Piedmont Arts Brings Major Humanities Program to Area

This February, Piedmont Arts will host, Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives: A National Conversation, a major national humanities program traveling to 100 public libraries and art centers across America with a mission to inspire people to come together to read, see and think about classical literature and how it continues to influence and invigorate American cultural life.

This extensive new program unites the assets of the Aquila Theatre Company, the Urban Libraries Council, the American Philological Association, the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University and the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC.





Events

Staged Readings from Greek Drama
Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012, 7:00 PM, Piedmont Arts
RSVP to this event
Join Piedmont Arts and Aquila Theatre for professionally performed readings from Greek drama. After each reading, actors will lead a discussion, encouraging audience members to share their impressions and experiences. Participants will see the reading of artistically enriching classical plays and gain experience in how to watch, appreciate and participate as a modern audience member viewing an ancient Greek play.

The reading and discussion will explore "Homecoming," a them designed to bring the veteran community and public together to contribute to something truly important and profoundly moving – a way to understand and appreciate our veterans, to learn from their experiences in the context of these classical works, and to come together as an active audience, watching, listening, and discussing as a shared experience. This program is free and open to the public.

Mask Acting Masterclass
Thursday, Feb 2, 2012, 2:00 - 3:00 PM, Piedmont Arts
RSVP to this event
Join Piedmont Arts and actors from Aquila Theatre for a masterclass in the art of mask acting. The class will explore masks, movement and performance in classical theatre, as well as Greek theatre's connection to modern life. This program is free and open to the public.

Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives: A National Conversation is a program that has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information regarding these events or to RSVP attendance, please call 276.632.3221 or visit http://www.piedmontarts.org/ or http://www.ancientgreeksmodernlives.org/.