The final production in First Stage’s 2022/23 season will be THE GRACIOUS SISTERS, freely adapted from Aeschylus’ The Eumenides by noted playwright/ filmmaker and First Stage Resident Playwright Alice Austen. Austen’s play GIRLS IN THE BOAT premiered at First Stage in 2018 and has since gone on to having productions across the country. Popular Milwaukee/First Stage actor (THE HOBBIT) and Director of the Young Company Matt Daniels will direct this world premiere production.
When archaeological intern Alice falls down an ancient Greek rabbit hole, she discovers the aftermath of a violent murder, with the goddesses of vengeance, or “Furies,” chasing down the accused to exact bloody retribution. Athena, the goddess of wisdom (and war), persuades the Furies that the accused should have a fair trial before a jury. When the jury is divided in a split decision, all must come to terms with the balance of a desire for vengeance and the need for grace. THE GRACIOUS SISTERS is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals. Sponsored by United Performing Arts Fund.
THE GRACIOUS SISTERS runs May 5 – May 21, 2023 in the newly renovated, theater-in-the-round Goodman Mainstage Hall, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets are $15. Tickets are available online at firststage.org or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961. Performance runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Suggested for families with young people ages 13+.
From Director Matt Daniels: “I love ancient Greek plays almost as much as I love Shakespeare, so the opportunity to partner with one of First Stage’s playwrights in residence to bring one of these pieces into our modern age was too good to pass up. After her amazing work on GIRLS IN THE BOAT, I knew Alice Austen was the ultimate fit for creating a play for our young people that highlights their unique blend of curiosity and determinism. Especially as we all traverse this incredibly unstable era of modern history.”
This is a Young Company production, showcasing the work of First Stage’s award-winning advanced high-school actors. Produced in the intimate Goodman Mainstage Hall, the connection of actor to audience is enhanced and the words of the play come alive in exciting ways as these young artists apply their graduate level skills to this piece, commissioned specially for them.
What: First Stage’s Young Company presents: THE GRACIOUS SISTERS By Alice Austen A free adaptation of The Eumenides, by Aeschylus. Directed by Matt Daniels, the Director of the Young Company. Sponsored by United Performing Arts Fund.
Location: Goodman Mainstage Hall, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee
Live Performances: May 5 – May 21, 2023
Ticket and information:Tickets are $15. Call (414) 267-2961 or online at: firststage.org
About Young Company First Stage Young Company, the Theater Academy’s award-winning training program for advanced high school actors, is open to students who want to take their work to the next level. Accepted students will complete college and graduate-level training in Acting, Voice, Movement and Shakespeare as well as electives ranging from Auditioning to Stage Combat to Dialects. Traditionally, the Young Company hosts master classes with guest artists from across the nation, produces a season of three plays and facilitates special excursions to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and American Players Theatre. To learn more, please visit: firststage.org/theater-academy/young-company/
This play is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals. worldpremierewisconsin.com
Performances:
• Friday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. – PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE PERFORMANCE
• Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 14 at 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 20 at 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
