{"id":79942,"date":"2024-10-17T20:23:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T20:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oglethorpe.edu\/?post_type=news&p=79942"},"modified":"2024-10-18T17:14:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T17:14:30","slug":"oglethorpe-theatre-and-actors-express-to-co-produce-a-bold-modern-take-on-marie-antoinette","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/oglethorpe.edu\/news\/oglethorpe-theatre-and-actors-express-to-co-produce-a-bold-modern-take-on-marie-antoinette\/","title":{"rendered":"Oglethorpe Theatre and Actor’s Express partner up to produce dark comedy ‘Marie Antoinette’"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Atlanta theatre company Actor’s Express<\/strong> and 好色先生TV are poised to once again storm the stage at the Conant Performing Arts Center this spring\u2014this time with an audacious depiction of the rise and precipitous fall of one of history’s most controversial “it girls:” Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France.<\/p> In a departure from previous collaborations between Oglethorpe and Actor’s Express, “Marie Antoinette” is not a musical. This show depicts Queen Marie Antoinette as the product of unadulterated extravagance who accedes the French throne at a time of mounting disgust toward her particular brand of aristocratic indulgence. Salacious rumors about Marie churn through the streets, and the popularity of the royal family plummets as the thrum of revolution swells. The clinking of crystal glasses soon devolves in to the clatter of the guillotine.<\/p> In this hilarious, modern take on a provocative, historical icon, this young queen’s survival will hardly be a piece of cake.<\/p> “Marie Antoinette” is the fourth consecutive co-production of Oglethorpe and Actor’s Express, the bold, award-winning theatre company based in Atlanta. This collaboration annually produces the largest, most anticipated live theatre event on Oglethorpe’s campus, drawing visitors from across the state to enjoy top-notch performances featuring Oglethorpe students alongside working professionals.<\/p> ArtsATL called the previous co-production of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie<\/a>” a “great performance…and worth talking about,” with a special shout-out given to OU student\u00a0Shashi Yammada<\/strong> whose “scene-stealing” warmth and humor formed the emotional core of the show. The previous year, “Urinetown<\/a>” was called \u201cAtlanta\u2019s first truly must-see, 10-out-of-10 production of 2023.\u201d<\/p> This collaboration is especially impactful for Oglethorpe students, who benefit from working alongside theatre professionals both on stage and behind the scenes<\/a>. It’s an invaluable opportunity for students to learn from the best\u2014to hone their craft while still in college, instill a love of the arts, and prepare for a career after graduation.<\/p> Written by David Adjmi, in 2014, “Marie Antoinette” is directed by Donya K Washington. <\/strong>Washington is the BOLD Associate Artistic Director at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ and previously held positions at the Oregon Shakespeare Destival and Atlanta’s own Alliance Theatre.<\/p>