Mary Zimmerman's Tony Award winning Metamorphoses brings the Roman poet Ovid's tales to stunning visual life.  Set in a large pool of water, the play juxtaposes the ancient and the contemporary in both language and image to reflect the variety and persistence of narrative in the face of inevitable change. This Artists Rep production featured a multi-cultural cast and a fresh new musical score, and UTB added its signature style of epic theatre to the in-the-round staging, aided by an expert core of designers.

“…an always involving, always beautiful, and deeply moving evening of theatre...

Featuring elements of mask, fabric & object work, Metamorphoses enjoyed a celebrated run as the 2006 season-opener of Portland, Oregon’s award-winning theatre company Artists Rep.

"...[the] ensemble is fully up to the task, moving briskly and gorgeously through classical tales...bristling with humor, pathos, heartbreak and an occasional balm of mercy. The stories are so engaging, and the actors play them out so beautifully.” - The Oregonian

In Ms. Zimmerman’s play, young Myrrha, broken with her choice and destiny, pleads to the gods: “Let me step out of my own heart.” The author, speaking of the present war in Iraq, as well as her play in its New York run, notes: “The text had resonances of sudden transformation and a transcendence. It’s a painful and traumatic change into something new and peaceful.”

“...and his dynamite cast [create] a masterful and moving performance. The show sublimely weaves together nine tales of transformation with devotional language, aided by reverent lighting. Memorable moments abound. The remarkably talented company draws the audience in like children at the circus, and wide-eyed and eager, we happily follow.” - Willamette Week

Investigate the METAMORPHOSES subcategories in the Table of Contents (above, left) for a Gallery of MET Images, and MET Director Notes.