Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Nov. 5, 2002) – Two of the area’s leading theatre groups, the East Tennessee State University Division of Theatre and the Milligan College Theatre Department, will team this month to present a collaborative production ofOedipus the King by Sophocles on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
“I am extremely excited about the potential of this show,” said Richard Major, Milligan theatre professor and director of the production. “We have an outstanding company of actors and an absolutely stellar production staff working on this show. Some of the region’s finest creative minds are collaborating to bring what promises to be one of the theatrical events of the year.”
Melissa Shafer, assistant professor of theatre at ETSU, has created a beautiful Greek set; Karen Brewster, assistant professor of theatre at ETSU, has found just the right vivid colors and fabrics for the costumes; Scott Hardy, Light Impressions in Johnson City, has mastered the lighting effects; Oliver Lo, assistant professor of music at ETSU, has unearthed some ancient music for the chorus; free lance sound artist Scott Koenig found the perfect sound effects; and Pam Hurley, adjunct professor of theatre at ETSU, has added a totally unique and fresh approach to the choreography.
The entire company will wear masks that have been designed especially for each character by students in Brewster’s advanced costume design class at ETSU. Corey Sutton, another ETSU student, will design hair for the production.
“Our hope is that the production will appeal to those who are Greek purists, while also exciting a younger audience to the power, beauty and magic of the theatre,” said Major. “At the outset, none of us wanted this to be a museum piece.”
The cast features James Cronin as Oedipus, Amy Tallmadge as Iocaste, Adam K. Meyers as Creon, Paul Blowers as Teiresias, Carrie Smith as the choral leader, Ben Buckner as the messenger from Corinth and Roger Carson Price, as the shepherd.
Chorus members include Amber Dawn Carderelli, Will Coleman, Erin Estep, Jefferson Harbin, Christan McKay, Nathan Moffett, Julie Roberts, Rebecca Schaffer, E.T. Tarlton, Annie Tipton, Crystal Ann Van Meter, Lauren Vernon, Lindsey Vogt and Matthew Weedman. Rounding out the cast are Mikal Joplin and Jonathan Hall as the messengers from the palace.
“We have about 50 people working in some facet on this production,” said Major. “I have been overwhelmed by how excited everyone seems to be about being a part of this collaborative effort.”
Performance dates are Nov. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. Two matinees for high school students are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21 (sold out), and Friday, Nov. 22 (limited seating still available), at 10 a.m. All performances will be in the Bud Frank Theatre, located in ETSU’s Gilbreath Hall.
For more information about Oedipus the King, call 423-439-7576 for reservations.