Pasadena’s A Noise Within Theatre is Sure to Excite with ‘Argonautika’

Trisha Miller as Athena in A Noise Within’s production of Argonautika. – Courtesy photo / Facebook, @anoisewithintheatre

A Noise Within (ANW), California’s acclaimed classic repertory theatre, is proud to present Argonautika, an epic theatrical journey full of human emotion by Tony Award®-winning director and playwright Mary Zimmerman. ANW Producing Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott will direct Zimmerman’s work for the first time. Argonautika, which made its world premiere in 2006 at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre that Zimmerman is a member of, runs from March 20 through May 5. Previews begin Wednesday, March 20 and press opening weekend is Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24.

A special “Pay What You Can” (PWYC) performance will take place on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. PWYC tickets go on sale at the box office window the day of the performance, beginning at 2 p.m., and are sold on a cash-only basis based on availability; limit of two tickets per person. There is a suggested price of $10.

There will also be a symposium with University of California Irvine Associate Professor of Classics, Dr. Zina Giannopoulou on Wednesday, March 20 at 6:45 p.m. prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance of Argonautika. With her research in Greek tragedy and epic, Dr. Giannopoulou has received numerous Distinguished Teaching awards, and in 2018 was recognized as Dean’s Honoree for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at UC Irvine.

Argonautika is a fresh retelling of the classic Greek myth, The Voyage of Jason and the Argonauts. Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece has been reframed for our time. Audiences will join the fantastic voyage and encounter Athena, Hera, Hercules, sirens, centaurs, and more—familiar mythological figures imbued with unexpected character and depth. This contemporary piece of theatre encompasses humor, love, and the unimaginable as Zimmerman reveals the humanity in the most monstrous of creatures in an unforgettable adventure for the ages.

“I am a longtime fan of Zimmerman’s work,” said ANW Producing Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “Zimmerman is an expert at taking these ancient tales and making them accessible to a modern audience. In Argonautika, she brings humor and philosophical perspective to the plight of humanity. I love voyages and the possibilities they present, so that is always an attraction, and this voyage is filled with adventures, tight scrapes, giants, harpies, and gods flying. As a director, I find all this thrilling and terrifying.”

The story of Jason and his Argonauts will soar to new heights in ANW’s production of Argonautika featuring aerial silks, rope-swinging, heroic battles, humor, and song all within a 324-seat space.

“A Noise Within excels in creating epic experiences in an intimate setting. Our thrust stage will make the audience feel like they are part of the action (and there is lots of it!),” explained Rodriguez-Elliott.

She continued, “Zimmerman has provided me with a very strong roadmap, but she also leaves it open to each director in finding their own way of theatricalizing the series of events that make up Jason’s journey. There will be a uniquely ANW approach to the story that will surprise audiences.

We have an exciting design team working on this production and a terrific cast bringing the story to life.”

The poetic stage design conceived by Scenic Designer Frederica Nascimento will be elaborated by elements such as an immense ocean, a ship, black cloud, hard lines of rope, expansive fabric, and great heights from which actors will leap, climb, and jump – which all creates a wonderful playground for the play.

The costumes of Argonautika will breathe life into the story and represent the development of the characters as they progress on their journey. Costume Designer Jenny Foldenauer and Costume Associate Dayna L. Lucas were interested in going beyond the traditional Greek aesthetic and focused their attention on the earthiness of the tale with dip-dyed fabrics, feathers, gold, and flowers for the gods and a distressed, gritty look for the Argonauts.

“Argonautika is an adult fairytale for all ages. Anyone who enjoys a great adventure will be taken on a glorious ride this spring,” concluded Rodriguez-Elliott.

Tickets for Argonautika start at $25 and are available at anoisewithin.org. by phone at (626) 356-3121, and at the box office located at 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. To view a behind the scene look at Argonautika, click here.

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