Helen Banner & Grace Oberhofer, BYZANTINE CHORAL PROJECT

Byzantine Choral Project

OUTSIDE OF EDEN

June 26-29, 2019

Empress Irene is ready to retire. She should hand over power to her son Constantine, but he’s a traumatised man who relies on his violent bodyguard to control the city. Conspiring with her eunuchs, Irene struggles to set up a legacy for her grand-daughters to rule as future Empresses. An explosive mix of opera and theater that explores the relentless drive to tragedy in female stories. The second play in the ICONS/IDOLS tetralogy of choral plays about the Byzantine Empresses.

An Archive Residency 

Production Book and Lyrics by Helen Banner
Music by Grace Oberhofer
Direction by Colette Robert
Music direction by Feranda Douglas
Co-Producers — Alexandra Cadena and Madeleine Goldsmith 


With: Hilary Asare, Iris Beaumier, Carolyn Berliner, Emily Brown, Hannah Eakin, Kristian Espiritu, Shanta Parasuraman, Yael Shavitt, Katie Weber, and Joell Weil 


Scenic Design: An-Lin Dauber
Lighting Design: Jay Ryan
Costume Design: Emily Bono
Stage Manager: Margaret Gleberman

About Byzantine Choral Project 

Helen Banner & Grace Oberhofer, BYZANTINE CHORAL PROJECT
Helen Banner & Grace Oberhofer, BYZANTINE CHORAL PROJECT

The Byzantine Choral Project is a dynamic collaboration between playwright Helen Banner, composer Grace Oberhofer and director Colette Robert to make theater using women’s voices. Inspired by the Byzantine Empresses Irene, Maria and Euphrosyne they are creating work that showcases the radical power of strong, diverse women+ singing on stage and explores the importance of imagery, representation and iconoclasm in classical and contemporary life. For more info: byzantinechoralproject.com

Credits: Photo of Helen Banner and Grace Oberhofer, by John Keon Photo. Production photos by Jo Chiang.

2019-2020 Season
PERFORMANCES
TICKETS
RUNNING TIME
90 min, no intermission
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