John Jay College’s Theatre Arts Program has not staged a production since 2022. The Theatre Arts Program previously offered one play in the fall and another in the spring, once a storied tradition on campus.
However, between the 2020 Pandemic and the Theatre Arts Program’s uncertain future on campus, performances have been intermittent for the better part of five years.
The closing of the Communications and Theatre Arts Department in August 2023 transferred the courses and minors to the English department, an administrative compromise.
Despite the uncertain future of stage productions, student actors will perform Iphigenia on stage in The Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Tuesday, November 26th at 7 p.m.
The play’s author, P. Seth Bauer earned his bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Oberlin College, and he graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts in Playwriting from the University of Texas at Austin.
The show’s director, Professor Vernice Miller, is an international theatre artist who hails from the Caribbean, toured Johannesburg, South Africa, taught at Denmark’s Odin Teatret, and currently serves as an adjunct lecturer at John Jay.
“This time that we’re living in, where politically, socially, and otherwise, we’re so divided; we’re at each other’s throats; the arts [are] what’s necessary to build up one’s empathy and compassion,” said Miller.
Professor Miller revealed that Iphigenia “is a play about going to war.”
Like many of the classic Greek tragedies, Iphigenia provides insight into human behavior.
The play asks many questions about culture, religion, fatherhood and loyalty, exposing weaknesses long embedded in patriarchal society. It dramatizes, with some humor, how Iphigenia faces it all with courage.
“As actors we go up in that space and we walk in each other’s shoes,” she said. “It’s the only safe place that we can do that. Where we can play characters that we’re not. And try to understand ‘why would a person do this?’” said Miller.
The production’s titular character is a young woman offered as a human sacrifice to the gods in exchange for winds, so that warships might sail and invade Troy.
Destiny Rosales is a senior at John Jay College who is majoring in English and minoring in interdisciplinary studies.
Rosales expressed that she hopes to participate in another play before she graduates from John Jay.
“It’s interesting to think about how this play set in ancient Greece applies to the politics of our current world,” she said. “I have one more semester left, so hopefully I’ll be able to do at least one more play here,” said Rosales.
Acting challenges the performer to look beyond superficial impressions of the character and involves a theatrical process called transference.
Professor Miller explains how it is a technique that allows the actor to substitute their personal experiences and memories for the character’s.
“If you’re playing Iago in Othello, Iago doesn’t get up and say, ‘I’m going to be a bad guy.’ He goes around making these decisions, these choices, and these actions that from the outside look evil, but from his perspective he’s doing to make himself feel better,” said Professor Miller.
Iago’s machinations put a unique perspective on world leaders today.
Iphigenia presents a modern feminist view on the decisions that leaders are forced to make in wartime.
Cristine An, a junior majoring in forensic psychology and minoring in theatre arts, is president of the Theatrical Players, the college’s drama club.
An plays Iphigenia and she believes in honoring that tradition of stage productions at John Jay.
“It’s a privilege to be able to commit yourself to theatre, finding your own professional, or academic benefit, to find that worth. The main draw is community. We’re here to have fun and enjoy ourselves,” said An.
An also expressed appreciation of the feminist spin that Iphigenia puts on the traditionally patriarchal storytelling.
“It’s in the trend of ancient Greek plays that have been modernized,” she said.
In addition to theatrical productions providing insight into human behavior, they can serve as community building experiences for the performers.
Gabriel Cruz is a junior majoring in fire science and he plays Achilles, the fabled Greek hero, in Iphigenia.
“I originally joined to make friends and [to] try something new. I find it one of the most fun hobbies ever,” said Cruz.
Cruz explained how he believes acting can also benefit students pursuing professions, which requires communication with others on a daily basis.
“It’s very good for building social skills, which is imperative for about a dozen majors here at John Jay,” he said. “You’re gonna need to know how to talk to people, whether you’re a cop or a firefighter, or a computer technician,” said Cruz.
In a recent email to the John Jay community, English Department Chair Jean Mills encouraged students to attend the upcoming performances. Mills also suggested that instructors offer students extra credit for engaging their specific discipline through the play’s subject matter.
Student participation in productions and student attendance to the performances are crucial to the continued survival of the Theatre Arts program.
Professor Miller recognizes that creativity and expression have reached a turning point in society.
“Right now, especially, it’s critical that people do the arts and it’s critical that people can see the stories we tell whether we’re drawing or painting, dancing, or coming to the theater,” said Miller.
Iphigenia will be performed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27 with a matinee at 1:45 pm.
Desiree Sanchez, Artistic Director of Aquila Theatre, and playwright P. Seth Bauer will participate in a talkback after the performance on opening night.
Tickets to Iphigenia are $3 for students and General Admission is $12.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iphigenia-tickets-1074416732369
