This week, the Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University is beginning its season of college activities with Classical Week, a nationally recognized, award-winning celebration of Greek, Roman and other cultures of the ancient world.

On Tuesday evening, the week will begin when students and crew members take the stage for the first of two performances of “Electra” by the Greek playwright Sophocles. Both Tuesday and Wednesday, the play will be staged in the Zacharias Village Courtyard on the Griffis Hall patio starting at 6 p.m.

“Electra,” originally performed in the late 5th Century BCE (probably between 420 to 414 B.C.E.), depicts a story in which murder follows murder.

Agamemnon, then King of Argos, has sacrificed his daughter to appease the gods and allow his expedition to Troy to go forward. His wife, Clytemnestra, then kills Agamemnon in revenge. Their remaining children, Electra, Chrysothemis and Orestes, are now confronted with a dilemma: what to do about Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, now the rulers in Argos.

The production spotlights the knowledge and scholarly research of the play’s dramaturg, David Schenker from the University of Missouri, and includes special music from local musician and educator, Bonnie Oppenheimer from the Mississippi University for Women.

Schenker will also be speaking on if “Old Rules Lay Generational Foundations” as a part of the “Orators” Lecture Series, on Wednesday. Members of the public are also invited to this free lecture at 12:15 p.m. in the Forum Room-401 Griffis Hall.

Shackouls Honors College Senior Faculty Member and show director Donna Clevinger said the production of “Electra” was partially funded by the Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities Initiative program from the Society for Classical Studies and by a Bridge Initiative Grant from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South committee for the promotion of Latin.

‘Electra’ cast and crew

Casting for the production began before classes started with rehearsals beginning immediately after. The cast and production crew members of Electra are all Shackouls Honors College students majoring in fields other than the performing arts.

“These students have worked very hard and made personal sacrifices to bring this timely story to the stage,” Clevinger said. “They all took their roles seriously and had some fun along the way.”

The cast includes Hudson Bland as the Tutor, Hays Romano as Orestes, Dani Bean as Pylades, Janiya Rutherford as Electra, Maddy Green as Chrysothemis, Christina Strahan as Clytemnestra, Vineeth Vanga as Aegisthus, Hayley Pettus as the Attendant to Chrysothemis, Nolan Richard Jones as the Attendant to Clytemnestra and Jake Hatfield as the Attendant to Aegisthus. The Chorus Women of Mycenae include Zoe Arnold, Madeline Brown, Camellia Jones, Maggie McCord and Mari Parker.

The play’s stage manager is Sierra Robinson-Clark, assistant stage manager is Allison Rodriquez, movement/music assistant is Stephen Weathersby, and Lindsey Breland, Camelia Garrett and Caitlyn Thacker serve as backstage assistants.

The performances of “Electra” are free and open to the public. Bring dinner and a chair or blanket to sit on the grass. Rain location is Lee Hall, Bettersworth Auditorium. For information contact (662) 325-2522 or [email protected]