An outcry against tyranny, Prometheus Bound illustrates the struggle against the brute force of a ruthless dictator. Written by Tony and Grammy Award-winning playwright and lyricist Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) with music composed by Grammy Award-winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, this new musical is inspired by Aeschylus's Ancient Greek tragedy about the heroic struggle of Western civilization's first prisoner of conscience. A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus stages this world premiere production in OBERON, immersing the audience in an environment that has the Dionysian energy and rebelliousness of a rock concert.
Prometheus Bound
February 25, 2011 - April 2, 2011
"Propelled by a lean script, cut-to-the-quick lyrics and an angst-filled score, this world preem hits the zeitgeist jackpot."
— Variety
Multimedia
Audiences love Prometheus Bound at the A.R.T.: "A really intense show." "Awesome... Impressive... You're right there in the middle of everything... Pretty freaking amazing."
The song "The Hunger" from the world premiere production of the rock musical Prometheus Bound, recorded by Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson, was launched exclusively on March 1 on iTunes. All proceeds from the sale of "The Hunger" will go to Amnesty International.
Meet Tony and Grammy Award-winning lyricist and playwright Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) and Grammy Award-winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian (the writer and composer of Prometheus Bound, respectively) after the shows on 2/28 and 3/2.
Music and scenes from rehearsals of Prometheus Bound - the new rock musical now playing at OBERON.
A sneak peek of the song "With Your Fingers Pale and Numb" from the new rock musical Prometheus Bound, premiering at the A.R.T. in February 2011.
Listen to the full track of the song "It's Loud Enough Without You" from the new rock musical Prometheus Bound, premiering at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, in February 2011. Music composed by Grammy Award-winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, with lyrics by Grammy Award winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening). Recorded at a developmental workshop in December 2010.
Click play button above to listen to a sample of the song "Prometheus, The Titan" from the new rock musical Prometheus Bound, premiering at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, in February 2011. Music composed by Grammy Award-winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, with lyrics by Grammy Award winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening). Recorded at a developmental workshop in December 2010.
"He may be bound, but this Prometheus still manages to rock."
— The New York Times
"A raucous riff .....truly grounded in recognizable human emotion."
— The Boston Globe
"Prometheus Bound rocks hard at Oberon.... What makes it a rousing success is that neither rock nor theater is shunted. Touching and thought-provoking."
— Boston Herald
"Sater's book and lyrics are both angry and elegant, driving home the parallels between divine and political tyranny. Seldom has stasis proved so thunderous or so riveting."
— Boston Phoenix
In the News
WGBH's "Greater Boston" - A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus is about to have four of her directorial efforts running simultaneously—including Hair, The Donkey Show, Death and the Powers, and Prometheus Bound.
"Club Oberon feels like an underground rock club for the American Repertory Theater’s production of "Prometheus Bound"....Though Steven Sater’s ("Spring Awakening") book and lyrics and the music of System of a Down leader Serj Tankian are the core of this show, the sensory overload courtesy of Diane Paulus’ impeccable direction makes it an incredibly wild ride." - Boston Metro
"A busy, hands-on, immersive affair, not only for the interactive aspect of the stage hands mingling with a standing or sitting audience but for Prometheus who was beaten, chained, and tortured for something he firmly believed in — fighting tyranny. The acting in this production was as strong as the wildest flames." - Armenian Mirror-Spectator
Edge Boston interview with Lea DeLaria, who plays Force in Prometheus Bound.
"The A.R.T. hits the musical theater / rock show sweet spot." - Time Out Boston
"This new adaptation solves Prometheus's stasis problem by adding a propulsive rock score that, in addition to assaulting the eardrums, unchains the play and drives it forward." - The Boston Phoenix
In Prometheus Bound, "(Paulus) creates an immersive experience (the music helps this, too) that’s both suggestively fanciful and starkly simplified. You feel like you’re in some other world of gods and titans, but you can also just listen to a man on the stage defiantly condemning a despot." - Weekly Dig
"In Aeschylus’ 'Prometheus Bound' the title character is punished for stealing fire and giving it to humans. For the playwright Steven Sater the idea of having one’s life altered by flames is intensely personal." - The New York Times
"Propelled by a lean script and cut-to-the-quick lyrics by Steve Sater and an angst-filled score by Serj Tankian, this world preem hits the zeitgeist jackpot." - Variety
"With its producing partner Amnesty International, Prometheus Bound is on an important mission: to galvanize audiences into realizing that oppression and torture of any kind is intolerable." - The Arts Fuse
"'Prometheus Bound' rocks hard.... What makes it a rousing success is that neither rock nor theater is shunted. Touching and thought-provoking." - EDGE Boston
"A raucous riff...truly grounded in recognizable human emotion..." - Boston.com
"A new production of 'Prometheus Bound' at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass. takes the 2,500 year-old Greek play 'Prometheus Bound,' and gives it a rock spin." - wbur.org
"Pitched to a deafening roar, Prometheus Bound -- the latest genre-mashing musical masterminded by American Repertory Theatre artistic director Diane Paulus -- is clearly geared to the clubbing crowd, young would-be rebels who may have missed out on the punk phenomenon but appreciate its style and spirit." - TheaterMania
"Metal man Tankian writes rock score for Greek tragedy." -The Boston Herald
"ART show takes contemporary look at Prometheus." -Boston.com
System of a Down's Serj Tankian soundtracks the A.R.T.'s production of Prometheus Bound.
Press Releases
March 1, 2011
February 25, 2011
February 1, 2011
January 4, 2011
Creative Team
Script and lyrics by
Steven Sater (from the play by Aeschylus)
Music composed by
Directed by
Choreography
| Set Design | Riccardo Hernandez |
| Costume Design | Emily Rebholz |
| Lighting Design | Kevin Adams |
| Sound Design | Clive Goodwin |
| Orchestrations | Serj Tankian |
| Vocal Design | AnnMarie Milazzo |
| Music Supervisors | Debra Barsha |
| Lance Horne | |
| Band Leader | Vincent Pedulla |
| Casting | Melcap Casting |
| Stage Manager | Katherine Shea* |
| Associate Director | Allegra Libonati |
| Dramaturgy | Ryan McKittrick |
| Sara Bookin-Weiner | |
| Tyler Monroe | |
Cast |
|
| Prometheus | Gavin Creel* |
| Force | Lea DeLaria* |
| Oceanos | Michael Cunio* |
| Hephaistos/Hermes | Gabriel Ebert* |
| Daughter of the Aether |
Jo Lampert* |
| Daughter of the Aether | Celina Carvajal* |
| Daughter of the Aether | Ashley Flanagan* |
| Io | Uzo Aduba* |
| Groupies | Emmanuel Avellanet |
| Kevin Lin | |
| Bart Mather |
(*) members of Actors Equity Association
Band |
|
| Conductor | Debra Barsha |
| Associate Conductor | Lance Horne |
| Guitars/Sitar | Charlie Christos |
| Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Piccolo Trumpet/ Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Melodica |
Tom Duprey |
| Violin/Trombone/Viper/Mandolin | David Finch |
| Drums/Percussion/Synth | Jeff Muzerolle |
| Bass Guitars | Robb Simring |
Additional Credits |
|
| Assistant Director | Mia Walker |
| Assistant Casting | Lauren Port |
| Assistant Choreographer | Gino Grenek |
| Assistant to Steven Sater | Whitney Mosery |
| Sound Consultant | Will Reid |
| Production Associate | Taylor Adamik |
| Stage Management Interns | Sarah Gasser |
| Kevin Schlagle | |
Understudies |
|
| For Prometheus | Michael Cunio* |
| For Io | Celina Carvajal* |
| For the Daughters of the Aether/Force | Jordy Lievers |
| For Oceanos/Hephaistos/Hermes | Steven Good |
Non-Required Reading
A note from Death and the Powers director and A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.
A welcome note from Artistic Director Diane Paulus.
A note from Prometheus Bound composer Serj Tankian.
A message from Joshua Rubenstein, Northeast Regional Director for Amnesty International USA.
Kati Mitchell visits rehearsal for Prometheus Bound.
Author and lyricist Steven Sater on why Prometheus Bound resonates today.
Tyler J. Monroe on Serj Tankian.
Sarah Bookin-Weiner on contemporary adaptions in performance.
Dramaturg Ryan McKittrick interviews the Prometheus Bound creative team
The A.R.T. partners with Amnesty International to integrate direct action into the production of Prometheus Bound, starting February 25, 2011.
On the fringe of Harvard Square, OBERON is the hottest new destination for club theater. Diane Paulus refers to OBERON as the "second stage of the twenty-first century."
Sponsors
PRODUCTION SPONSOR: Sarah Hancock
Runtime:
80 minutes with no intermission
Need to know:
PROMETHEUS PROJECT VOLUNTEER ACTIVISTS: Click here.
In partnership with Amnesty International, the A.R.T. is dedicating Prometheus Bound to eight Amnesty actions to free prisoners of conscience. Learn more>>
Discussions:
A discussion was held on March 2, co-presented with the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard. Watch the video here >>
Extras:
Dine at The Russell House Tavern before the show and get free dessert after the show
Policies:
This production uses strobe lights and is set in a rock concert atmosphere. The production also contains adult language and themes. Recommended for ages 14 and older, unless accompanied by an adult.
