York College theatre program to present 'Eurydice,' reimagining of Greek myth of Orpheus, on Nov. 7 - 9

York College's theatre program will present "Eurydice," a play that showcases love and relationships and how they change when someone departs the land of the living, at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 - 9, and at 3 p.m. on Nov. 9, in the Perko Black Box Theatre, Waldner Performing Arts Center. Tickets are free, but reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Seating reservations are available at www.ycp.edu/theatre or by calling the box office at 717.600.3868.

This reimagining of the Greek myth of Orpheus, written by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Sarah Ruhl, is told from the perspective of Eurydice, Orpheus’ wife. The play focuses on Eurydice’s descent from the world of the living to the world of the dead and Orpheus’ attempt to bring her back. However, complications arise when Eurydice is reunited with her father and finds herself torn between her love for her father and for her new husband.

York College's production is directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Suzanne Delle, who earned an MFA in directing and has directed numerous shows at York College, including "Shakespeare in Hollywood," "Alice in Wonderland," "Marie Antoinette," and "Mr. Burns."

The cast for "Eurydice" is comprised of several first-year students, including Grace Nicosia (Eurydice), a Mathematics major from Chesterfield, N.J.; Tyheim Price (Orpheus), a Secondary Education-Social Studies major from Philadelphia; Ben Cloud (Interesting Man/Child), a Theatre major from Middletown, Del.; and Linnette Cruz (Loud Stone), a Theatre major from Columbia. Jane Ahamdi (Little Stone), a junior Nursing major from Hanover, Aeron Orsie (Big Stone), a sophomore Theatre major from York; and, JL Smith (Father), husband of President Pamela Gunter-Smith, round out the cast.

Ruhl has written many other plays, including "Stage Kiss" (Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony Award nominee for best new play), "The Clean House" (Pulitzer Prize finalist), and "Dead Man’s Cell Phone" (Helen Hayes award). There have been many versions of the Orpheus myth throughout history, but Ruhl’s is unique in the point of view it uses. “There have been so many renditions of the myth, and every sort of male artist has kind of cut their teeth on Eurydice. But you don’t hear much about her from a woman’s viewpoint,” she said in an interview with The Seattle Times. “Eurydice is complicated because she’s human . . . anyone who bravely faces her fate could be heroic. Maybe that’s all we can ask of someone.”