Caroline Price as Eurydice, Aaron Kirby as Orpheus.

On Friday, October 3, 2008 at 8:00 p.m., the Hilberry Theatre will present the Detroit premiere of Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. A Pulitzer-Prize nominee and MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship winner, Ruhl adeptly transforms the classic Greek myth of Orpheus into what The New York Times calls a "magical play with gripping emotional potency...a love letter to the world! Rhapsodically beautiful." Tickets are $10-$30 and are available by calling the Hilberry Theatre Box Office at (313) 577-2972 or online at www.wsushows.com.

Eurydice combines modern characters, captivating dialogue and visual artistry to rapidly draw audiences deep into the world of the play. Eurydice tragically dies on her wedding day and journeys to the underworld. There she reunites with her father while attempting to remember Orpheus, the man she had desired to marry. Eurydice's father helps her adjust to her new subterranean existence, while Orpheus strives to reach her through his music. The fusion of these plot elements makes for an enduring love story of heartbreaking beauty that should not be missed.

Traditionally, the Greek myth of Orpheus focused on his journey to the underworld. Yet, Ruhl's re-imagining of the tale chooses to place Eurydice in the spotlight. The myth of Orpheus has inspired countless works of art throughout the ages and the story has been adapted numerous times. Despite the many renditions, Ruhl states that "For some reason we never hear from Eurydice - she's always a cipher, someone who dies twice. I'm interested in her voice. I'm interested in anyone who dies twice... In my own life, I lost my father too young, and in many ways I think I wrote Eurydice as a way to have more conversations with him."

The quote conveys how extremely personal it was for Ruhl to write Eurydice. Ruhl communicates the depth of love that she had for her father through the choices that Eurydice makes. In the classic Greek myth, Orpheus is warned not to look at Eurydice as he leads her from the land of the dead. However, due to his own weakness, he tragically looks at Eurydice and she is cast back into the underworld. Conversely, in Ruhl's version of the play, Eurydice calls out to him, encouraging him to see her, thereby swiftly sending herself back to Hade's domain. It is intriguing and touching that in Ruhl's version of the myth, Eurydice chooses to spend eternity with her father rather than with her husband-to-be.

Through Eurydice, Ruhl expresses her unique perspective on love, while reminding us of our inevitable end. These subjects are personal for everyone and by experiencing Ruhl's vision of them; we are provided an opportunity to better understand our own position.

Eurydice is directed by Lavinia Hart. The cast includes Caroline Price (Eurydice), James Kuhl (Father), Aaron Kirby (Orpheus), Dylan Stuckey (A Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld), Brian Sage (Big Stone), Christina Flynn (Little Stone), and Safiya Johnson (Loud Stone).

Eurydice plays in rotating repertory with Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Group discounts and corporate packages are available. For ticket information, please call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne State University Box Office at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Cass Avenue and Hancock.

Performance information and tickets may also be obtained by visiting the Theatre's websites at www.hilberry.com and www.wsushows.com.

Season sponsored by CBS Outdoor, Between The Lines, Encore Michigan, and the Times Herald newspapers.