BU School of Theatre Stages The Oresteia at Booth Theatre
Based on Aeschylus' trilogy, Ellen McLaughlin's sleek adaptation with a modern resonance runs April 17 - 26, 2026
BU School of Theatre Stages The Oresteia at Booth Theatre
Based on Aeschylus’ trilogy, Ellen McLaughlin’s sleek adaptation with a modern resonance runs at Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre from April 17 – 26, 2026
Boston University School of Theatre presents their next mainstage show at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre: The Oresteia.
Running April 17 – 26, 2026, The Oresteia is based on the three plays by Aeschylus—Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. They are among the oldest plays in the Western canon and are the only surviving trilogy from the ancient Greek theatre.
The Boston University School of Theatre production of The Oresteia presents Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ trilogy and is directed by Shalee Cole Mauleón (CFA’26).
Due to the epic nature of the story and length of the original text, The Oresteia is rarely performed in its entirety, but McLaughlin’s version of the trilogy has been adapted into one sleek and fast-paced evening of theatre with a modern resonance.
The Oresteia concerns the House of Atreus. The arc of the story begins with Agamemnon’s slaughter of his daughter, an act committed in the name of martial duty and pious sacrifice, but deemed unforgivable by his wife, Clytemnestra—one of the most primal and psychologically complex figures in all of literature. Her act of vengeance in turn sets in motion once more the bloody cycle of that family’s history. The events that follow cast a harsh and penetrating light on any assumptions we like to make about civilization and the nature of human justice.
What does history demand? What is justice? What do we owe each other? Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of the Greek tragedies asks tough questions.
General admission tickets are $20 + online fee. Free and discounted tickets are available to the BU community (see comp codes). Tickets are free with BU ID at the Box Office or door on the day of the performance, pending availability.
The Oresteia
Presented by BU School of Theatre
By Aeschylus
Adapted by Ellen McLaughlin
Directed by Shalee Cole Mauleón
Show Dates & Times
Friday, April 17 • 7:30pm
Saturday, April 18 • 7:30pm
Sunday, April 19 • 2pm
Thursday, April 23 • 7:30pm
Friday, April 24 • 7:30pm
Saturday, April 25 • 2pm
Saturday, April 25 • 7:30pm
Sunday, April 26 • 2pm
Location
Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre • 820 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA, 02446
Tickets
$20 General Admission + online fee
Free and discounted tickets are available for Boston University students, faculty, alumni, and staff. BU login required to access codes.
Plan Your Visit
Street parking is available on and around Commonwealth Avenue. BU parking lots and garages are also available. Lot F is the parking lot at Booth Theatre. The garage entrance is at 148 Essex Street, Brookline, MA. This lot opens 90 minutes prior to performances. Rates vary. Visit bu.edu/parking for more information.
Taking public transit?
- Accessible by the MBTA Green Line. Take the B line to the Amory Street station.
- Accessible by the MBTA CT2 and 57 bus lines.
- BU Shuttle stop M2.
CURTAINS UP FOR BU SCHOOL OF THEATRE’S SPRING 2026 SEASON
The timeless and tragic opera Roméo et Juliette, a play based on the only surviving trilogy from ancient Greek theatre, and senior capstone events are part of the lineup of BU School of Theatre’s current season.