually reveals itself to be a story about agency, belonging, and the choices communities make about what we owe to each other.

Blending elements of Greek tragedy, folk traditions, movement, and devised performance, the play explores how stories travel across generations and why certain myths refuse to disappear.

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The nine-person ensemble, known collectively as The Storytellers, features Susan Betten, Madeline Burk, Eliza Carson, Nasya Gay, Jeff Hunsicker, Matt McPherson, Margaret Riley, Rasheda Sesay, and Michelle Leilani Teske. Along with Sydney Marie Hughes as Director and Playwright, the creative team includes Alex Thurtle, Assistant Director and Stage Manager; scenic designer Justin Badoyen; costume designer Lucy Horton; and Assistant Stage Manager and Marketing Coordinator Grace Acquilano.