Winter Performances [Dramatists]

Hecuba

By Euripides; Translated by Kenneth McLeish

The Trojan War is over, and Troy is in ruins.  Queen Hecuba is reduced to slavery, obeying the Greek victors, Odysseus and Agamemnon.  Hecuba’s only hope is that her two remaining children survive.  But first the Greeks want her daughter Polyxena sacrificed to honor Achilles’ grave, and then she discovers her son Polydorus has been treacherously murdered.  Having lost everything and overwhelmed by grief, Hecuba seeks revenge.  Haunted by ghosts and Gods, Hecuba explores the aftermath of war, shifting alliances, and sins committed in the name of “justice.”

We’ll be using Jeanne’s favorite translator of Greek tragedy, Kenneth McLeish, whose language is crisp, vital, warm, and compelling — not your turgid classical poetry, but rather language that sparkles off the page.  “Euripides left his actors a great deal of creative space,” explains McLeish.  “He allowed them, so to speak, to fill in the thought between the words — and translations should follow, not reverse, this trend.”  The result is language that chronicles interactions of profound honesty, giving our actors the challenge that they desire, while telling stories that transcend the ages.  McLeish’s language is just waiting for our actors to breathe life back into it, and Hecuba’s story is unforgettable!

Director Jeanne Harrison received ArtFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Award for her integration of classical and physical theatre.  Ancient Greek tragedy is one of her specialties; she has led workshops on the Greek chorus at conferences in England and the US. 

A Greek chorus is a particular acting and directing challenge.  The chorus often speaks the most poetic and complicated lines of the play, which must be brought to life visually for a modern audience.  Our play will allow us to delve into physical storytelling like few other plays, as well as advanced acting techniques.   It’s going to be a wild ride!  One we all will remember!

Our Winter Performances require an audition to enroll.  There’s a $20 audition fee.

There is nothing to memorize in advance of the audition.  The “sides” (parts of the play that you’ll read during auditions) will be emailed to you in advance, so you can familiarize yourself with them.  The more you know about the play and characters, the more quickly you’ll distinguish between characters at the audition, so feel free to do research, if you have the time.

We create a fun and supportive environment where returning Traveling Players can reconnect with friends and newcomers can be welcomed to our community. Over the course of the audition, you will read from the script as well as take part in improvisations and discussions. Our community develops acting skills in an environment noted for its work ethic, creativity and kindness.

We’ve been told that Traveling Players auditions are the most fun auditions our students have ever attended. We intend to keep it that way.

Auditions are binding, meaning if you are accepted, then you must enroll. If you attend auditions and discover Traveling Players is not the ensemble for you, then please email us within 24 hours after the audition to withdraw your audition.

Audition decisions are generally emailed out a week after the auditions.  We can’t wait to meet you!

Our rehearsals will prepare us well, with analysis of contemporary and classical language, acting exercises, movement workshopsandimprovisational games that explore the world of the play. The class is appropriate for experienced actors, as well as for those just being introduced to the classics.

Traveling Players summer camps and classes always offer expert training in acting, character creation, physical comedy, stage combat, improvisation, and text analysis. We also value the spirit of the ensemble. Our ensemble- and team-building activities create a strong, supportive cast and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Our kids have taken classes year round. We have not found a better acting program. Our kids have built lasting friendships with the staff and fellow campers.

— Parent

Want to know what others are saying about our work?

Western theatre was born in Ancient Greece, at religious festivals dedicated to the gods. Playwrights competed with one another by submitting trilogies of plays on history and mythology.  This winter, Traveling Players is heading back in time to continue that tradition – with three Ancient Tales for a Modern World.

Our youngest actors (Players, grades 4-7), take on the oldest story: the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur in Ariadne’s Thread.  This adaptation was commissioned by Traveling Players from locally renowned playwright Judith Walsh White.  Follow along as this gripping tale gives us new insight into the meaning of family.

Travel forward in time with our middle school actors (Thespians, grades 7-9), as they weave through Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, an adventure about community, overcoming fate, and finding honor in humility.

We continue our journey with the Trojan War and its aftermath in Hecuba by Euripides, tackled by our high school actors (Dramatists, grades 9-12).  Reduced to slavery, grieving Hecuba lives on the hope that her two remaining children survive.  But the victorious Greeks prove to be both friend and foe as she seeks justice.

The three casts will delve into the ancient world together, finding connections between plays, myths and casts.  We will create bonding activities so that the actors can kindle friendships and memories as they prepare for our modern Festival of Dionysus!  The original March Madness!

Festival Schedule:

Performance Dates – March 12, 13, 19, 20

11 am – Ariadne’s Thread

3 pm – The Odyssey

7:30 pm – Hecuba

• Classes are in-person.
• All students and staff wear masks at all times.
• Temperature is checked upon arrival.
• All staff are fully vaccinated.
• All students are required to be vaccinated. 
• High-touch surfaces are disinfected between classes.
• Our Studio is fully compliant with CDC recommended safety standards, guidelines, and practices, in addition to Tysons Corner Center, Fairfax County and Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
• For the performances, our actors will perform unmasked, wearing safety masks backstage.  Our audience will be masked and required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 48 hours of the performance.  To ensure social distancing, we will reduce the audience to 60% capacity.
• We are continuing to monitor local community transmission levels. If appropriate, we are prepared to move rehearsals and the performances online to Zoom (as we successfully did last year).  We doubt this will be necessary.

In 2021, Traveling Players welcomed 90+ students and 25+ staff for 6 weeks of in-person residential camp without a single case of COVID-19. Our community’s vaccination rate greatly exceeds the local average (between 85% and 95%).

In 2020, Traveling Players’ programs were held online. We produced five highly successful play festivals over Zoom, ranging from ridiculous farces to stark tragedies.

Needless to say, we’re prepared for whatever the future holds!

Dates: Saturdays & Sundays, January 8 — March 20

Rehearsal Schedule

Cast Size: 12 – 14

Director, Choreographer, & Sound Designer: Jeanne Harrison

Assistant Director: Ryan Fields

Scenic Designer: Jeffrey Hales

Costume Designer: Wallace Crehan

Props Master: Morgan Shotwell

Lighting Designer: Rae Mearns

Fight Director: Casey Kaleba

Tuition: $1300 ($1350 after the Early Bird Discount flies away November 21 at midnight)

• Includes professionally designed costumes & props!
• Tuition may be split into three installments (deposit, Jan 1, Feb 1). A $20 administrative fee applies to this payment option.
• The Traveling Players Difference
• Information on Financial Aid