Progress
To Date:
D13’s interest in producing The Trojan Women began
when Artistic Director Joanna Settle was hired by the Juilliard
School (her alma mater) in the fall of 2002 to direct the
script for the Drama Division's graduating class (Group
32). Company members Katie Taber and Anne DeAcetis were
invited to join the cast as guest artists. Also hired onto
the team were D13 Artistic Associates Andrew Lieberman (set
designer), Obadiah Eaves (composer), Peter West (lighting
designer), and David Neumann (choreographer).
The production
was staged on a steep wall at a 30-degree angle to the floor,
creating an immediate performance challenge. This physical
environment also served to make clear the level of danger
facing the Trojan women as spoils of war.
In the fall, the play was performed near the one-year anniversary
of September 11th. The remount in the spring opened with
the start of the war in Iraq (indeed, our 8pm invited dress
rehearsal on March 19 began at Saddam Hussein's deadline
to leave Baghdad). The production,with a running time
of 1 hour and 15 minutes, was an intensely personal experience
for performers and audience alike.
New York Theatre Workshop supported D13's efforts to move
the production with a “Monday At 3pm” reading,
and facilitated a very helpful talkback with the audience
and artistic staff of NYTW. Their support allowed us to
rehearse for one week with the new cast.
Filled with singing
and sonic underscoring, constant choreography, and plainspoken
storytelling, we intend to remount The Trojan Women with
a full D13 cast and design team within the next year.
Please contact
Artistic Director Joanna Settle at jsettle@division13.org
for more information. Video and audio samples are available.
Cast:
For April 7th reading at NYTW
Anne DeAcetis (Chorus)
Juliana Francis (Helen)
Miriam Laube (Cassandra)
Susan McGeary (Chorus)
Sarah McMinn (Andromache)
Jesse J. Perez (Talthybius)
Steven Rishard (Menelaus)
Rachel Sledd (Athena)
James Stanley (Poseidon)
Katie Taber (Chorus)
Holly Troupe (Hecuba)
Eunice Wong (Chorus)
Production Design Team:
Set Design: Andrew Lieberman
Lighting Design: Peter West
Costume Design: Kasia Walicka Maimone
Sound Design and Original Composition: Obadiah Eaves
Choreographer: David Neumann
