Lia Chang
Prisca Ouya (Hygeia), Valois (Epione), George Drance (Asclepius) and Denise Greber (Photo (Panacea) (Photo by Richard Greene)
La MaMa E.T.C. and The Great Jones Company presents Ellen Stewart’s adaptation of the Classic Greek tale, Asclepius, the son of sun god Apollo and mortal maiden Coronis who transcends to his rightful place in the heavens because of his great work in medicine. It is believed that Asclepius‘ story, rife with incest, murder, betrayal, passion and unrequited love, has never before been told on stage. Asclepius has performances at La MaMa in New York through June 14.
The cast features George Drance, Cary Gant, Denise Greber, Allison Hiroto, Onni Johnson, Michael Lynch, Benjamin Marcantoni, Matt Nasser, Prisca Ouya, Eugene the Poogene, Frederico Restrepo, Valois, Meredith Wright, Perry Yung, and Kat Yew.
Kat Yew and Perry Yung who portray Coronis and Apollo in Ellen Stewart’s adaptation of the Classic Greek tale, Asclepius, on the set at La MaMa in New York. (Photo by Lia Chang)
Conceived, written and directed by Ms. Stewart, Asclepius (George Drance) is the son of the mortal Coronis (Kat Yew), who was raped by the god Apollo (Perry Yung). Angered by Coronis’ agreement to raise
Allison Hiroto (Artemis) and Perry Yung (Apollo) (Photo by Richard Greene)
the child with her true love, mortal Ischys (Matt Nasser), Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis (Allison Hiroto), kills Coronis. Although Apollo tries to stop his sister, he can not save Coronis. Apollo puts Coronis on a funeral pyre and, as she is burning, he reaches into the flames and takes the baby from Coronis’ womb. Asclepius is sent to be raised in nature by the centaur Chiron (Benjamin Marcantoni), who teaches the boy about herbal medicines and the lore of the woods. The adult Asclepius uses herbs given to him by snakes to bring a king’s son back from the dead,
Eugene the Poogene as Black Crow (Photo by Richard Greene)
angering his brother, the god of the underworld Hades (Eugene the Poogene), who is jealous of Asclepius’ ability to use medicine to ward off death, and thus orders Asclepius’ death.
Asclepius features music composed by Ellen Stewart, with additional music by Michael Sirotta, Yukio Tsuji, and Heather Paauwe; and Greek music written by Elizabeth Swados, performed by live musicians.
The production features choreography by Federico Restrepo, puppets by Theodora Skipitares, light design by Federico Restrepo, scenic consultants Mark Tambella and Jun Maeda, and sound design by Tim Schellenbaum.
Performances of Asclepius run through June 14; Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30pm at La MaMa E.T.C. Annex (66 East 4th Street). Tickets are $25 ($20 Students/Seniors) and can be reserved by calling 212-475-7710 or online at http://www.lamama.org. Google Maps
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Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography
As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.
Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.
Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.
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André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
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Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
cllick here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.
