of the TO DIE IN ATHENS reading, this evening.

There are a lot of firsts here for me. I’ve had a lot of choruses in my life, but the music for this production is at a new level. The MOH&H music came close, but that was all improvised, so it wasn’t possible to have singing or the level of melodic specificity we do now. I’ve also never really strung sections from so many different Greek plays together in one spiderweb. And it’s the first time in a long time that a text I’m responsible for adapting is going semi-public. And it’s full-length. Although I am directing this reading, I see my contribution to this play as much more playwright than director. If I had been able to find someone else to direct it, I would have – and I’ll try to do that next time.

We have been working on this text, and this music, in one way or another, since February. I guess I’ve been on the script since November. This is the seventh draft, but only the 2nd to make it to a reading.

But I’ve been on the chorus since 1998. So, in that sense, ten years.

This is closer – every production gets closer – to what it should be, what it can be. I know it’s about the process, not about the destination. But it’s hard not to feel blisteringly excited about giving the chorus its music back. Its legs.

There are no professional destinations for this yet – and the translators’ rights muddle would be something else, if we were to try to really stage it. I don’t know what the next step is. I don’t care. It’s been a battle, and an honor, to try to get it this far. There will be another step, that’s for sure, but I won’t know that till after tonight. Chris keeps saying “When we record the album…”

“You go with head held high.” – the chorus, to Antigone.