Orpheus X, by Rinde Eckert, at the Duke on 42nd Street

Theatre for a New Audience presents the New York premiere of Orpheus X, opening at the Duke On 42nd Street on 4 Dec 2009, following previews from 2 Dec and running through to 20 Dec 2009.

Orpheus is a rock star who plays electric guitar, not the lyre. Orpheus is mourning the death of a poet named Eurydice who was killed by a cab in which Orpheus was riding.

Orpheus X, with original music and text by 2007 Pulitzer Finalist Rinde Eckert and video by Denise Marika, draws from several literary and poetic sources, including the Sixth Century Greek poet Ibyous and the Roman poets Virgil and Ovid.

Directed by Robert Woodruff, Orpheus X stars Rinde Eckert as 'Orpheus,' Suzan Hanson as 'Eurydice,' and John Kelly as 'John/Persephone,' and features live band, Timothy Feeney (percussion), Virginia Leishman (piano), Blake Newman (bass) and Wendy Richman (viola).

Orpheus X was originally produced in 2006 by American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts. This will be a Theatre for a New Audience production.

Orpheus X has video by Denise Marika, scenic design by David Zinn and Denise Marika, costumes by David Zinn, lighting by Christopher Akerlind and sound by David Remedios.

Rinde Eckert, the 2009 recipient of The Alpert Award in the Arts for his contributions to theatre and finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama for Orpheus X, is a writer, composer, performer and director. His Opera / New Music Theatre productions have toured throughout America, and to major festivals in Europe and Asia.