This fall’s production of the play “Eurydice” at Writers Theatre in Glencoe is simultaneously a debut and a homecoming.
The script, a reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of the doomed couple Orpheus and Eurydice, was written by Wilmette-native Sarah Ruhl and first launched in 2003. Braden Abraham — who joined Writers Theatre as Artistic Director in February 2023 from Seattle Rep — chose the play as his opening salvo in his tenure, directing it himself.
In the original story, Orpheus, the god of music, follows his beloved Eurydice down to the underworld to bring her back to the land of the living, which he can only do if she follows him out — without him looking back. The death of Ruhl’s father in 1994 inspired her interpretation of Eurydice’s tale. In the play, Eurydice’s father, played with proud affection by John Gregorio, teaches his daughter (Sarah Price) new words the same way Patrick Ruhl taught young Sarah over breakfasts at Walker Brothers on Green Bay Road — just down the street from Writers Theatre.
Even though the story is thousands of years old and touches on timeless topics like death, memory and love — both parental and romantic — it still feels local and contemporary, anchored by green light posts on set, inspired by the North Shore’s iconic street lamps.
“The play is set in the underworld, but it’s also set in the Midwest, and in the space of my childhood, which is always a kind of memory space,” Ruhl told Abraham in an interview. “But it’s also a real space that continues alive and well, so I’m really honored that it’s being done at Writers Theatre.”
Abraham said he enjoyed his first time seeing how local actors interact with each other. When they cast the play in April, they read in groups to make sure they could capture the romantic innocence of Eurydice and Orpheus (Kenneth La’Ron Hamilton); the paternal love between Father and Eurydice; and the world-weary snark of the Greek chorus of stones (Susaan Jamshidi, Elizabeth Ledo and John Lister.) Veteran actor Larry Yando brings an unnerving, sinister sense of humor to his turn as the Nasty Interesting Man and Lord of the Underworld.
“What’s wonderful is you have Larry, who has so much stage experience, and then you have younger actors like Kenny in the cast, and you see how they feed off each other’s energies,” Abraham said. “They know each other’s work to a certain extent, and so therefore there’s a trust that’s built-in already,” which was essential during a three-week rehearsal process. “That’s part of what makes this community so unique and great.”
Abraham first heard the play in its early reading stages when he was 23 and living in Seattle — having grown up in the San Juan Islands area. Now, he is the father of an eighth-grade daughter, making the play additionally poignant. “That’s what makes for a great play, right?” he said. “You encounter it at one point in your life and you have one way in, and then you encounter it 20 years later and there’s another layer to it.”
Since moving to north Evanston, Abraham and his family have enjoyed discovering new favorite activities with his family, from exploring Chicago to riding bikes along the lake. “We’re coming from Seattle with a lot of hills, so as bike riders, this is just total luxury — everywhere’s flat.”
Not flat: “Eurydice’s” stage, a graceful boardwalk swoop that transitions between the underworld and the living. It serves as a visual representation of “Eurydice’s” themes: transitions, passings, transportation through time and space — all resonant today whether an audience member is familiar with the ancient myth or not.
Abraham hopes this performance speaks to all, from season ticket holders; to old friends; to loved ones of Sarah and Patrick Ruhl; to people new to Writers Theatre. “If there’s anything that binds this season together, I think there’s a sense of the spirit and the soul, and those are not luxury items in our work. They’re at the center of it. The plays in this season all speak to that.”
“Eurydice” runs now through October 22. Ticket prices range from $35-$90, and are now on sale at Writers Theatre online. For additional assistance and information, you can also call 847-242-6000 or visit them online.
Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
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Claire Zulkey is a writer based in Evanston, IL, where she was born and raised. Her writing has appeared in local publications like Block Club Chicago, the Evanston Roundtable and Chicago Magazine as well as national publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Atlantic.
