Casting has been revealed for the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Medea: Re-Versed. The work is penned by Luis Quintero, and co-conceived and directed by Red Bull Theater Associate Artistic Director Nathan Winkelstein.
Performances begin September 12 at the Sheen Center Frank Shiner Theatre, with opening night set for September 23. The limited engagement will continue through October 13. Originally commissioned and developed by RBT, the rolling world premiere is currently playing the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival through August 30.
Sarin Monae West will star in the title role, with Siena D'Addario (The Seagull), Melissa Mahoney (Measure for Measure), Mark Martin (Voca People), Jacob Ming-Trent (How Shakespeare Saved My Life), Quintero (Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play), and Stephen Michael Spencer (Clyde's).
Medea: Re-Versed is an adaptation of Euripides' play written in battle rap verse. The hip-hop version sheds contemporary light on the classic tragedy of family, power, and revenge.
The creative team includes scenic designer Emmie Finckel, costume designer Nicole Wee, lighting designer Cha See, sound designer Matt Otto, and music director Mark Martin.
"Music and Myth making is one the oldest of human traditions. In excavating the past, I discover what resonates with the present," Quintero said in a statement. "When I set out to modernize Medea I asked myself 'Who am I writing this for?’ First, I needed to honor the memory of the original Medea. Meaning the very woman who fought for her own justice when no one else would. Her suffering was not a play, it was lived and I was compelled to write with that reverence in mind. Second, I am writing to expand the traditional theatre audience. Musically, I wanted to compose a piece that broke out of the mold of musical theatre. A three-piece band with simple music that anyone could play and, most importantly, that non-theatregoers would headbang to in their cars the same way they would to Joyner Lucas, Rage Against the Machine, or Evanescence. Thirdly, it needed to accentuate the live theatrical experience. In a world of streaming, the communal exchange of vibration and energy in the present moment is what sets theatre apart. So by looking back to Shakespeare I set out to create a new form of theatre that encourages audience participation and channels it into the storytelling itself. Using these three pillars as my compass, I began writing Medea."
Visit RedBullTheater.com for more information.
