True repertory theatre returns to our shores for one month May 19 to June 13
La MaMa ETC presents SEVEN

--7 Greek classics in rep performed by Ellen Stewart's 36-member Great Jones Rep Co.--

Stewart's new production of ANTIGONE opens festival,
followed by 6 revivals dating from the 1972 MEDEA to 2002's DIONYSUS
"It's been a dream for years," to do these Greek classics in rep, states Ms. Stewart.

A theatrical event unprecedented in the 43-year history of La MaMa ETC will take place when Ellen Stewart's renowned Great Jones Repertory Company presents SEVEN - seven Greek plays in repertory - from May 19 to June 13 at La MaMa ETC Annex (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan. The world-premiere of Ms. Stewart's new production of ANTIGONE will open the Greek festival, with five successive performances May 19 to 22. The seven-play repertory begins in earnest starting May 23.

La MaMa's month-long festival of Greek classics marks a rare theatrical event in the U.S. with the return of a genuine repertory, including the world-premiere production of Great Jones Repertory's ANTIGONE (directed by Ms. Stewart, with music by Elizabeth Swados), in addition to revivals of six productions previously presented by Great Jones Repertory at La MaMa: MEDEA, ELECTRA, TROJAN WOMEN; and the Oedipus Saga, MYTHOS OEDIPUS, SEVEN AGAINST THEBES and DIONYSUS: FILIUS DEI. The productions - large-scale and epic - are renowned for their experimental blend of the Greek texts with classical elements, unique visual, design and performance styles, world music, movement and a multi-culturalism represented by an international cast and roster of creators.

SEVEN will be performed by Great Jones Repertory's company of 36 actors and musicians, one of the most multi-cultural casts to perform on any stage anywhere, representing Chinese, Colombian, Cuban, Filipino, Greek, India, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, North American, Puerto Rican, Romanian, Serbian, Turkish, Ugandan, Vietnamese and American cultures.

Ellen Stewart, who founded La MaMa in 1961, says of SEVEN, "There's nobody really doing repertory in America, to speak of, and to do this is like a dream to me. I've always, always wanted to do these plays in repertory. We've done the MEDEA, ELECTRA, TROJAN WOMEN trilogy in rep before, and the other four plays one at a time. But to do all seven together, well, I wanted to see if we could meet the challenge, and on a very limited budget, I might add. It's an enormous task logistically, and for the actors, of course."

The plays in SEVEN are performed to music by an eclectic assortment of composers - with Asian, African, Middle Eastern and American influences -- including the renowned Elizabeth Swados and Alan Bezozi, Genji Ito, Bob Morffi, Heather Paauwe, David Sawyer, Michael Sirotta, Yukio Tsuji and Bill Ruyle.

Chronologically speaking, the plays in SEVEN were presented at La MaMa, as follows,
MEDEA - premiered 1972; last revived 1999
ELECTRA - premiered 1973; last revived 1999
TROJAN WOMEN - premiered 1974; last revived 1999
MYTHOS OEDIPUS - premiered 1985; last revived 1996
SEVEN AGAINST THEBES - premiered 2000
DIONYSUS: FILIUS DEI - premiered 2002
ANTIGONE - world premiere

The productions in SEVEN of MEDEA, ELECTRA and TROJAN WOMEN are re-stagings by Ellen Stewart of Andrei Serban's original productions.