Myths and Hymns

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Director Notes

Adam Guettal’s Myths and Hymns has been described by the New York Times as “a Theater Cult Favorite”. Back in 1998 it debuted at the Public Theatre as a song cycle. These original songs were inspired by Greek myths and a 19^th century Presbyterian hymnal. Guettal’s Myths and Hymns musical vocabulary sweeps from romantic art song and Rock to Latin, Gospel, and R&B.

As I began thinking about how to approach directing this show, I was interested in exploring the possibility of creating a story which connects the songs together. 

During our rehearsal process I began with a framework of circumstances from which our story would take place and the students developed their individual characters based on the clues we gleaned from the lyrics, tone, and composition of the music. 

The opportunity of the MT Box slot in our season lends itself to possibilities of exploration and new ideas. 

Our story of Myths and Hymns begins before the performers take the stage at a summer outdoor music festival. This festival is cut short by extraordinary circumstances and a group of festival goers find shelter in an abandoned theatre in Brooklyn.  The Brick Theatre (which is currently alive and well!) in Williamsburg served as our inspiration. https://www.bricktheater.com/

My love for dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories (Silo, Snowpiercer, The Road, Station Eleven, The Parable of the Sower, The Last of Us), my longing for live concert festivals (Afro-Punk Festival and Block Parties) and my formative years living in Brooklyn, New York are all influences on the story we’ve created. 

The themes in Myths and Hymns evoke our need for connection with someone or a higher power and we were eager to investigate these ideas in our devised process. Our take on Myths and Hymns uniquely explores our passion for live music, storytelling, and our relationship with our ambitions, dreams and with one another.  

We are so thrilled you are able witness this moment in time with us. 

Cheers, 

Alexandra Joye Warren

Special Thanks

Elsa Keefe, Brian Kremer, Fred Rubeck, Dr. Connie Book, Dr. Gabie Smith, Dr. Rebecca Kohn