“We’re going to read every word of Homer’s Iliad until it’s finished—that’s 15,693 lines of verse, or about 24 hours of active reading,” says Resident Dramaturg Drew Dir of The Homerathon, a 24-hour marathon reading of Homer’s Iliad presented by Court Theatre and The Classical Entertainment Society.
Throughout the free marathon—which begins on Sunday, November 20 at 10:00 pm and ends on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 10:00 pm—food, non-alcoholic beverages, and activities will be provided in the Court Theatre lobby.
“Of course, we’ve invited readers to read in any language or translation they choose—one of the faculty members, for example, is reading from his favorite translation, a translation by 18 century English poet Alexander Pope. We’ve also invited participants to read it in the original ancient Greek, which many here at the University of Chicago are more than prepared to do,” explains Dir.
University of Chicago faculty and students will be providing readings, and the general public is invited to participate as both an audience and readers. Those interested in reading are encouraged to RSVP to Ryan Mease at rmease@gmail.com to guarantee their spot.
The event ties in to the Court Theatre’s Chicago premiere production of An Iliad directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. Homer’s Iliad, a 10-year account of the Trojan War, remains one of Western literature’s most enduring legacies. In their one-man adaptation, Denis O’Hare (True Blood) and Lisa Peterson return Homer’s epic poem to the voice of the lone poet as he recounts the human tragedy of loss and folly.
An Iliad runs through December 11, 2011 at Court Theatre on 5535 South Ellis Avenue.Ticket prices are $40 to $60, and are available by calling 773-753-4472 or visiting www.CourtTheatre.org. Student and senior discounts available. There is no charge to attend The Homerathon.
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