Curtains Up: Baldwin High’s Medea Brings Ancient Tragedy to Life

EricJones
40 minutes ago
2 min read

When the lights rise on Baldwin High School’s production of Medea, audiences won’t be stepping into ancient Greece! They’ll be transported to a 1950s living room humming with heartbreak, defiance, and just a touch of rock-and-roll.

This bold reinterpretation of Euripides’ classic tragedy has already earned Baldwin High’s theater program the Region 4-AAA One-Act Championship for the second year in a row. Directed by theater teacher Amy Zipperer and co-directed by English teacher Nick Thompson, the play now heads to state competition later this month.

You can catch Medea live at Baldwin High School, November 7 and 8 at 7 p.m.Tickets are $10 at baldwinfa.booktix.com.

A Modern Take on a 2,000-Year-Old Story

Nick Thompson describes the play as “one of the oldest stories ever told, but with a fresh heartbeat.”

“We set it in the 1950s,” Thompson explained. “It echoes that era’s idea of the ‘perfect housewife,’ while highlighting Medea’s struggle against the roles forced on her. The shadow play elements nod back to ancient Greece, but the setting and even the music make it feel alive. Yes, there’s a little Michael Jackson in there.”

The production blends classical language with contemporary movement, shadow work, and a dynamic chorus of students acting as the voices of the women of Corinth, a powerful bridge between the ancient and the modern.

A Leading Lady with Heart

Senior Saitalea Riner, who plays the title role, admits her first read-through was a bit intimidating. “I thought, what is this crazy play?” she said, laughing. “The language felt so different. But once we started working on it, everything came together.”

As rehearsals continued, Riner found herself connecting deeply with the character’s complexity.

“At first, I thought Medea was just angry,” she said. “But when I stepped into her shoes, I realized how mistreated she’d been. I started to really sympathize with her even though she takes her revenge too far.”

Riner, who plans to pursue veterinary science after graduation, credits theater for sharpening her empathy. “Playing different characters helps you see through other people’s eyes,” she said. “It makes you more compassionate onstage and off.”

A Chorus of Talent

This year’s cast brings together a mix of experienced seniors and standout freshmen — something Thompson calls a “passing of the torch.”

“We’ve got killer seniors leading the way and freshmen stepping right up beside them,” he said. “It’s exciting to see the next generation already finding their voices.”

That balance of experience and fresh energy helped power Baldwin’s One-Act team to another regional win and has made this production one of the most anticipated performances of the year.