The Randolph College Greek Play
Mabel K. Whiteside, professor of Greek, began a Randolph-Macon Woman's College tradition in 1909 by producing Euripides' Alcestis in Greek. She led her students in an annual production of a Greek play from then until her retirement in 1954.
Beginning with the production of Sophocles' Antigone in 2000,
Greek professor Amy R. Cohen and her students have revived
the tradition. The renewed series produces the plays mostly in English.
In reviving the College tradition, the
Randolph College Greek Play adheres to most of the original conventions that governed
theatre in the time of the great tragedians, believing that the best
plays will emerge from the conditions for which they were written. The College
and her alumnae have blessed the College with an outdoor Greek theatre,
which allows the plays to be performed in daylight for an audience seated
in a semi-circle around the performers. The Randolph College Greek Play adheres
to other ancient conventions as well: three actors play all the roles;
the Chorus—which sings and dances—remains on stage for most
of the play; and the performers all wear masks. Through the 2006 Greek Play we also had one sex play both men
and women, but the 2008 Greek Play will inaugurate the era of gender-blind casting.
We are supported by Randolph College, by the Classics Department, and by our student
booster group, Melpomene.
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