Desire and Transformation at the Museum of Fine Arts

by Rebecca Bradshow, Stone Artistic Producing Intern

Audiences at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston have been admiring one of the most intriguing and powerful goddesses of the ancient world. “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love” features exquisite sculptures, mosaics, and paintings from the ancient world. In collaboration with the MFA, the Huntington has created an additional interactive element in experiencing such beauty.


Working in collaboration between Christine Kondoleon (Senior Curator of Greek and Roman Art for the MFA) and M. Bevin O’Gara (the Huntington's Associate Producer), the two institutions have crafted an audio tour incorporating dramatic readings from texts by Ancient Greek philosophers and poets. Each piece of audio is paired with one of the many vases or sculptures to tell a story or reveal an emotion, allowing for a deeper artistic connection to the work as visitors walk through the exhibit. By molding visual storytelling with its audio counterpart, the exhibit comes alive.


On top of the audio tour, the culmination of a larger collaboration will occur tonight. Alongside fringe theater company, Whistler in the Dark, the Huntington has created a theatrical event focusing on love’s many manipulations entitled, “Desire and Transformation: An Evening in Greece”. The evening highlights the text of Ovid with pieces from Whistler’s IRNE Award-winning production, “Tales from Ovid”, as well as readings from Ovid’s collection of love letters. This special performance invites a modern interpretation to the texts while seducing its audience with Ovid’s captivating voice.


On behalf of the Huntington, Marie Polizzano and Dennis Staroselsky will be performing this evening alongside Whistler members Jennifer O’Connor, Aimee Rose Ranger , and Mac Young.


Tonight’s performance will begin at 7:30pm after a reception in and throughout the exhibit. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit huntingtontheatre.org/ovid.

35Below Rock and Rolls

35 Below is the Huntington Theatre Company's exclusive club for the culturally curious aged 35 & under. 35 Below patrons are invited to special parties and receive news about special events, exclusive contests, and backstage gossip. And best all, tickets to any Huntington performance are just $25 through our 35 Below program. The program was first implemented in 2007 - and we sold just under 300 tickets. This year we have surpassed 3000. It is great to see our audiences begin to reflect the greater diversity that is the city of Boston.

Enjoy these photos from our March 5 Becky Shaw wrap party titled Leave with the Wrong Girl.

A Guest stakes his claim on "Susan" played by Maureen Anderman 

Guests and Dress Forms picked their favorite character from the show to identify their own personalities 

Miss Fairchild rocks all night long

35 Below Guest and Staff danced to Miss Fairchild

 
35Below tickets are available for every performance, and our next Event, One Kiss Changes Everything, will be on Friday May 21, 2010

Contributed by M. Bevin O'Gara

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Tickets for the Huntington Theatre Company's 35Below patrons can be purchased online 24/7 or by visiting or calling our box office at 264 Huntington Ave Boston MA 02115 617 266-0800. Proper ID required at ticket pick up.

The Huntington Staff plans to Leave with the Wrong Girl

Contributed by M. Bevin O'Gara,  Artistic Associate (Photo left)

Over at the Boston University Theatre this past week the Huntington’s Production and Artistic Departments have been busily putting together our next production Becky Shaw, starting performances tonight.

But across the street in the Admin offices young staff members from all departments are pooling their resources for our first 35 Below Wrap Party, which will take place in Studio 210 following tonight's performance, titled Leave with the Wrong Girl.

It’s shaping up to be quite an event: lights are being hung, funky couches being pulled from prop storage, even a special cocktail, “The Wrong Girl,” is being concocted. All these efforts, and the less sexy sounding ones too, will help turn the black box theatre into a hip lounge-y nightspot. A stage space is being set up for local band MISS FAIRCHILD.

A couple of the committee members had a great meeting yesterday with our reps at SYMPHONY 8 who will be providing the catering spread for this event. Lots of easy to eat finger foods and for any one who hasn’t tried executive chef, Josh Davis’ skewers you’re in for a treat!

Patrons will be greeted by a red carpet photo shoot, entered in a raffle, and decked out with the snazzy nametags you’ve ever seen before being encouraged to mingle and enjoy the music, food, and drink. Guests will be able to meet some of the actors and designers who are bringing Becky Shaw to life, as well as actors from Stick Fly, another Huntington production playing across town at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

Young Huntington staff members will be out in droves and able to share insights about their work for the Huntington. A great number of folks have already purchased tickets for the event, the food and band are all lined up, but there are still a few last minute details to take care of to make sure that tonight is completely awesome. So I’m signing off to go move some couches.

- Bevin

If you joined us for the event, make sure to tell us what you thought. Missed it? Check back here and on the Huntington’s FACEBOOK PAGE to see pictures of the event. And be sure to visit us HERE for information about our next 35Below event.  Comment on this post


The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo directed by the Huntington's Artistic Director Peter DuBois is playing at the Huntington's mainstage The Boston University Theatre at 264 Huntington Ave Boston MA 02115 now thru April 4th. Tickets available online 24/7 and by visiting or calling our box office locations.