OVERVIEW

Mythological sirens roost deep in our collective conscious, ancient forerunners to the femme fatale. In Here Be Sirens; join these singing ciphers as they investigate their own origins, seeking–through the twists & turns of literature & philosophy–a way off the island for good.

CAST

Victoria Benson, soprano, “Polyxo”

Claire Myers McCormick, soprano, “Peitho”

Devony Smith, soprano, “Phaino”

PRODUCTION

Amber Treadway, director

Liene Dobraja, costume design

Matthew Wasser, projection design

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PHOTOS

Photos by Johnny Call and Jill Steinberg

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VIDEO

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PROGRAM

PROLOGUE

1. “The Myth of Er”: text by Plato

2. “Concerning the Siren”: text by Bishop Theobald

3. “Song”



SCENE 1: SIRENS BREAK RANK

4. “Sirenbraid”: texts by Homer (abridged Soper) and Carl Jung

5. “Naufragium 1”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 2: POLYXO EXPLAINS IT ALL

6. “Altas Undas/Furtivus Amor”: texts by Raimbaut de Vacqueiras

and Tibullus

7. “Phonebook Aria”

8. “Naufragium 2”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 3: ORIGIN SPECULATION 1

9. “Witch-Wife”: text by Edna St. Vincent Millay

10. “Naufragium 3”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 4: THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE

11. “The Abduction of Persephone”

12. “Hymn to Neptune”: text by Thomas Campion

13. “Naufragium 4”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 5: ORIGIN SPECULATION 2

14. “Muses Entra’ct”

15. “Siren Nomenclature”

16. “O Sailor”:

17. “Naufragium 5”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 6: THE CONTEST OF THE MUSES AND THE SIRENS

18. “The Muzes Elyzium”: text by Michael Drayton

19. “Pythagorus 1”: text by Iamblicus

20. “Across the Turbid Waves”: text by Dante (trans. Soper)

21. “In a Silent Valley”: text by John Milton

22. “Pythagorus 2”: text by Iamblicus

23. “Naufragium 7”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 7: PEITHO RISING

24. “Sappho Fragments”: text by Sappho (trans. Anne Carson)

25. “Here to Me from Krete”: text by Sappho (trans. Anne Carson)

26. “Naufragium 7”: text by Erasmus



SCENE 8: A CYCLE COMPLETES

27. “Song to Odysseus”: text by Homer



