A musical movement theater performance that unfolds the mythical romance of Achilles and Patroclus against the backdrop of the Trojan War.
 
About this Event
 
Torn between loyalty to his comrades and desperate love for a boy he no longer recognizes, the young soldier Patroclus makes a fateful choice that changes the course of the Trojan War for good. 
 
HaoExpression Studio’s eighth major production, ARISTOS: THE MUSICAL, sings the love story of doomed heroes Achilles and Patroclus. Adapted from The Iliad, Aristos is written by Muse Lee (book and songs) and Aaron Reed (orchestrations and arrangements), who met as freshmen at Stanford University. 
 
Aristos began as a one-time collaboration the summer after Lee’s graduation. However, the new work swiftly generated social media buzz, connecting the writers to young NorCal theatre lovers who eagerly contributed their talents to developing the new musical. HaoExpression Studio has collaborated with this growing youth team and is proud to present the very first production of Aristos!
 
Directed by Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff and Muse Lee, Aristos features 25 cast members and five live musicians. These artists range from age 6 to 23 and come from as far as Oakland and Sacramento. The production also showcases original set and costumes designed by teenage artists Ruby Chan-Frey and Emmary Jones. As a plaintive love story, a retelling of a classic poem, and a paean to the twilight years of childhood, Aristos is suitable for mythology lovers and theatregoers of all ages*.
 
To follow the show’s journey, visit @aristosmusical on Instagram and Tumblr.
 
WHEN
Sunday April 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.
Runtime: 2 hours (including intermission)
 
WHERE
Cubberley Theater
4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, California
 
TICKETS
At the door:
    - General Admission: $30
    - Seniors: $20
    - 18 and under: $20
In advance (ends April 3):
    - Front-of-house seating (limited availability): $30
    - General Admission: $20
    - Seniors: $15
    - 18 and under: $15
    - Groups 10+ (limited availability): $12
 
This production is dedicated to the memory of Norah Borus.

*Note: Aristos is adapted from Homer’s Iliad and addresses the themes covered therein. Like many previous HaoExpression productions, this show is foregrounded on the horror of war, which in this case includes grief, major character death, and implications of violence. However, as in all our productions, serious topics are presented in a sensitive, poetic, and imaginative fashion accessible to all ages. Rather than staging crude representations that shock and disturb, we intend to offer thoughtful artistic interpretations that can serve a safe starting point for discussions of difficult subject matter.

LINKS:
https://www.haoexpression.com/aristos.html​
https://aristos1.eventbrite.com
https://aristos2.eventbrite.com
SYNOPSIS
In the tenth and final year of the Trojan War, Achilles and Patroclus find themselves at a crossroads. After a dispute with commander-in-chief Agamemnon, Achilles has withdrawn himself and his forces from the fighting, leading to devastating losses for the Greeks. Desperate to save not only his comrades, but also his beloved’s reputation, Patroclus begs Achilles to reconsider his stance. All the while, the specter of doom hangs over the lovers; according to the prophecy, by coming to Troy, Achilles has chosen a swift, glorious death over a long, peaceful, unremarkable life. Once Trojan prince Hector falls, the gods say, Achilles will die--but, as Achilles continuously reassures Patroclus, “What has Hector ever done to me?”