KU News Release

Feb. 12, 2007
Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684.

KU theatre group to stage ‘The Odyssey’ in Belgium

LAWRENCE — A group of students and faculty members from the University of Kansas is making an odyssey of its own when the company visits Liege, Belgium, later this month to restage the KU Theatre for Young People’s dramatization of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”

The production, originally presented at KU in late September, will be performed four times Feb. 26 and 27 as part of RITU 24, an international theater festival at the University of Liege. Some of the performances will be staged for Liege school children.

Theater companies from all over Europe are invited to the festival, and usually only one U.S. company is invited, according to Jack B. Wright, professor of theatre and film. Wright is a member of an international committee that meets during the festival to talk about the state of college and university theater in the world.

“This is KU’s third trip in recent years,” Wright said. “We have an open-ended invitation from Robert Germay, producer and host of RITU 24, to bring a production whenever we can. Our last trip was with ‘All in the Timing’ in 1999.”

The International University Theatre Association was established at the University of Liege in 1994 to develop and promote post-secondary activity in theatre training, creation and theoretical and practical research throughout the world. The association, which is present in every continent and has members in more than 50 countries, holds a world congress every two years.

Originally adapted by Gregory A. Falls and Kurt Beattie, the KU production of “The Odyssey” was directed by Dennis Christilles, KU associate professor of theatre and film. Christilles also composed the music and created the scenic design. Musical director and violist for the production was Laura Raab, Olathe junior. Christina Montgomery, Manhattan senior, designed costumes, and Nick Kostner, Murdock graduate student, designed lights.

Christilles said the new adaptation is true to the original myth. The play tells the story of Odysseus, leader of the island kingdom of Ithaca in Greece, and the long journey he must make to return to his home and his family.

Many of the actors in the production play more than one role and several of the women play men’s roles.

“When theater began in ancient Greece more than 2,500 years ago, the actors at that time were all men,” Christilles said. “The women’s roles were played by men. Our production does just the opposite. When we tell each other stories, we often say what a person said and, at times, even imitate their voice and movements. Sometimes they are male and sometimes female. In the spirit of good story telling, our production allows both women and men to speak with many voices.

“This story takes place in many different locations, but they’re not realistically portrayed in the scenery. This adds to the idea of storytelling. Fantastic locations can be more effectively suggested in the mind through suggestion than by painted wood and canvas.”

After more than a week seeing theater productions day and night during the festival, the KU group will spend two days in Brussels, Belgium, sightseeing and visiting museums, Christilles said.

KU students making the trip to Belgium are listed below by name, class level and major, parents’ names, high school and role:

BROWN COUNTY
From Hiawatha
Megan Persinger, senior theatre major, daughter of Bill and Kathy Persinger; Hiawatha High School; Hermes, Leodes, Eurylochus, Aeolus’ Attendant and Dead Soul.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66244
Courtney Schweitzer, senior theatre major, daughter of Ken and Linda Schweitzer; Blue Valley High School; King Aeolus, Teiresias, Eurymachus and Siren.

From Shawnee 66216
ReBecca Ralstin, sophomore theatre and creative writing major, daughter of James and Mary, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, costume crew.

From Prairie Village 66207
Ann E. Sitzman, sophomore theatre major, daughter of Everette and Jan Sitzman, Shawnee Mission East High School, stage manager.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing
Lawrence P. Henderson, senior theatre major, son of Terri L. Harris; Lansing High School; Polyphemus, Ktessipos, Zeus and Dead Soul.

PAWNEE COUNTY
From Larned
Kate Giessel, senior theatre and film and linguistics major, daughter of Tom and Sheryl Giessel, Larned High School, Pallas Athena, Poseidon, Aeolus’ Attendant and Siren.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan
Dale Buchheister, senior theatre major, son of James and Carol Buchheister, Manhattan High School, crew.

Christina Montgomery, senior theatre design major, daughter of Katherine Montgomery of Rotterdam, Netherlands; costume designer.

MAINE
From Falmouth
Carter Royce Waite, senior theatre and film major, son of DeDe Waite; Falmouth High School; Odysseus and Old Man.

MINNESOTA
From Lakeville
Justin Knudsen, senior theatre and English major, son of Ken and Barb Knudsen, Lakeville Senior High School, Telemachus, Apollo, Peremides and Dead Soul.

OKLAHOMA
From Stillwater
Amy Virginia Buchanan, sophomore theatre major, daughter of David and Cindy Buchanan; Stillwater High School; Penelope, Polites, Hylax and Dead Soul.

TEXAS
From Missouri City
Kari Gillespie, junior applied behavioral science major, daughter of Marty and Nancy Gillespie; Dulles High School; Circe, Anticlea, Antinous, Siren and Perites.

GREECE
From Preveza
Angela Chrysostomou, freshman theatre major, daughter of John and Diana Malakasis, Ast Preveza High School, crew.

THE NETHERLANDS
From Rotterdam
Christina Montgomery. See RILEY COUNTY

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