Theater of War Productions Presents “Hector, Andromache, and the Death of Astyanax” at Villanova University

Theater of War Productions will present “Hector, Andromache, and the Death of Astyanax”—featuring live, dramatic readings of selections from Homer’s Iliad, Book VI and scenes from The Trojan Women by Euripides—at Villanova University in The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. This will be a signature event for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Augustine and Culture Seminar program.

Theater of War creates community-specific, theater-based projects that address pressing public health and social issues. Each project begins with dramatic readings of seminal plays—from classical Greek tragedies to modern and contemporary works—followed by town hall-style discussions. “Hector, Andromache, and the Death of Astyanax” will use ancient texts that explore and depict the dehumanization of war to create a vocabulary for open discussion. It is translated, directed and facilitated Bryan Doerries, artistic director of Theater of War.

Theater of War works with leading film, theater, and television actors to present the dramatic readings. The performance at Villanova University will feature Lois Smith (East of Eden), Chad Coleman (The Wire), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Theater of War Productions) and Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade).

The performance includes a chorus of students, whose lives have been impacted by war, to help frame a powerful, healing dialogue. Villanova’s student performers will be Jamison Dean, Rylan Fegan, Nyred Jackson, Ethan Khan, Micki Loud, Zoë Magee and Rachel Taylor.

Hosted by the University, the event is also cosponsored by the Office of Mission and Ministry, the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion as well as the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication, the Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society, the Center for Peace and Justice and the college’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee.

This event is open to students, faculty and staff of Villanova University. Registration is required.

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.