Blog - Page 16 of 45 - Court Theatre

Additional Learning, Listening, and Viewing

Check out these resources for additional learning about the history of gospel music and Sophocles!

Pre-Show Genogram and Genre Activity

Explore the intersection of family trees and music with this pre-show activity.

Historical Background, Dramaturgy, and Design

Explore the history behind THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS, its dramaturgy, and the design of Court Theatre’s production.

Rewind, Refresh: The Oedipus Trilogy

Watch three brief videos summarizing the basic plot points and character relationships in OEDIPUS REX, OEDIPUS AT COLONUS, and ANTIGONE.

Synopsis and Characters

Read a brief synopsis of this production, and untangle the web of Oedipus's family tree, his life, and the order of events immediately preceding THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS.

Oedipus, Church, and Catharsis

Production Dramaturg Wenke (Coco) Huang highlights quotes about catharsis, joy, redemption, and Black worship that offer crucial context for THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS.

Chicago’s Gospel History

Production Dramaturg Wenke (Coco) Huang provides a brief overview of Chicago's history with gospel music and how it informs THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS.

What do Morgan Freeman, Zora Neale Hurston, and the 2003 film CAMP have in common? Believe it or not, they're all connected to THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS! Read more about this production's cultural resonances in this blog post!

Ecstatic Worship and the Pentecostal Experience

Scholar Emily D. Crews offers background knowledge on Pentecostalism, thereby providing context to better understand THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS.

In Conversation: Directors Mark J.P. Hood and Charles Newell

Directors Mark J.P. Hood and Charles Newell discuss the evolution of gospel music, the importance of doing THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS in Chicago, and the personal journey of redemption.