Special dramaturgical lecture! Rhodes College Professor David Sick discusses Apollonius of Rhodes and the myth of Jason and the Argonauts. Click here to listen. (07:50, 7.4 MB)
Cast & Crew
Jason: Chris Jowers
Orpheus: Billy Pullen
Heracles: Joe Vescovo
Hylas: Odell Atkinson
Idmon / Phineus: Jim Robinson
Telamon: Jyo Carolino
Tiphys / Zetes: Brent Morgan
Idas / Calais / Cyzicus: Ross Williams
Hypsipyle: Abigail Amsden
Ensemble: Natalie Jones
Ensemble: Renee Kemper
Composer / Conductor / Piano: Renee Kemper
Violin: Anthony Gilbert
Oboe / English Horn / Bassoon: Nathan Nix
Guitar / Mandolin: Ed Richter
Sound Effects Coordinator: Bill Short
Script Consultant: David Sick
Producer: James Antoine
Assistant Director: Tommy Harless
Adaptation: Robert Arnold
Director: Robert Arnold
Announcer: Tom Badgett
Artist: Kenneth Shofela Coker
Special Thanks
- Kevin Collier, Cookie Ewing, Laura Canon, and all the other great people at The McCoy Theatre at Rhodes College
- Bill Andrews
- Eric Sefton
- Mike Hanrahan
- Karen Strachan
- Deborah Hyatt
- Jason Hatcher
- Stan Head
Notes
In creating Argonautica as a live stage show, we knew it needed to be as much fun to watch as it would be to listen to. Accordingly, we set a rule for ourselves: All the effects, from the otherworldly Sirens to the mountainous Clashing Rocks, had to be completely manual — that is, created live in the room by the performers, without the help of any technical wizardry. The lengths to which we went to meet this challenge were epic in their own right, and were a testament to the creativity of our cast, crew, and musicians. Thanks to this outstanding team, we succeeded in our goal: Everything you hear in this recording was produced live on stage, with no embellishments other than changes in volume and some very basic EQ.
Which is not to say the recording of Argonautica was simple. This was easily the largest single performance we’ve undertaken, with dozens of characters and more than 120 different sound effects. Producer James Antoine deserves special mention for capturing the sprawl of the stage show, bringing together its numerous elements into something eminently listenable. I am also greatly indebted to Rhodes College Professor David Sick, who was an invaluable resource on everything from the history of the story to the correct pronunciation of names like “Symplegades” and “Chalciope.”
So, as you travel with Jason and his crew on their thrilling quest, I invite you to think now and then of the people behind the microphones, and the decidedly more humble visuals enjoyed by those who attended the performance. In other words, I hope that you’ll be swept away by this epic story. But every audio producer, like every magician, is equally gratified to hear audience members asking themselves: “How did they do that?”
—Robert Arnold
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.