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Hellas

April 12 – May 11, 2025

In the early fifth-century B.C., a tiny, backward and disunited region in the remote west faced invasion by the mightiest Empire the world had ever known … and triumphed.

Spanning decades, and viewed over a single day, the birth of western civilization and democracy takes form in the Greek epic, Hellas.

Never before seen on stage, this sweeping, visceral production with a cast of twenty-three is set in early fifth-century B.C. when a tiny, backward and disunited region faced invasion by the mightiest empire the world had ever known … and triumphed.

The story is vast, split into two parts of compelling entertainment while encompassing the evolution of societal structures, revenge along with unlikely alliances, and an emerging system of justice. Hellas is a marathon theatrical epic, presented as in ancient Greece, the story over a single day.

 

Synopsis

When his ambassadors to barbarian Athena and Sparta are slain for demanding a gesture of submission, great Parsan King Darius, ruler of the world-dominating Empire of Airyanam, orders the defiant region of Hellas punished.

Upon learning his attempted naval landing at Athenian Marathon has been repulsed, the stunned and shamed King Darius dies of shock. But his son and heir, the new-ascended King Xerxes, has no intention of letting the matter lie. Possessed of a messianic sense of mission, Xerxes devotes every resource of his inherited empire toward a single goal: the brutal and final subjugation of insubordinate Hellas.

In the nascent democracy Athena, the citizens struggle to navigate both the unfolding military crisis and their radical, tumultuous new form of governance. Unable to counter Xerxes’s massive strength alone, Athena is forced into an unlikely alliance with a despised, ancient foe … the brutal, militarized city of Sparta and its ruler King Leonidas.

The School of Night is proud to present Hellas: a theatrical experience in the ancient mold, an epic spanning years viewed over a single day; a stage spectacle told in verse and mask, rhythm, dance and fight; a drama of war and vendetta; of great battles fought upon land and sea; of democracy’s strength and fragility; of oaths and of betrayals; of familial trauma and struggle; of friendship, loyalty, love and sacrifice; a tale of the invention of theatre itself by a firsthand witness and participant, the Athenian playwright Aeschylus.

Come take a front row seat to witness the birth pangs of western civilization.

****IMPORTANT TICKET INFORMATION, PLEASE READ!****

Hellas is a marathon theatrical epic presented, as in the ancient Greece it depicts, over a single day. Meaning, the show will start at 2pm and end at approximately 7:30pm. And will be presented with 3 intermissions. This is the intended and preferred format we’d like you to experience. These tickets are called, “The Complete Saga.” The Complete Saga is only offered on Saturdays and Sundays.

However, we understand schedules and bodies require different needs. So, if marathon theatre is not within your capacity, we invite you to see Part One and Part Two on alternating Fridays. 4/18 or 5/2 for Part One, then 4/25 or 5/9 for Part Two.

Those tickets can be purchased separately and are called “Part One” or “Part Two.” You can mix and match which Fridays you’d like to attend. We do not recommend seeing them out of order.

Cast

SPARTANS

Leonidas – Daniel Adomian
Kleomenes – Sebastian Sage
Demaratus – Rich Dally III
Queen Gorgo – Sara Gorsky
Pausanias – Keegan Gray Hughes
Dienekes, Pythian Kuroko – Klinton Buechele
Dienekes, Pythian Kuroko – Christian Sanders
Amompheratus, Alpheus – Emily Grace Gargiulo
Maron, Greek Citizen, Persian/Immortal Soldier – Jesse Corwin

ATHENIANS

Themistokles– Colin A Borden
Aeschylus
– Mathias Blake
Miltiades – Jordan Liebowitz
Callimachus – Gordon Meacham
Aristides – Dan Wingard
Kimon – Brandon Zicker

PERSIANS

Xsyarsa – Scott Bartling
Artemisia, Priest – Jen Albert
Atossa – Dawn Alden
King Darius – Thomas Bigley
Artobazanus, Ambassador #1, Magi – Anand Mahalingam
Mardonius – Tristan Rewald
Haxamanis, Pythia, Dancer, Helot – Ruju Dani
Irtasduna, Priestess of Artemis, Efialtes, Athena – Angelika Giatras

MUSICIAN

Drummer – Chloe Madriaga

READ THE FULL PROGRAM