The Arthropologist

Greek drama gone wild: Houston arts groups get ancient, reimagine classicalthemes

Misha Penton as Klytemnestra in Divergence Vocal Theater's "Klytemnestra - TheOriginal Subversive Female"
Photo by Kerry Beyer
Misha Penton, left, as Klydemnestra surrounded by choros members Isiah Gentry,Chelsea Cooper, Jonathan Sanford, Blythe Nguyen and KC Shuette in Agamemnon, aUH Honors College Center for Creative Work production
Photo by Dave Nickerson
"The 12 Tasks of Hercules," archival inkjet print, 2010, from the photographicseries, "House/Hold, Hillerbrand + Magsamen"
San Francisco 2002 production of "Ariadne auf Naxos;" Houston Grand Opera'sproduction opens April
Photo by Ken Friedman
Giovanni Maria Benzoni, "Young Dionysus with a Nymph," 1866, marble, The RienziCollection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III
"Diana," archival inkjet print, 2010, from the photographic series, "House/Hold,Hillerbrand + Magsamen"
Rienzi Folly Garden
Photo by Paul Hester/Courtesy of Rienzi
Titian, "Diana and Actaeon," 1556-1559
Bought jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery,London, with contributions from The Scottish Government, The National HeritageMemorial Fund, The Monument Trust, The Art Fund (with a contribution from theWolfson Foundation) and through public appeal, 2009
Anton von Maron, "The Return of Orestes," 1786, Gift of Nina and Michael Zilkha,The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Angelica Kauffmann, "Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus," 1774
Joseph-Marie Vien, "Greek Lady at the Bath," 1767
Artist Meg Brooker at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum in Austin
Photo by Sheila Fox

The House of Atreus gets a make-over as Houston hands the keys to the city over to Dionysus this spring, with some delicious reimagining of classical themes.

The mythmastering begins tonight at 6:45 pm, when University of Houston students re-enact an ancient Greek ritual, as the Honors College Center for Creative Work puts on their own Dionysia. The festivities begin with an Agora (food and drink) and an Ekphrastic Art Exhibit at the Honors College, which culminates in a procession to the theater for a performance of Aeschylus' Agamemnon, with a new translation by Center for Creative Work director John Harvey. Performances continue on April Saturday and Sunday at UH's Wortham Theater and Monday at Khons.

The students are joined by professional actors, Brandy Holmes as Cassandra, and Divergence Vocal Theater founder Misha Penton as Klydemnestra. Holmes took Cassandra's central dilemma into her own solo show.

"If you knew exactly when you would die, would you want to?" asks Holmes, in her piece Yes, Cassandra, recently performed at the Houston and New Orleans Fringe Festivals. "Cassandra wrestles with this knowledge, which eventually drives her mad."

Can't a girl get a break now and then for killing her husband? Penton has her own views on the other great Greek icon, and the following weekend, the Dionysia continues with Klytemnestra: The Original Subversive Female, at her new Spring Street Studio, Divergence Music & Arts, on April 15 and 16.

"She is vulnerable, brilliant and cunning, yet there is something 'other' about her, perhaps supremely female, that stands in absolute rejection of male domination," says Penton. "She's the embodiment of chaos."

Music is by Dominick DiOrio, who also composed the incidental music for Agamemnon. Dancer/choreographer Meg Booker and actor Miranda Herbert complete the Divergence team. Both are well studied in the classics, and used to artists having their way with Greek literature. "In grad school, we called it Greek schmearing," jokes Herbert.

If Booker looks like she just stepped off an ancient Grecian urn, as well she should, she's a fourth generation Isadora Duncan dancer.

"Duncan studied how the Greeks depicted the body in ancient art, for the line and shape in her dances. She envisioned beauty as harmony in form, not just the human body, but also the relationship between the body and both natural and architectural forms," says Booker, Texas' leading Duncan scholar. "Duncan wanted to recreate theater in the tradition of the ancient Greeks—to create performance that integrated text, music and dance."

Don't expect Booker to be all airy, either. "Duncan’s technique allows for a wide range of expression, and Klytemnestra is no light maiden," adds Booker.

As for Penton's classical penchant, the soprano can't help herself.

"I'm interested in the reinvention of classic women. These characters were originally created by men, but they have immense influence to disrupt the status quo," says Penton. "How can they be re-imagined to reveal their innate, powerful, female qualities, lifting them out of just being stories old dead guys wrote about women."

Being abandoned on the island of Naxos by Theseus is no picnic for Ariadne. Enter Zerbinetta in Strauss' beloved opera within an opera, Ariadne auf Naxos, and the plot thickens. With Christine Goerke (Ariadne/ Prima Donna), Laura Claycomb (Zerbinetta), Susan Graham (Composer) and Alexey Dolgov as Bacchus and the Tenor, expect a powerhouse performance by Houston Grand Opera on April 29-May 10.

Ixion got in a tiff with Zeus, and let's just say things didn't turn out well. Earlier this Spring Bootown, hilariously folded the myth of Ixion into a story about the unknown fate of Amazonian explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett in Cut Down. Bootown's co-founder and Cut Down's devised theater scribe, Philip Hays, describes the process.

"It's not that glamorous. I was clicking around Wikipedia, and ended up in the pages on Greek Mythology. I clicked on the first name I didn't know (Ixion)," admits Hays. "The story heightens the 'whoopses' of everyday and turns them into 'oh shits' of monstrous proportions."

No discussion of Greek drama gone wild in Houston would be complete without a big shout out to the brave but nutty folk of the now-defunct Nova Arts Project, who produced the most absurd version of Sophocles’ Oedipus Trilogy ever with Oedipus 3 in 2006. Who could resist a play titled The Gods are Just Big Poop Heads, which made sweet fun of Greek freak Martha Graham? Even the Graham company made fun of themselves with The Clytemnestra Remash Challenge.

My only regret is that no one chose the crumbling ruins tucked into the graceful gardens of Rienzi, known as a "folly," as their stage. While you are at Rienzi, snoop around the collection to count the number of Bacchus images.

Visual art goes classical bonkers every other century or so and the evidence is everywhere in Houston right now. The painters in Antiquity Revived: Neoclassical Art in the Eighteenth Century at the MFAH, running through May 30, were drawn to classical themes for obvious reasons; these are killer stories wrought with visual tension.

The thread provided by Ariadne, which helped Theseus find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth, inspired Tamalyn Miller's curious doilies, crafted from clothesline, string and electrical wire in her Spirit House installation at Project Row Houses. "Its intricate pattern and traditional material-thread-suggest the Minotaur's labyrinth of Greek mythology," writes Miller, in her artist statement.

Anyone can get mythic. Lawndale studio artists Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magasmen, of Hillerbrand + Magsamen, honor the heroic in the ordinary in their witty and poignant series, House/Hold, opening on April 22. A bold portrait of Magsamen cradling her dog is appropriately named Diana, after the goddess of hunting. The 12 tasks of Hercules depicts Hillerbrand posing as a superhero holding a ton of toys, of all things.

The 16th Century Italian master Titian couldn't resist Diana and her gang either. Titian and the Golden Age Venetian Painting: Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland, opens at the MFAH on May 22.

To bone up on your mythology and classical lit, keep a copy Edith Hamilton's Mythology or Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces handy at all times. According to Campbell, myths remain active in our psyche because they are still relevant to our paths on this earth. That, and they are just damn good soul-crushing tales.

See you at the other end of the Labyrinth.

Martha Graham couldn't leave Clytemnestra alone either. Watch the Martha Graham Dance Company perform Graham's 1958 classic

HGO offers a taste of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos

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weekend event planner

Here are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Courtesy of Weezer

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Saturday is the 16th International Independent Home Video Day, and local video store Lost & Found Media (located inside Misfit Toys) will be celebrating with some sweet home-video deals. If you spend $10, you can get a free DVD or VHS tape. They’ll also have a limited run of mystery DVD blind boxes.

As always, it’ll be a fun, fascinating weekend full of art, film, music, and – yes – monster trucks. Enjoy yourself, and try not to come undone.

Thursday, October 15

Cactus Music presents Sama’an Ashrawi – Author Meet & Greet
Palestinian-American storyteller/film director Sama’an Ashrawi is celebrating the release of his debut book, 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦, with a stop at Cactus Music. It tells the stories of his father’s place within the nascent Palestinian rock & roll scene of the ‘60s, as well as the author’s own odyssey through the living history of American music and culture. The event will feature readings from the book, with a discussion moderated by Aris Kian (Houston Poet Laureate, 2023-2025). 5:30 pm.

Spectrum Fusion presents Illuminate: Creating Brighter Futures for Autistic Adults
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and with Illuminate, Spectrum Fusion is shining a light on the talents, abilities, and bright futures of the autistic adults it serves. The gala is Spectrum Fusion’s most important fundraising event of the year, helping to fund meaningful employment opportunities, creative programming, and community connections for autistic adults throughout Houston and beyond. 6 pm.

Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair will open its doors for the first time in Houston. The four-day event brings together over 55 local, national, and international galleries, all displaying works by emerging and established living artists — with prices starting at $100. Visitors will find expert gallerists ready to demystify the art world through one-on-one conversations, panel discussions, guided tours, and hands-on workshops. The fair partners with several local galleries, including Koelsch Gallery, ELLIO Fine Art, and Off The Wall Gallery. 6 pm (Noon Friday; 11 am Saturday and Sunday).

Friday, October 16

Weezer in concert
It’s the 20th anniversary of Pinkerton, Weezer’s notoriously divisive 1996 follow-up to their career-launching, self-titled 1994 debut (aka the Blue Album). Expect a few of its tracks from Rivers Cuomo and the boys when they play Toyota Center this weekend, as part of their Weezer: The Gathering tour, which celebrates the band's 30th anniversary. Of course, they’ll also play the hits (“Buddy Holly,” “Beverly Hills”) along with new tunes from their recently-released, self-titled latest (aka the Gold Album). 7 pm.

Knives in Water presents Afro-Punk
Local pop-up kitchen Knives in Water will be bringing James Spooner, author, filmmaker, and co-founder of the Afropunk Festival, to Wonky Power this weekend. He’ll be here to screen his famed 2003 documentary Afro-Punk, where he traveled around the country and talked to BlPOC punk enthusiasts, as well as take part in a post-screening discussion/Q&A. He’ll also sell/sign copies of his recently-released memoir It Starts with Anger: A Punk Beginning, An AFROPUNK Ending. Local punkers B L A C K I E and Lagrimas will also provide live music. 7:30 pm.

Miller Outdoor Theatre presents Neon Nostalgic
Neon Nostalgic has toured across North America and around the globe, earning a reputation as one of the world’s premier nostalgia acts. They’re the only live band that syncs every moment of their performance in real time with the original music videos — transporting people straight back to the golden age of music television. Hosts/original MTV VJs Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter will share inside stories and memories, making this night a truly unforgettable rewind back to the decade that shaped us all. 7:30 pm.

The Music Box Theater presents Legends of the Hall
The Music Box Theater cast pays tribute to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icons in an all-new production, Legends of the Hall. Songs will honor the music from the 1950s onward that defined multiple generations, from Elvis to Bowie. In addition to rock tunes, the show will feature soul, pop, blues, rhythm and blues, and more genres in a high energy, laugh-filled celebration of the inductees and their music. Through Saturday, November 21. 7:30 pm.

Montrose Grocer presents Wine Rave
The bottle shop and wine bar on Lower Westheimer will celebrate its upcoming one-year anniversary with special merch and pours from Italian natural wine favorite Radikon. Four DJs — Disko Cowboy, Yung Hiram, Grrrl Parts, and Dayta — will perform sets that keep the party going late, so dancing shoes are highly recommended. 8 pm.

Photo courtesy of Weezer

Weezer performs at the Toyota Center on Friday.

Saturday, October 17

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center presents ArBOOretum
At ArBOOretum, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center's fall festival, the popular Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail will lead kids on an adventure of discovery where they’ll learn about creatures that live at the Arboretum, while collecting candy along the way. Other ArBOOretum activities throughout the day include carnival swings, a Halloween market, live animal encounters, pumpkin decorating, and train rides. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s mission of nature education and conservation. 10 am.

Houston Celebrity Comic Con
The two-day Houston Celebrity Comic Con will feature cosplay, video gaming, card gaming, workshops, panels, and autographs with a variety of celebrities. Scheduled guests include Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise), Jamie Campbell Bower and Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Lou Diamond Phillips, Brian Austin Green, Kristy Swanson, and more. 11 am.

Monster Jam
Monster Jam is an ultimate day of family fun where visitors can cheer, scream, and be amazed as massive Monster Jam trucks and world champion drivers take over for a weekend packed with high-flying action and jaw-dropping stunts. Trucks scheduled to perform include Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon, Sparkle Smash, and more. Making its Texas debut will be The Amazing Spider-Man Monster Jam truck, in classic red and blue, complete with a larger-than-life spider icon. 7 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Movies Houstonians Love: The Thing
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims. John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece of paranoid sci-fi horror, The Thing’s cultural significance lies in groundbreaking, grotesque practical effects, subverting the heroic tropes of its predecessors. The film succeeds as an allegory for profound existential distrust, body horror, McCarthyism, and invisible, infectious threats, while also tackling transformation and identity. Former SNL writer T. Sean Shannon introduces the film. 7 pm.

Sunday, October 18

Inprint Cool Brains! Series presents Elizabeth Acevedo
The 2026/2027 Inprint Cool Brains! Series will present National Book Award winner and renowned poet Elizabeth Acevedo, who will share her new YA novel, Anger Is Only a Shadow. Acevedo is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Poet X, which won several awards including the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Apart from writing such acclaimed books as With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land, Acevedo is a National Poetry Slam Champion and served as the 2022 Young People’s Poet Laureate. 2 pm.

The Menil Collection presents Sounds to Live By
Enjoy an afternoon of outdoor music on the Menil's main building lawn. This annual outdoor listening event is organized by Peter Lucas and features music selections from a variety of Houston visual artists, musicians, DJs, and cultural organizers. Participants Jamire Williams, Corey De'Juan Sherrard Jr., Tierney Malone, Gracie Chavez, Alex la Rotta, and Jason Woods will be spinning vinyl records from their personal collections, selected especially for this relaxed, outdoor autumn experience. 3 pm.

Undertale: The Determination Symphony
Undertale: The Determination Symphony is a concert experience featuring the most memorable themes (composed by indie-game developer/composer Toby Fox) from the hit indie game, newly arranged and performed live by a 25-piece orchestra. With gameplay footage displayed on a screen above the stage, audiences will be fully immersed in the world of Undertale, experiencing its story and music like never before. 8 pm.

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The Arthropologist

Greek drama gone wild: Houston arts groups get ancient, reimagine classicalthemes

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Here are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

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