The Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University presents “Thyestes” as a part of its 2025 Classical Week.

The show will be performed at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in Mississippi State University’s Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall.
This Roman tragedy is rarely performed and graphically written, including some images and words that some audiences may find disturbing.

Set in the City of Argos, Greece in the first century C.E., the play reveals a family’s legacy of betrayal and revenge – the story of Pelops and his two sons, Thyestes and Atreus.

Donna Clevinger, senior faculty fellow in the Shackouls Honors College and professor of communication and theatre, is directing the show.

“Many thanks to MSU’s Partnership Middle School and Sarah Staggers for helping me discover two talented young men for the play,” Clevinger said. “Henry Swanson, son of Meredith and Bob Swanson, and Liam Haug, son of Marty and Rowan Haug, will be performing two of Thyestes’s three sons in the production. Both Henry and Liam have performed onstage before in various school and summer camp productions.”

The play was written by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a Roman philosopher, playwright and prominent supporter of the philosophy Stoicism. Seneca’s tragedies, including “Thyestes,” are known for their intense psychological depth, moral dilemmas and themes of fate and revenge. The play was written around 62 C.E. and is arguably one of Seneca’s most famous tragedies and one of the darkest works in classical literature, exploring themes of fate, revenge and the corruption of power.

Costumes for this production were funded in whole or in part by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South Committee for the promotion of Latin, due to a Bridge Initiative Grant.

Cast and crew

The Shackouls Honors College cast and production staff of Thyestes is made up of 24 honors students majoring in a variety of subjects across MSU’s campus plus two children.

MSU student Luke Palmer, of Euphoria, is playing the role of an attendant in the show. He said he was excited to be a part of the production.

“I am excited about seeing everyone’s reaction to the story,” Palmer said. “I’m also excited about meeting new people and making new friends.”

MSU student Maddy Green, of Russellville, Alabama, is acting as the chorus leader. She said she is excited for all the pieces of the show to come together.

“I am also excited to be working with this fantastic cast, especially watching the freshmen grow,” Green said.

Two other MSU students also conducted research in music and sound effects for the production.

J. Todd Fayard II, of Biloxi, graduated this year from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at MSU. Between November and May, he worked with the play’s director to compose the music. He was commissioned to enter active duty in the Air Force shortly after its completion.

Ashwani Mishra, from Delhi, India, is a junior majoring in computer science. With summer research funding from the Shackouls Honors College, Ashwani used audio sites and sound effects, along with cutting-edge AI software, to craft unsettling atmospheres.

“I am left highly impressed how technology can amplify storytelling, and grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the spine-chilling vibe,” Ashwani said.

Orators Lecture Series

This year marks the eighth year that the honors college has sponsored the Orators Lecture Series. This three-time-a-year program invites speakers, representing various campus disciplines, to engage and enrich the campus and local communities through public forums, panel discussions, seminars, course work, research and public lectures. The series theme for 2025-2026 is: “A Timeless Human Impulse: The Enduring Cycle of Revenge.”

To kick off this year’s lecture series, the Shackouls Honors College will host a short talk immediately following each performance of “Thyestes.” Christopher Snyder, former dean of the Shackouls Honors College and professor of medieval studies, will explore the topic around the theme, “From Mythology to Actuality.”

“We hope you stay, participate and meet Dr. Snyder and the creative cast and production staff from the play,” Clevinger said.

To support Arts in Honors, contact Jack McCarty at [email protected].

How to Go:

■ WHAT: “Thyestes,” presented by Shackouls Honors College
■ WHEN: 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
■ WHERE: Lee Hall, Bettersworth Auditorium, MSU campus