SF Olympians

The inventor of the Trojan Horse, Odysseus the King of Ithaca is often called “clever,” “cunning,” or “deceitful,” and is famed for the ability to save his own skin in any situation by thinking on his feet and outsmarting his foe. The total package of brains and brawn, the champion Odysseus was a menace to his enemies in battle, while his eloquence and intelligence earned him the respect of his countrymen, and the love of women both mortal and goddess. He is best known as the subject of Homer’s epic adventure poem “The Odyssey,” which chronicles the champion’s decade-long struggle to return to his homeland and family, having survived the Trojan War but fallen afoul of the powerful sea god Poseidon, who thwarts our hero’s homeward path at every turn, with every tool in the godly arsenal.

“Megan Cohen’s Totally Epic Odyssey” will be an epic poem in the Homeric tradition, performed by the author in lively modern language. The Olympians Festival presentation features a 90-minute “highlight reel” of passages from the 12-hour tale, including sex, a shipwreck, violence, raucous parties, gigantic monsters, and the awesome goddess Athena swooping through the sky. This first public preview is a major step in the development of Cohen’s full adaptation of Homer’s complete poem, a work that will eventually manifest in a variety of mediums including both theatrical performance and online transmedia elements, its larger-than-life story sprawling uncontained across stages and screens. For process updates and bonus content, visit Megancohen.com and/or follow the Twitter hashtag #TotallyEpicAdaptation.

ODYSSEUS or MEG COHEN’S TOTALLY EPIC ODYSSEY by Megan Cohen
staged reading on Friday, November 8, 2013

Megan Cohen (The Odyssey)

Megan Cohen was named one of SF Weekly’s “Top 11 Theater Artists to Watch in 2013.” She is the most frequently produced female playwright in the Bay Area, with 20+ shows and readings in 24 months. Her local artistic partners include Playwrights Foundation, SF Playhouse, SF Theater Pub, Bay One Acts Festival, Performers Under Stress, Pianofight!, and Impact Theater, which recently presented a developmental reading of the new draft of her 2011 Olympians play “Joe Ryan.” In 2012, she penned the Olympians Festival’s closing play, “Zeus.” Beyond the immediate area, her scripts have been performed in regional theaters, and in New York both Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway. With Stuart Bousel, she’s co-founder and co-host of monthly art party SATURDAY WRITE FEVER at the Exit Theater Café. Previously on staff at American Conservatory Theater (Dramaturgy Fellow) and Cutting Ball Theater (Literary Manager), she now works as a freelance writer, creating interactive stories for games and new media. B.A. Drama, Stanford University. Website: Megancohen.Com Twitter: @WayBetterThanTV

The piece of art for Odysseus was created by Brett Grunig!