Tips from the Author
Have your actors research the original Greek myths that each of these stories is based on. It will act as a great discussion point for the entire cast - what are the similarities and differences between the source material and the theatrical adaptations? How are the myths brought to life? What’s the difference between showing a story and telling a story? Ask students this very question - why is it important to “show” and not “tell” a story in a production? This will be something you can come back to time and time again throughout rehearsasl. Remind students they must show their story and not merely stand and tell it. Always think about the visuals!
Tips from past Producers
Have fun with it!
Don't be afraid to cast gender blind. I was worried when we didn't have enough boys show up to audition that it was going to be weird to have Hades be a girl or to have all the narrators be girls and have one say the other was cute. Truth is, no one cared whether a role was played by boys or girls.
I incorporated a lot of percussion instruments like boomwhackers, rhythm sticks, and maracas. That made it easy to add in sound effects and make more students feel involved.
Rehearsing the scenes in order at first isn’t necessary because the transition scenes allow you to connect it all. It makes it easier so you can have those students in the scene there for rehearsals. It makes it easy to schedule around other activities.
Plan ahead for collecting props and costumes for this piece! Otherwise, just have fun.
We did a very bare staged, simple costumes production, but there is room to go big with all of the spectacle if you so choose!
I used different color masquerade masks for different gods or groups. For example, my Grae Sisters/Fates had sparkly grey masks while my goddesses of love all had pink or purple.
Keep it simple! I think I tried to do to much with props and costumes and it started to make it complicated.
We had a table to the side for (almost all) live sound effects including slide, whistles, twirly whistles, for when Perseus is running fast, a little bell for magic moments, a device that made a great thunder sound, and a music box for when Persephone is skipping around the flowers, etc. - we amplified many of these sounds with microphones to great effect! We acted out the sequence of Hermes journey to the underworld to add more fun parts. We added Orpheus coming on to sing a little bit as a way to calm the “Furies“… We had Hermes pacify Cerberus by throwing a rubber ball that Cerberus was trained by and played fetch with. We created a simple, silly ritual with hula hoops for the underworld sequence with Hades and Persephone watching. All actors entered, playing kazoos or banged on tambourines or shakers many with streamers in their hand for the first entrance of the show circus music. We incorporated live music where possible with actors from the show playing a melodica, and a French horn… Using “Seven Nation Army“ by The White Stripes to accompany the underworld ritual, “Valero“ for Medusa‘s snake-y entrance. We solve the issue of King Midas, turning things to gold by painting, one side of the given item gold so either to be flipped or turned to show the gold side after a magic moment quick blackout effect. We showed Arachne “sweating blood“ by having some red ribbon, strands tucked under her headband that she easily pulled out when the moment arrived!
