The USM Department of Theatre’s season dedicated to uplifting women and women’s voices takes a raw and powerful turn with The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker.

Two sisters are separated by an ocean and reunited through treachery and devastation. Procne, daughter to King Pandion of Athens, is reluctantly married to Tereus, King of Thrace, and taken to live among his people. Depressed and isolated, Procne asks Tereus to return to Athens and bring her spirited younger sister Philomele to Thrace, triggering a chilling chain of events. This striking adaptation of the classic Greek myth explores the disturbing cycle of violence and revenge. It is a story of human resilience, tracking a victim’s ability to reclaim their voice and ultimately transform in the face of trauma.

For director Rachel Price Cooper, this ancient story reinvented with women as the central focus is perfect for our current socio-political climate, “ I love that it's an adaptation of an ancient myth that repositions the generally underdeveloped victim as its central character. Philomele is no longer a secondary character in the all-too-familiar story of a powerful man's downfall. She is a fully developed person in her own right. It also blows apart a lot of common expectations of what ancient Greek Drama actually is. This is not a dusty, slow-moving play full of eternal choral dirges. It's irreverent, fast-paced, and full of movement.  

“This play deals with violence. More specifically, gendered, sexual violence. It's an uncomfortable topic, but it's also one that we can't shut our eyes to. It's especially timely in the wake of the #Me-too movement and our current socio-political moment. I think that stories from the past are sometimes our most effective means of examining our present. I hope that we can provide audiences with a really dynamic live theatre experience that's full of spectacle, energy, and striking imagery. 

For Bailey Hall, who plays the protagonist Philomele, the play is a chance to show a victim reclaiming her voice. “I love the character I portray, and the fact that she goes through all this trauma makes me sad, but it also motivates me to do her character justice. This play shows that you do not have to remain the victim. Even if you have been beaten down, you can still rise up and tell your story.” 

The Love of the Nightingale opens November 15th and runs through November 24th. All performances take place on the USM Gorham campus in historic Russell Hall. 

This show contains depictions of violence and sexual assault and is best suited for mature audiences.

To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit USM Theatre online at usm.maine.edu/theatre, or call the USMTheatre Box Office at (207) 780-5151. For more information on USM’s Department of Theatre events and programs, click here.

The Love of the Nightingale

By Timberlake Wertenbaker

Directed by Rachel Price Cooper

Performances dates and times:

Friday, 11/15, at 7:30 pm, followed by opening night reception 

Saturday, 11/16, at 7:30 pm

Sunday, 11/17, at 5:00 pm

Wednesday, 11/20, at 5:00 pm

Thursday, 11/21, at 6:00 pm, followed by a talk-back

Friday, 11/22, at 10:00 am (Student Matinee) & 7:30 pm

Saturday, 11/23, at 7:30 pm

Sunday, 11/24, at 2:00 pm

School matinee: USM Department of Theatre offers a special school matinee on Friday, November 22nd at 10:00 am for grades 11 & 12. To bring your school or class to the school matinee, contact Audiences Services & Outreach Coordinator, Janice Gardner at janice.gardner@maine.edu.  

Ticket Prices:

$16 for Adults

$12 for Seniors, USM employees and Alumni

$8 for Students/Youth

Discount Wednesday & Thursday: 

On Wednesday, November 20th and Thursday, November 21st , all tickets $8.

 Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program,contact Janice Gardner at (207)780-5289 or janice.gardner@maine.edu. Hearing impaired: call USM's telex / TDD number (207)780-5646

Ensemble

Philomele - Bailey Hall, junior theatre major from Portland, ME

Procne - Elizabeth Donato, senior theatre major from Portland, ME 

Tereus - August Thornton, sophomore theatre major from Jay, ME 

Niobe & Assistant Choreographer - Jackie Condon, senior theatre major from Houlton, ME 

The Captain - Blake Wright, senior theatre major from Columbia, ME 

Itys - Ava Ziporyn, sophomore social & behavioral science major from Lexington, MA

The Queen/June - Arianna Gordon, sophomore theatre major from Jay, ME

Echo/Servant - Mikayla Holmes, junior theatre major from Brewer, ME 

Nurse/Helen/Female Chorus - Emma Zerba, senior theatre major from Pittsfield, ME 

Hero/Phaedra/Female Chorus - Devan Glassock, sophomore theatre major from Yarmouth, ME 

Iris/Aphrodite/Female Chorus - Addie Poginy, freshman theatre major from Orleans, VT

King Pandion/Male Chorus - Kevin Paradis, junior theatre major from Seabrook, NH

First Soldier/Male Chorus - Max Tullgren, freshman theatre major from South Berwick, ME 

Second Soldier/Male Chorus- Will Parker, senior theatre major from Milton, NH

Hippolytus/Male Chorus - Duncan W. Bradshaw, sophomore theatre major from Bangor, ME

Male Chorus Member - Ethan Gilles, freshman theatre major from Oakland, ME

Theseus/Male Chorus Member - Noam Osher, freshman theatre major from Orono, ME 

Female Principle Understudy - Cass Thompson, senior theatre major from Winslow, ME 

Male Principle Understudy - Kolby Lovett, freshman theatre major from Waterville, ME

Female Chorus Understudy - Wendy Ducas, freshman theatre major from Mexico, ME 

Male Chorus Understudy - Shawn Michael Bryan, freshman theatre major from Winslow, ME

Production Crew

Stage Manager - Brianna Remeika, sophomore theatre & English major from Lewiston, ME 

Assistant Stage Manager - Mike Belley, freshman undeclared major from Yarmouth, ME 

Assistant Stage Manager - Max Sands, freshman theatre major from Newport, ME