March 30, 2015
Catholic University's Department of Drama will present The Annunciation , a contemporary staging of the medieval Wakefield Play, directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, artistic director of Synetic Theatre. The play is being performed to complement the landmark exhibition Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea , on view at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) through April 12.
"The Picturing Mary exhibit provided the department an opportunity to feature a European performance tradition, the Wakefield Cycle, that the Church supported from the Middle Ages to the Reformation," said Patrick Tuite, associate drama professor, head of the drama department, and head of the M.A. program.
The Annunciation tells the story of Gabriel's visit to Mary, in which he reveals that she will conceive Jesus.
"The original text of The Annunciation has sections that inspire reverential awe and includes physical humor that makes you laugh out loud," said Tuite. "Our task has been to create a contemporary adaption using language, sound, and movement to make the story accessible and capture its exciting spirit for an audience today."
The play is one of the auxiliary programs Catholic University is offering through its partnership with the NMWA on Picturing Mary . The NMWA exhibit features more than 60 paintings, sculptures, and textiles by some of the best-known Renaissance and Baroque artists.
The Annunciation is free and open to the public. Performances are April 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in Callan Theatre. For more information on the play and on all of CUA's Marian themed programs, visit the University website Honoring Mary: Scholarship, Art, and Faith .