Ensemble Theatre's Next Show Was Written By Margaret Atwood

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Ensemble Theatre will continue its 40th anniversary season with "The Penelopiad." Written by Margaret Atwood, the performances will be directed by and feature women actresses.

The show will be directed by Celeste Cosentino and will debut October 18 at the MainStage Theatre. Performances will continue through November 10. Shows will be held Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $12 to $29.

Here's how Ensemble described it's upcoming show: "Homer's Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus's ten year journey home to Ithaca after the ten year Trojan War, fraught with many perils, mythic creatures, and divine beings. By the time he makes it back to Ithaca, he finds his home overrun with one hundred and eight suitors all vying for his faithful and cunning wife Penelope's hand in marriage. Odysseus, with help from his son Telemachus and his patron goddess Athena, kills all of the suitors and the twelve palace maids found to be disloyal. Told by her and her twelve maids from beyond the grave, Penelope’s story varies little from the classic tale told by Homer, except in pointing out that there are other explanations for the heroic escapades."

The cast for the show is as follows:

Sarah Blubaugh : as Melantho/Maid
Julia Fisher: Eurycleia/Maid
Diane Frankhauser : Helen/Maid
Amy Fritshe : as Penelope
Marina Gordon : Naiad Mother/Maid
Maya Jones : Anticlea/Maid
Inés Joris : Klytie/Maid
Grace Mitri : Laertes/Maid
Zyrece Montgomery : Oracle/Maid
Shley Snider : Telemachus/Maid
Hannah Storch : Icarius/Maid
Jaytionna Wells : Antinous/Maid
Stephanie Wilbert : Odysseus/Maid