KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 24, 2025 – The classics are a mainstay in the theatre. From the minds of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Checkov, Socrates, and Euripides—to name a few—these stories give us a lens into the past and offer insights into human nature, societal issues, and cultural values that remain relevant today. Artists and audiences across generations can reinterpret these themes and masterful language time and again.

This year, the University of Rhode Island Theatre Department’s third mainstage performance goes back to ancient Greece with Anne Carson’s translation of “Bakkhai” by Euripides. What makes this production unique among the rich variety of shows this season is that it is entirely student-produced. Each year, students (usually rising seniors with a concentration in directing) submit plays they are interested in directing. The proposals and plays are read by URI theatre professors, and a selection is made based on what the play could contribute to the department and the specific student’s strengths.

The play is directed by Theo Fantozzi, a senior pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre (concentration in directing and stage management) and a bachelor of arts degree in global language and area studies specializing in classical studies. 

“Theo’s love of ancient studies and scripts by the Greeks fits in perfectly with where he wants to go as a director,” said Paula McGlasson, chair of the theatre department. “We’re very proud of the student-led full-length plays. The whole thing is students. Everything is in the hands of our student body, and we, as faculty and staff, serve as advisors.”

Euripides is responsible for classics like “Medea,” “The Trojan Women,” and “Herakles.” However, “Bakkhai,” first performed in 405 B.C.E., certainly plays with themes relevant today, particularly the current political and social climate in the United States. The play takes place in Thebes and tells the story of the god Dionysus, who is the son of Zeus and the mortal Semele. The public does not believe his lineage, so he seeks to avenge his mother’s dishonor by disguising himself as a mortal. He leads the women of the city–the Bakkhai–into a frenzied state of worship through ecstatic rituals. The play explores divine power, the conflict between reason and irrationality, the dangers of pride, and the consequences of denying the gods. 

“The version we’ll be using does a wonderful job of infusing an ancient story with contemporary poetry and meaning,” said Fantozzi. “I’m hoping this production will serve as a gateway for connecting the oldest form of Western theatre—something we learn about extensively in class but rarely have the opportunity to explore as artists—with our modern education practically. It will be a great collaborative undertaking that I can’t wait to share.”

Many of the actors play more than one role that spans different gender identities. Traditionally, a Greek chorus serves as one living-breathing storyteller, a vital vessel for musical accompaniment, structure, and the overall meaning of the performance. Theo expertly cast his actors in various roles, introducing valuable tools for budding actors. 

“Since I have four very different characters who play different roles in the Bakkhai world, I learned to move, talk, and use my body and the language they use as the instrument to make these characters alive,” said Jackie Johnson ’25. A theatre major with a concentration in acting, Johnson plays Kadmos, along with a herdsman, guard and servant.

Fantozzi attended the National Theatre Institute last fall as part of his preparation. The institute semester offers students 13 weeks of immersive theatre training, with the prestigious Eugene O’Neill Theatre’s long-standing legacy of creative risk-taking and bold collaboration. Students can focus on performance, musical theatre, playwriting, and directing. 

“It was a life-changing experience. You’re in this pressure cooker of people who really want to make things together, and I learned about myself as a director, how I work with people, and my strengths and weaknesses. I learned from the other artists just through observation and conversation. So, it’s been great to bring that fast-paced process I learned in three months to this process, which is longer and gives me space to figure things out,” he said. 

With his role secured, Fantozzi first faced bringing Thebes to life. In a stroke of genius, he worked with Kayla Senn, a junior theatre major specializing in management and design/tech, to place the story in a speakeasy. With this approach, Thebes is contained in one space, and live music infuses the chorus. Skyler Bobinski, another URI student, is responsible for all original music and tracks and the musical direction of the chorus in this production. 

Collaboration is key for a project this size and is inherent to Fantozzi’s process. He holds the director-actor relationship near and dear as a means of building trust to create art. Much of his experience is in peer-based theatre making, and after sitting with “Bakkhai” alone for months at a time, an actor’s impulse was needed to bring the characters to life.

“I absolutely love working with directors around the same age as me,” said Jake DeShiro ’27 a theatre major with a concentration in acting/design, who plays Pentheus and Agave. “It offers a very different view than older directors have taught me and helped me with, and it is a welcomed perspective.”

When considering the tone and theme for this particular direction, many intelligent and thoughtful solutions were made by the student-led team. The first half of the play leans into comedy, lightheartedness, and fun. It is not until the second act that the consequences start to emerge. It is a story that balances grittiness and lightness, like the feeling of being lifted. Thematically speaking, Fantozzi pays close attention to the fear of foreigners, which comes especially in forms like gender roles, sexuality, and fluidity of expression. Many of these elements could draw a direct line to some of the many societal issues we face today as a country. 

“I talk about stories a lot. Directing is the medium that lets you get inside of the story where you can’t in other ways. It’s life; it’s happening to you in real-time; you just have to experience it. It’s necessary today when so much of our media is so self-tailored. It’s important to expose yourself to a group of people who want to tell a story that may challenge you,” said Fantozzi.

“Bakkhai” runs Feb. 27 through March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m. in J Studio at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston Campus. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for senior citizens and URI students, faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling (401) 874-5843 or at the box office in Room 101H of the Fine Arts Center.

“Bakkhai” cast

Dionysus/Teiresias: Ella Kenny, Pasadena, California
Dionysus/Teiresias Understudy: Brian McKenna, Warwick, Rhode Island
Pentheus/Agave: Jake DeShiro, Norwood, Massachusetts
Pentheus/Agave Understudy: Fletcher Pike
Kadmos/Guard/Herdsman/Servant: Jackie Johnson, Providence
Kadmos/Guard/Herdsman/Servant Understudy: Isabella Deslauriers, Lebanon, Connecticut
Chorus: Aliza Almonte, Johnston, Rhode Island; Chayla Valentine, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; and Cole Stanley, North Providence, Rhode Island
Chorus Swing: Isabella Deslauriers

This press release was written by Paige Monopoli, communications coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences.