Mercer County Community College Theatre, Dance Students Recreate Greek Tragedy “The Bacchae”

Trinity Miller and Alex Ridder during a rehearsal

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) — A cross-program collaboration between talented Mercer County Community College (MCCC) students will be on full display with theater and dance interpretations of a classical Greek tragedy as they present “The Bacchae of Euripides” and “A mouthful of birds” from 21.-24. November 2024, at Kelsey Theatre at MCCC’s West Windsor Campus.

Both productions involve students from Theatre, Dance and Entertainment Technology; Fashion clothing/design; and advertising and graphic design programs that serve as artists and costume designers and provide advertising/promotional support. According to Jody Gazenbeek-Person, MCCC’s Theater, Dance and Entertainment Technology Coordinator, the experience within the program serves as a real-life lesson for a career in the entertainment industry, where understanding all aspects of a production is essential to success.

“We have this wonderful collaboration across programs,” Jody Gazenbeek-Person said. “When you come to this college, you’re not just stuck in your own program. These are really important opportunities that prepare you for the professional world.”

“The Bacchae of Euripides” is based on the original Greek tragedy “The Bacchae”, written by the Athenian playwright Euripides around 400 BC. The story is based on the Greek myth of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother, Agave, and their punishment by the god Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. Dionysus, seeking revenge on those who claim he is not the son of Zeus, introduces Dionysian rites to Thebes—rites involving the use of drugs, music, and dance to remove inhibitions and achieve a state of of ecstasy and divine madness—to violently demonstrate that he was indeed born a god. “The Bacchae” is considered one of Euripides’ greatest tragedies and one of the greatest ever written.

“The Bacchae of Euripides” is a 1973 adaptation written by Wole Soyinka, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. In his adaptation, Soyinka adds a scene that reflects the civil unrest in his native Nigeria, with a new ending that will surprise even the most dedicated scholar of ancient Greek literature.

“A Mouthful of Birds” is a play with dance loosely based on “The Bacchae.” This boldly electrifying dance/theatre collage depicts a Dionysian clash between seven urbanists on the brink of violent transformation – thus weaving stories of possession, desire and madness. to a swirling mix of contemporary and ancient forces. The show is a series of seven independent vignettes, each focusing on a different character.

Similar to “The Bacchae of Euripides,” “A Mouthful of Birds” draws on themes and emotions from ancient Greece and puts them in a modern perspective, Gazenbeek-Person said.

“When I look at the play, I recognize the physical violence, but also the verbal violence,” Gazenbeek-Person said. “Physical violence you can survive; verbal violence haunts your dreams and haunts your choices. It’s not a traditional play, but a piece of theater, a collage where the audience has to put them together to make sense of it.”

Performances of “The Bacchae of Euripides” are Thursday, November 21 and Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 24 at 1:30 p.m. “A Mouthful of Birds” performances are Friday, November 22 and Sunday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. Both productions will be presented in the Black Box Studio Theatre, adjacent to the Kelsey Theater on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Tickets are $22, $18 for seniors, students and children and can be purchased through the Kelsey Theater box office, online at www.kelseytheatre.orgor by calling the Kelsey Box Office Monday through Thursday at 9 a.m. to noon at (609) 570-3333. The Kelsey Theater is wheelchair accessible, with free parking adjacent to the theater. For a complete list of events for adults and children, visit Kelsey’s website or call the box office for a brochure.

Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admissions policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for the city’s residents, meeting the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth.