Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival: ICMS 2019

Conference: 
ICMS
Conference Year: 
2019

The Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival (MMTF) is a biennial performance festival showcasing and invigorating the global heritage of drama, music, dance, and performance styles from late antiquity through the Renaissance. All evening performances will be followed by a talkback—an opportunity to ask questions and share knowledge among the audience and performers. We hope you'll join us at the following performances and events, part of the 54th International Congress on Medieval Studies, May 9 to 12, 2019.

  • All performances take place at the Gilmore Theatre Complex on the WMU campus.
  • Shuttles depart Valley 3 (Eldridge-Fox) for evening performances beginning at 7:15 pm.
  • Return shuttles depart both at the conclusion of each performance and following the talkback.
  • All evening performances are repeated at noon the following day (no shuttle service).
  • Unused evening performance tickets may be redeemed (with an upcharge of $2.00) for the following day’s matinee of the same program.

Tickets

General Admission $15.00 USD For all performances
Presale with Congress registration, online $12.00 USD Noon performances
Presale with Congress registration, online $10.00 USD Evening performances

Schedule

Sfanta (Holy One) and Husband Swap, or Swap Meat (Le Trocheur de maris)

A night of absurdity pairs Teodora, a wannabe saint from Romania who seeks fame rather than faith, with three dissatisfied wives who meet the Husband Trader and get the men of their dreams—or not.

  • Translators: Diana Lobontiu and Jody Enders, respectively
  • Location: Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 PM
  • Ensemble: Radford University
  • Duration: 100 minutes plus intermission

Je Christine and Aliénor

A night of strong French women, enriched with music, features fourteenth-century writer and noblewoman Christine de Pizan and the powerful Aliénor of Aquitaine, mother of kings.

  • Creators: Suzanne Savoy and Ron Cook, respectively
  • Ensemble: Simonetta Cochis, Ron and Janice Cook
  • Location: Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 PM, Radford University
  • Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes plus intermission

Problematic Men

Unique, historically informed performances in the original languages accompanied by period instruments of the Latin comedy Babio, the Middle English Dux Moraud, and the Latin lyric Samson Dux Fortissime.

  • Location: Friday, May 10, 8:00 PM
  • Ensemble: Pneuma Ensemble
  • Duration: 100 minutes plus intermission

Time's Up

#MeToo. Musical theatre. Medieval drama. What do these things have in common? This adaptation of the tenth-century The Conversion of the Harlot Thais suggests there are powerful parallels to be drawn between the plot of Hrosvit’s play and the challenges of the twenty-first century.

  • Ensemble: University of Minnesota, Duluth
  • Location: Saturday, May 11, 8:00 PM
  • Duration: 90 minutes, no intermission