Wilbury Group to Present AN ILIAD, 1/23-2/8

The Wilbury Theatre Group presents the Rhode Island premiere of Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare's highly acclaimed Obie award-winning adaptation of Homer's epic poem, An Iliad. Directed by Clara Weishahn (Sharon in DETROIT at the Wilbury Group) and featuring Rhode Island native Matthew Fraza as "The Poet", this re-telling brings to life the ancient tale of gods, goddesses, warriors and their families, and the endless battles of human history with a gripping, modern voice. An Iliad runs January 23-February 8 at The Wilbury Theatre Group, 393 Broad Street, Providence RI. Tickets are just $15-$20, with discounts available for subscribers, seniors, and students. Tickets at 401-400-7100 or thewilburygroup.org.

Masterfully adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare from Robert Fagles's acclaimed translation, An Iliad telescopes Homer's Trojan War epic into a gripping monologue that captures both the heroism and horror of war. Crafted around the stories of Achilles and Hector, in language that is by turns poetic and conversational, An Iliad brilliantly refreshes this world classic for a modern audience. What emerges is a powerful piece of theatrical storytelling that vividly drives home the timelessness of mankind's compulsion toward violence.

Destined to relive the past over and over again, Homer's Poet has told the story of the Greek siege of Troy for centuries, conjuring the heroes and battles for different cultures and eras. Now in the shadow of war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, he unleashes the story's power for a modern audience. An Iliad premiered in 2010 and has been praised by critics across the country since, including The New York Times this spring, who observed that "Mr. O'Hare and Ms. Peterson have telescoped the mighty expanses of Homer's great poem into an evening that scales the conflict of the Trojan War down to an intimate solo show illuminating both the heroism and the horror of warfare."

"From the moment I read this play I felt that it was perfect Wilbury Group material," says Wilbury Group Artistic Director Josh Short. "In keeping with our continued exploration of societal decline and collapse this season, An Iliad makes the effects of rage and war so immediate and accessible that even on the page the play is incredibly moving and relevant. And as excited as we are about the play, we're even more thrilled to have Clara working with us again and this time in the director's chair. Between her, Matt Fraza and the incredible design team we've assembled for it, we're all very excited to see one of the greatest stories ever told brought to life."

An Iliad is sponsored in part by The Providence Phoenix and the Narragansett Brewing Co.

AN ILIAD runs January 23 thru February 8, 2014, with performances Thursday thru Sunday at 7:30pm. Sunday January 26 is Pay-What-You-Can. Tickets are $15-$20 and are available at (401) 400-7100 or online at
www.thewilburygroup.org.

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