Persephone explores the Greek myth of Persephone, who is so admired by Hades that he abducts her and forces her to live with him as queen of the underworld. Grief-stricken, her mother Demeter causes all of nature on earth to die until she wins Persephone’s temporary release from the underworld each spring.
Composer Tigger Benford creates a polyrhythmic score based on Javanese gamelan musical structures and using amadinda, marimba, shakuhachi flute, piano, hand drums, bells, gongs, and conch shell with text written by Benford and sung by the cast.
Direction: Jane Comfort
Choreography: Jane Comfort and Company
Music: Tigger Benford
Set Design: Keith Sonnier
Lighting Design: David Ferri
Costumes: Liz Prince
Dramaturgy: Jim Lewis
Cast:
Persephone: Cynthia Bueschel Svigals
Demeter: Aleta Hayes
Hades: Olase Freeman
Inhabitants of the Upper and Underworlds: Jessica Anthony, Kathleen Fisher, Elizabeth Haselwood, Lisa Niedermeyer, Steve Nunley, Peter Sciscioli, and Darrin Wright
Musicians: Tigger Benford, Peter Jones, Martha Partridge and James Schlefer
Funding:
Commission by The Joyce Theater Foundation and the NPN Creation Fund, with additional support from the Rockefeller MAP Fund, Mary Flagler Cary Foundation, Altria and Bates Dance Festival
