The celebrated playwright Aristophanes of ancient Athens, Greece, has been called “the Father of Comedy.” Quite a title for someone born around 446 B.C. His wry wit, however, is timeless and takes centerstage Tuesday and Wednesday during Mississippi State University’s Shackouls Honor College Classical Week 2015, a celebration of Greek, Roman and other cultures of the ancient world.

“Clouds,” a comedy production, begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 29-30 in the Zacharias Village Courtyard on the Mississippi State campus. The audience is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets — and even dinner — for this outdoor theater experience.

“This has been a very endearing production for me to work with,” said Dr. Donna Clevinger, professor of Communication/Theatre and Senior Faculty Fellow in the Shackouls Honors College. She directs “Clouds.” Campus-wide auditions were opened during Orientation Week.

“What is unique about this particular production is that all the cast members are first-semester freshmen,” said Clevinger. “So even before they really got to know very many people on campus, they were putting themselves out there to be a part of this.”

The play lampoons intellectual fashions in classical Greece. It was first produced in 423 B.C. in the open air theater of Dionysus at Athens. The Griffis Hall patio at Zacharias Village will serve as a backdrop for this hilarious portrayal of family conflict.

Aristophanes poses the question of what constitutes the proper content and purpose of education. His main character, Strepsiades, challenges popular philosopher Socrates with such ethical dilemmas as personal beliefs and reason, the nature of things and the culture within, religious and scientific ideals and the rights of a community and those of an individual.

Clevinger remarked, “It has been so thrilling to me to see these freshmen work on this show in the last few weeks and to watch their growth. … They have been able to meet new people and also interact with other professors who are working with me on this.”

“Clouds” will be “open for business” rain or shine, the director added. It can be moved inside Griffis Hall if necessary.

This Shackouls Honors College production is part of the MSU 2015-2016 Lyceum Series. For more information, call 662-325-2522.

Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.