Acclaimed theatre ensemble Elevator Repair Service has announced a collaboration with Off-Broadway's Symphony Space in order to bring James Joyce's Ulysses to life for the novel's 100th anniversary with Elevator Repair Service Takes on Bloomsday, set for June 16 in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre.
Considered one of the great literary classics of the 20th century, Ulysses is a modernist novel that follows a day in the life of a man living in Dublin, Ireland, Leopold Bloom. June 16, 1904 unexpectedly mirrors the Greek epic Odysseus, as a series of appointments and encounters become increasingly enmeshed. Elevator Repair Service's staging will be directed by John Collins.
The production will feature a cast of seven ERS ensemble members—Dee Beasnael, Kate Benson, Maggie Hoffman, Vin Knight, Scott Shepherd, Christopher-Rashee Stevenson, and Stephanie Weeks—who will perform a selection from each of the novel’s 18 episodes in less than two hours, embracing the text’s iconic mash-up of styles. Using the format of an academic panel discussion-turned-wild theatrical embodiment, the piece is designed to reflect the literary impact of the novel, as well as its notorious content.
Ulysses will also feature scenic design by dots, costume design by Enver Chakartash, lighting design by Mark Barton, sound design by Ben Williams, and prop design by Patricia Marjorie.
For more information, visit SymphonySpace.org
