Cassandra: An Ongoing Tragedy

Rich with emotional and social relevance, Cassandra: An Ongoing Tragedy by award-winning playwright Ruth Cantrell, jumps from ancient to modern times -- from ancient Greece to the world of recent years. Episodic in nature, the scenes change from mythological (the Trojan War and other classical myths), to historical (the massacre at My Lai, a suicide bombing in Pakistan, the Holocaust, kidnappings in Nigeria, the school shooting at Sandy Hook, the bombing of the 16th St. Baptist Church, fleeing war-torn El Salvador), to imagined (a domestic sexual assault). Cassandra: An Ongoing Tragedy depicts the eternal existence of hate and evil in these different appearances and traces their origins to the myth of Pandora’s box. Further, through the voice of Cassandra, the doomed seeress of Troy, who was cursed to see the future, but not to be believed, we see what she sees, and how humanity cannot refrain itself from repeating the evils brought about by hate. And yet, we cannot answer the unspoken question at the heart of the piece: Will we ever learn not to hate? The stories told in this piece, related by fictional characters in historical situations, are presented through live spoken word and dance, with a commissioned score of original music. Extensive use of video, voiceovers, and projected images heighten the immediacy of these ongoing tragedies. Directed by Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, with choreography by Samara Adell, and music by Michael V. Ficocelli, this world-premiere production features a cast of eleven: Samara Adell, Nina Brewton, Bobni Das, Denny!, Soraya Mahieddine, Kendra Dushac McCarthy, Heather Panikkar, Mina Rose, Katherine Shamdin, Sofia Terceros Arce, and Morgiana Celeste Varricchio. Made possible by funds from the Essex County Division of Cultural Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. In addition, we thank The Puffin Foundation for their support. CONTENT WARNING This production shows graphic images of violence, including warfare, bombings, and their victims, with intense, jarring audio of gunfire and explosions. It is intended for mature audiences and those seeking to understand the events. Please take care of your well-being.