Wide Eyed re-imagines Euripides' THE TROJAN WOMEN, one of history's most powerful plays on the eternal tragedy of war and genocide, and brings the ancient text to new life with heart-pounding immediacy and the relevance inspired by our current American military operations.

The Trojan Women is directed by Kristin Skye Hoffmann, Founding Artistic Director of Wide Eyed Productions. She sets this retelling in a post modern Middle Eastern war zone. Her aim is not to merely illuminate the many tragedies of war, but also to celebrate the strength and humanity of the victims.

Savannah Clement- (Sophronia)- Savvy graduated from The Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute and is an associate artist of FullStop Collective.  NY Theatre includes: Hamlettes, Foreplays & Clean Sheets (FullStop), Gardenplays (Plaid Couch Productions), Cassandra (Dir. Christopher Diercksen) and Over The Moon (American Globe 15 min. Play Festival Winner).  Philadelphia Theatre: Poe-sers (Pink Hanger Productions, Philadelphia Fringe), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Crimes of the Heart (Dir. Julia Ohm).  Film/TV: Last Notes and Lucky Strikes (Dir. Evan Nie) and A Momentary Lapse of Realism (Dir. Bunker Seyfert). A huge thank you to Wide Eyed Productions and the cast of Trojan Women. www.SavvyClement.com

Anthony Doqaj- (Astyanax)- Anthony started acting at the age of 11 landing his first theatrical role as Rutland in Shakespeare’s Henry VI part III with Wide Eyed Productions. Anthony has also appeared in The Black Keys’ music video for their song “Tighten Up” which appeared on MTV and VHI. Anthony has always wanted to become a professional actor and singer and hopes to be in feature films and TV one day and/or Broadway. Special Thanks to Wide Eyed, Kristin, and all of the cast and crew.  Thanks to my mom for believing in me and allowing me to fulfill my dream and special thanks to my big sister and family.

Elizabeth Doqaj- (Polyxena)- Elizabeth first expressed her desire to act and sing at the age of 7. She has appeared on stage in various plays for Adam Roebuck Productions and has been a part of numerous commercials, children’s music videos and a Public Service Announcement for the Gulf Oil Spill.  Elizabeth can also be seen this May in a music video for IMA Robot.  Special Thanks to Wide Eyed, Kristin, and all of the cast and crew.  Thanks to my family and friends for their endless support. 

Molly Gilman- (Poulynoê) – Molly is thrilled to be putting her degree in Classics: Ancient Societies to artistic use! Training: Paper Mill Playhouse (Rising Star Award nom.), NJ Shakespeare Festival, NY Stage & Film, American Theatre Wing, TVI (NY), Margie Haber Studios (CA). Recent credits: Alison/Dr. Wink (orig. role) and title role in Pinkalicious: The Musical (Off-Broadway/Nat'l Tour), Katherina in Taming of the Shrew (Hudson Shakespeare Co.), Ariel in The Tempest (Looking Glass/CAGE), Abby in The Late Christopher Bean (Summit Playhouse w. Frank Licato). www.mollygilman.com "...find freedom, aliveness, and power not from what contains, locates, or protects us, but from what dissolves, reveals, and expands us." ~ Eve Ensler

Jael Golad- (Helen) - Jael first studied Production and Stage Management at the School of Arts in Amsterdam. Upon graduating in 2007, she moved to her fatherland Israel for a year to contemplate her future. There she realized that acting was her true path in life. This brought her to New York where she recently graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Favorite roles at the Academy include Meg in Crimes of the Heart, Ms. Casewell in The Mousetrap and Mrs. Alving in Ghosts. Life in New York has been a wonderful journey saturated with discovery, growth and excitement. She has never been more happy in her life and is truly thrilled to be working with Wide Eyed Productions. A special thanks must go out to her family and friends without whom none of this would be possible.

Suzanne Hepker*- (Kalyra)- Suzanne is originally from Las Vegas, NV and with a stop over in Greeley, CO to get a degree in Musical Theater for the University of Northern Colorado. Suzie is little out of her element, with this show  after many years of playing in a computer, the Rain Forest and Dragon Land but is loving every minute . She is also making her Wide Eyed debut. Thanks to Kristin Skye Hoffmann and all of Wide Eyed for letting this MT play with the real actors, my parents for making me who I am and Jake with out whom I would have never  had the confidence to audition for this show, I Heart You!

Melissa Johnson- (Cassandra) - Melissa sits on the Artistic Board and is a Founding Acting Company member of Wide Eyed Productions. She has been recently seen on stage as "Ru" in Plight of the Apothecary part of A Girl Wrote it, An Evening of One Acts (WEP/Horse Trade Theater Group) ; "Wanderer" A world Elsewhere:Arias in the Key of Clown (2009 NY Fringe Festival), "Pippi Shorttights" in The Swashgigglers and Their Time Machine, Celine in Hedge part of The Spin Cycle; an evening of one acts by Jerrod Bogard (Wide Eyed Productions/Shortened Attention Span), "Verges" in Much Ado About Nothing (Wide Eyed Productions), "Chorus/Medea's Child" in The Medea (WEP and Hudson Shakespeare Co) "Dolores" in Murder Me Always (Laugh Factory NYC) "Helena" in A Midsummer Nights Dream (Jackson Repertory Theater). Melissa is originally from Milwaukee, WI and is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC. She would like to thank her family and friends for their tireless support.

Lisa Mamazza- (Oxinuz)- Lisa is a newly official member of Wide Eyed Productions as well as a founding member of the film company RiverWide Productions.  Recent stage credits include Betty O'Boozenberg in The Return Of Toodles Von Flooz for Wide Eyed's evening of one acts A Girl Wrote It, Cunningham in The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot (Wide Eyed), and Apnea in The Pithecanthropist (The Brecht Forum).  Look for her in the upcoming short film The One You Marry and the web series White Liars both to be out this summer. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support.  

Judy Merrick- (Pallas Athena) - Judy is very happy to be doing her second Wide Eyed show. She was previously seen in their production of Jerrod Bogard's Noah’s Arkansas. A favorite past project was Knuckleball which she preformed at Edinburgh, New York and San Francisco Fringe, (Winning Best of Fringe.)  She is a proud member of the The Amoralists as well as a member of Endtimes Productions. She works in all aspects of theatre from directing, stage managing, design, and producing. She has recently worked at Rattlestick and Lincoln Center. Thank you to this cast for everyone’s bravery and the journey we have been on. And finally thank to my family for always giving nothing but love along the way. 

Justin Ness*- (Menelaus/Poseidon)- Justin serves as the Managing Director and a Founding Acting Company member of Wide Eyed Productions. Credits with Wide Eyed include: The Lost - A World Elsewhere: Arias in the Key of Clown (NYC Fringe); Dan Dilinger - The Spin Cycle; Dogberry - Much Ado About Nothing; Creon - The Medea. Some New York Credits include: The Creature - The Frankenstein Project; Son/Hanging Man - Baaahhh (NYC Fringe); Lieutenant - Plays for the Sunni Triangle; Officer - Hugging the Shoulder (NYC Fringe); Don Pedro - Much Ado About Nothing; Lincoln County Sherriff - The Ascetic of Lincoln County (NYC Fringe); Regional Credits: Leroy Lumpkin - Smoke and Mirrors; "Daniel" - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged; Homer Collyer - The Dazzle; Teddy Hodell - Valparaiso and BabbyBobby - The Cripple of Inishmaan. Film: Searching for Bobby D opposite Kevin Dobson and Carmen Electra. Justin Received his BA, Theater Arts, Performance and Directing from Boise State University.

Kirsta Peterson*- (Andromache)- Kirsta is thrilled to be returning to Wide Eyed having taken part in their A Girl Wrote It series in February as the role of One in Plight of the Apothecary.  Her other theater credits include Theresa in What Happened to Women Here (Richmond Shepard Theater), A New Way to Pay Old Debts (Red Bull Theater Co.), Alice in Expecting (The Player’s Theater), Touchstone in As You Like It (Midtown Festival / Best Supporting Actress nomination, MITF Awards), The Wind in the Willows (The Garage Theatre), Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Red Door Theater), Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Abingdon Theatre), Dick and Spooner (Lookingglass Theatre), Much Ado about Nothing (Manhattan Rep), Moon (Peculiar Works), Cominius in Coriolanus (R.A.D.A. George Bernard Shaw Theater, London), Deborah in A Kind of Alaska (Stella Adler), and Lisa in A Boys’ Life (Stella Adler).  Kirsta has also performed in numerous short films and the feature, Café, and some of her work may be viewed on her website www.kirstapeterson.com.  BFA in Theater from NYU.

William Reid-(Talthybius) - William (Billy) Reid is a native of Milford Connecticut and is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College holding a bachelor of fine arts and a minor in business. He also attended the 'Midsummer in Oxford' program through the British Academy of Dramatic Art. Recent credits include A Midsummer Nights Dream (AML Entertainment), Kimberly Akimbo (Spoon Theater), Sex Curve (Manhattan Rep), and the independent film The One you Marry (Riverwide Productions). This is Will's first show with Wide Eyed and is very excited to be on board.

Rachel Riendeau- (Melantha) - Rachel is a native Vermonter with a BFA in performance from Hofstra University. She is absolutely thrilled to be making her Wide Eyed debut with Trojan Women! Recent credits include Lula Bell in Search of Santa (Lula Bell) with Manhattan Children's Theater and HBO's "Mildred Pierce". Special thanks to Wide Eyed, Kristin, and all of the cast and crew for their creativity and hard work. All my love to my family and friends for their endless support and Lincoln, who is the happy thought that makes me fly.

Trevor Dallier- (Sound Design) - Trevor, resident sound designer of Wide Eyed Productions (WEP), is delighted to be working on Greek Theater again. Previous sound design credits: The Prairie Plays (WEP), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (WEP), Noah's Arkansas (WEP), A Devil Inside (WEP), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (WEP), A World Elsewhere: Arias in the Key of Clown (Fringe NYC/WEP), The Velvet Gentleman (Playlab NYC) and The Fourth Estate (Fringe NYC).

Alfred Schatz- (Set Design) – Al is a Brooklyn-based artist with a fine arts degree from Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts.  He is the Resident Set Designer and Associate Director of Production with The Amoralists Theatre Company. His theater credits include design work for the critically acclaimed Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, Happy in the Poorhouse, Amerissiah, Bring Us The Head Of Your Daughter and Adam Rapp’s recent re-staging of Ghosts in the Cottonwoods. As an accomplished painter and draftsman, his artwork is exclusively represented by the MDH Fine Arts gallery.

Dante Olivia Smith- (Lighting Design)- Dante Olivia Smith is a Lighting and Scenic Designer for theatre and dance. She holds a MFA in lighting design from NYU/Tisch  Department of Design for Stage and Film and a  BFA in lighting and scenic design from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA.  Notable productions include: the first production of Tiny Kushner’s The Henry Box Brown Play, various Mike Daisey Monologues and Umo Ensemble’s Final Broadcast. She has worked frequently with Robin Lynn Smith’s Engaged Theatre Tour a project which takes theatre into the men’s and women’s prison facilities around the Puget Sound. Dante has assisted in multiple regional LORT theatre’s and in New York. She has prior experience as a teaching assistant, tutoring first year undergraduate design students in theatre graphics skills. She is an avid baseball fan (Go Mariners!)

Kristin Skye Hoffmann (Director- The Trojan Women,  Founding Artistic Director- Wide Eyed Productions
Kristin is the Founding Artistic Director of Wide Eyed Productions. She's a graduate of the Performing Arts school at the University of Northern Colorado where she earned her B.A. in Acting and Directing. Her most recent directing projects include Derek Ahonen’s The You Knows Know, Lisa Ferber’s The Return of Toodles von Flooz, Brian Watkins’ My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer, Wasserman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, and Euripides' The Medea for Wide Eyed Productions. Other NY credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream for Jackson Repertory Theatre, the award-winning production of Plays for the Sunni Triangle, In Sheep's Clothing by Jerrod Bogard (Strawberry One Act Festival Best Director & Best Play Nominee), and The Accommodation by Paul Cohen. This Fall she will attend The New School for Drama’s Directing MFA program. Favorite acting credits include; Mrs. Slater in A Devil Inside, Amy in First Base Coach, Lizzy in Noah’s Arkansas and many, many more!
Kristin is a part time acting coach and full time artist and lover of life. www.wideeyedproductions.com.

Euripides (ca. 480 BC – 406 BC) was the last of the three great tragedians of classical Athens (the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles). Ancient scholars thought that Euripides had written ninety-five plays, although four of those were probably written by Critias. Eighteen or nineteen of Euripides' plays have survived complete. There has been debate about his authorship of Rhesus, largely on stylistic grounds and ignoring classical evidence that the play was his. Fragments, some substantial, of most of the other plays also survive. More of his plays have survived than those of Aeschylus and Sophocles together, because of the unique nature of the Euripidean manuscript tradition. Euripides is known primarily for having reshaped the formal structure of Athenian tragedy by portraying strong female characters and intelligent slaves and by satirizing many heroes of Greek mythology. His plays seem modern by comparison with those of his contemporaries, focusing on the inner lives and motives of his characters in a way previously unknown to Greek audiences, and he may be considered "the creator of...that cage which is the theatre of Shakespeare's Othello, Racine's Phèdre, of Ibsen and Strindberg," in which "...imprisoned men and women destroy each other by the intensity of their loves and hates".

Gilbert Murray- Translation-(2 January 1866 – 20 May 1957) was an Australian born British classical scholar and public intellectual with connections in many spheres. He was an outstanding scholar of the language and culture of Ancient Greece, perhaps the leading authority in the first half of the twentieth century. He is the basis for the character of Adolphus Cusins in his friend Shaw's play Major Barbara, and also appears as the chorus figure in Tony Harrison's play Fram. Murray is perhaps now best known for his verse translations of Greek drama, which were popular and prominent in their time. The staging of Athenian drama in English did have its own cultural impact. He had earlier experimented with his own prose dramas, without much success. Over time he worked through almost the entire canon of Athenian dramas (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides in tragedy; Aristophanes in comedy). From Euripides, the Hippolytus and The Bacchae (together with The Frogs of Aristophanes; first edition, 1902); The Medea, Trojan Women, and Electra (1905–1907); Iphigenia in Tauris (1910); The Rhesus (1913) were presented at the Court Theatre, in London. In the United States Granville Barker and his wife Lillah McCarthy gave outdoor performances of The Trojan Women and Iphigenia in Tauris at various colleges (1915).

Wide Eyed Productions is a New York City-based collective of artists dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in risk-taking, relevant theatre. Our core ensemble is committed to the birth of new works and also the rebirth of the classic texts. Through our collaborative process Wide Eyed discovers and creates theatre that both stimulates the imagination and awakens the public's passion for high standards in the performing arts.

Wide Eyed was born September 8, 2007 and was founded by Kristin Skye Hoffmann, Liz White and Sky Seals, all graduates of University of Northern Colorado’s performing arts program. Wide Eyed Productions was built as a platform for talented people to be recognized, and to be a place where quality productions abound. This is Wide Eyed’s fourth theatrical season in NYC, and The Trojan Womenis the company’s thirteenth full production under founding artistic director Kristin Skye Hoffmann. Up next is the original family musical Goldilocks and the Three Polar Bears by Jerrod Bogard, part of the 2011 FringeNYC festival. Wide Eyed Productions was also named a 2009 Person Of The Year by nytheatre.com.