Park Square's THE ODYSSEY Opens 1/21

In Park Square Theatre's world premiere commission of THE ODYSSEY, Minneapolis Playwright William Randall Beard re-imagines Homer's epic not just as Odysseus' adventure, but as a family saga. Legendary warrior Odysseus (J.C. Cutler) battles beasts, tides and his own arrogance - often with no weapon except his passion. His wife, Penelope (Jodi Kellogg), fights the urge to give up on the world and his teenage son Telemachus (Sasha Andreev) wrestles with his transition to adulthood. Reunited, they discover they can claim new lives, despite the sometimes wicked blows of the gods. The production opens at Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul, on January 21 (previews begin January 14) and runs through February 6.

Under the direction of Park Square Artistic Director Richard Cook, the larger-than-life legend retains its blockbuster quality with a talented cast of 19, a spectacular set by Ivey Award-winner Joel Sass and the requisite mythical gods and goddesses, one-eyed monsters and physical contests. "With inspiration from others and some inventing of our own, we've aimed for a dynamic, fast-paced production that's both artistically exciting and emotionally immediate in its impact," Cook said. "This is ambitious story-telling at its best. Randy [Playwright Beard] was able to put a lot of heart into the characters yet retain the epic's sweep and action."

Park Square commissioned Beard, who co-wrote Mary Stuart for the theatre's 2003 season, to create a multi-faceted adaptation of a monumental adventure story infused with deeply personal narratives. "Odysseus, Penelope and Telemachus are equal in my view of the story," Beard explained. "It's not just Odysseus' transformation. His wife Penelope's role has been amplified to provide stronger female energy. And his son navigates the road to becoming a man. To anyone who is concerned by the liberties that I am taking with The Odyssey, I would say that I am simply doing what Homer did: taking ancient tales (yes, they were even ancient by his day) and refashioning them for a contemporary audience."

Previews of The Odyssey will be held Friday, January 14 through Thursday, January 20; the show opens Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, February 6. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays. All performances are in the company's intimate theater in Saint Paul's historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place. Tickets are $36-$56 (with opening night at $40-$60 and preview tickets at $20). Group, senior and special prices for those 30 and under are also offered. Tickets are available at 651-291-7005 or online www.parksquaretheatre.org.