CSULB Theatre Arts Department University Players Present EURYDICE, Now thru 4/11

The CSULB Theatre Arts Department University Players will present Eurydice, written by Sarah Ruhl, and directed by Robert Prior. Playing tonight, March 27th through April 11th, Eurydice, is a contemporary retelling of the classic myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his young bride, Eurydice.

Eurydice had its world premiere at Madison Repertory Theatre in 2003 and its New York premiere off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre June 18 through August 26, 2007. Author Sarah Ruhl, a Pulitzer Prize finalist (The Clean House), presents a new take on the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice "through the eyes of its heroine as she struggles to retain her memories and her lost love." The New York Times described it as

Director Robert Prior is creating a netherworld for Eurydice that is both modern and ancient. He notes that the playwright, Sarah Ruhl, leaves a lot of staging to interpretation, but that the story itself is about love and loss. "I think this play is confronting death and asks, 'What do we keep about a relationship when half of a relationship has died?'... The piece is really theatrical and really beautiful. It's very funny and very moving... It's a show about young people in crisis."

Robert Prior is the Founder/Director of Los Angeles' treasured company Fabulous Monsters Performance Group with whom he has created 25 pieces during the past two decades. Several of these productions won multiple awards including; SPEED-HEDDA, Project: Alice, A Grimm Evening, Voluptuous Madness and The Importance of Being Earnest. The Company toured to The Bailiwick Theater in Chicago with The Importance of Being Earnest in 1997 and to La MaMa in New York with SPEED-HEDDA. Recent directing work has included Lobster Alice for the University Players at CSULB, Metamorphosis and Lend Me a Tenor for Saddleback College. Robert received his MFA in Theatre Arts from CSULB and has been teaching at both CSULB and at Saddleback College.

Eurydice opens Friday, March 27th, and closes on Saturday, April 11th. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm with Saturday matinees at 2 pm on March 28th and April 11th. This production is in the Studio Theatre on the CSULB Campus, accessible via West Campus Drive. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors and students (with valid ID). Parking is available next to the theater for $5. For tickets and information, please call (562) 985-5526 or visit www.csulb.edu/depts/theatre.

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