Many strips of blue tape marked the floor in the Griffis Hall forum room on Sept. 7, representing the points where the spotlights of Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium will illuminate student-actors as they perform the Roman playwright Seneca’s “Thyestes” on Sept. 24 and 25 at 6:00 p.m..

Since August, the group of 24 student-actors in the Shackouls Honors College have been preparing the performance for Mississippi State University’s 2025 Classical Week, a campus-wide celebration of the cultures of the ancient world. 

The actors have collaborated with people across campus to make the show a reality, and while their makeshift practice stage in Griffis Hall is not equipped with the lights, audio or technological tricks that will be used in Lee Hall, the group is prepared to dazzle audiences in their rendition of the play.

The Roman tragedy, set in Argos, Greece, during the first century A.D., explores topics like betrayal and revenge as brothers Thyestes and Atreus fight for political power, not afraid to spill innocent blood in the process.

However, while the play’s subject matter deals with a legacy of violence among a fragmented family, the process of putting the play together has required the crew’s commitment to teamwork.

Director Donna Clevinger, senior faculty fellow and professor of communication and theatre, spoke about the many different moving parts like the music and technical effects in the production and the potential for innovation that ancient plays offer.

“It is always good to push my own imagination and look at how I can build a play from scratch like a grandma’s old recipe,” Clevinger said. “The actors are the last piece of the recipe.”

Clevinger started thinking about the play long before auditions. She recruited people like Ashwani Mishra, an honors computer science major at Mississippi State who helped with the sound effects, and Sarah Staggers, a drama teacher from Partnership Middle School who helped Clevinger find two young thespians to star as the children in the play.

Clevinger said she always works with groups and colleges outside the Honors College to give people opportunities to contribute to the show with their research and talents.

In addition to working with Mishra and Staggers, Clevinger reached out to a former student as well when she learned of his talent.

Todd Fayard, a recent MSU alumnus and ROTC member turned nuclear physicist, played a special role in the production before he left campus to work in California at the Vandenberg Space Force Base. He served as an organist at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Starkville, and he used his musical talents to support the show. 

Between November and May, he wrote original compositions for the variety of music audience members will hear and also performed them. MSU Event Services went to the Episcopal Church to record Fayard’s music. These recordings will play as certain characters appear on stage, serving as introductions for characters like Atreus. 

Kathryn Brasseal, a freshman political science major and stage manager, spoke about her experiences first hearing the organ music. 

“We heard the music a little our first time in Lee Hall. It was very very impressive. Each sound is connected to a character, and it sets the mood very well,” Brasseal said. 

Maddy Green, senior anthropology and religion double major, also spoke about the show requiring teamwork. 

“We depend heavily on Event Services for their technical skills and the College of Art, Architecture and Design for their creative and technical aid…” Green said. “We depend on each field involved to make it its best.”

Green, as the leader of the Chorus, a group of actors who speak together and often represent the voice of the people in Greek and Roman theatre, has to adopt a group mentality even for her own role.

“The interesting part about being in the Chorus is that you are not just an individual character, but a unit. I cannot get into character without the rest of the Chorus because my character does not exist outside of them” Green said. “We have spent a great deal of time together at rehearsals discovering our characters together and learning more about each other.”

This production has involved partnerships across campus and community and features actors with all sorts of majors. They invite spectators to attend their free performances. Christopher Snyder, former dean of the Honors College and professor of medieval studies, will give a short talk after both performances for those who want to stay as well. 

People who love mythology, theatre or just witnessing dialogues between the past and present will surely be entertained by “Thyestes.” Audience members should get ready to witness the culmination of the work of so many talented people.

Kathryn Brasseal said, “Everyone should come see the show because everybody here has put in so much work. Dr. Clevinger has put in so much work – the light designer, the organ player, the sound people, the dancers, the cast, the crew.”