{"id":130854,"date":"2026-05-29T10:23:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=featured-work&p=130854"},"modified":"2026-05-29T13:00:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T17:00:44","slug":"the-oresteia","status":"publish","type":"featured-work","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/featured-work\/the-oresteia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Oresteia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Oresteia<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

April 17 \u2013 26, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Oresteia<\/em> is based on the three plays by Aeschylus\u2014Agamemnon, 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.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Boston University School of Theatre production of The Oresteia<\/em> presents Ellen McLaughlin<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s adaptation of Aeschylus\u2019 trilogy and is directed by Shalee Cole Maule\u00f3n<\/strong> (CFA\u201926).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the epic nature of the story and length of the original text, The Oresteia<\/em> is rarely performed in its entirety, but McLaughlin\u2019s version of the trilogy has been adapted into one sleek and fast-paced evening of theatre with a modern resonance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Oresteia<\/em> concerns the House of Atreus. The arc of the story begins with Agamemnon\u2019s slaughter of his daughter, an act committed in the name of martial duty and pious sacrifice, but deemed unforgivable by his wife, Clytemnestra\u2014one 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does history demand? What is justice? What do we owe each other? Ellen McLaughlin\u2019s adaptation of the Greek tragedies asks tough questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

MAIR\u00c9AD O\u2019NEILL
NIRAH MICHEL
LEO FLORA
PAOLO BONARRIVA
RACHEL KANTER
KENNEDI YOUNG
KATE DICKINSON
LILLIAN DEVLIN
CHARLOTTE COMPO
JORDAN BERKE
SOPHIE PUGH
AVIS RUSSEY
NINI LIN
M MORRIS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Written by AESCHYLUS <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adapted by ELLEN McLAUGHLIN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directed by SHALEE COLE MAULE\u00d3N<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scenic Designer \u2022 EZINNEKA EMEH
Lighting Designer \u2022 JOE BORSCH
Costume Designer \u2022 SHIRLEY BRILL
Sound Designer \u2022 XIAORONG YIN
Stage Manager \u2022 ALIX PETZ
Co-Production Managers \u2022LAUREN DAVIS & SEBASTIAN SACHS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flip through the program book to learn more about the production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n