In This Program

• About The Play
• A Welcome from Karen & Marianne
• Company
• Flavors of the Stage
• Lobby Gallery
• C.S. Lewis and A Myth Retold
• Taproot’s Legacy of Lewis
• The Written Tradition
• Up Next on the Jewell Mainstage
• Join us for Taproot’s 50th Anniversary Season!
• Print Edition
• More About Taproot Theatre

About The Play

Playing in the Jewell Mainstage Theatre

C.S. Lewis’s

Till We Have Faces

Adapted by Karen Lund

Cast

(In order of appearance)

Orual
Candace Vance

Young Orual
Alanah Pascual*

Psyche & New Queen
Ayo Tushinde

Redival, Judge, et al
Melanie Godsey

Batta, Ansit, et al
Kim Morris

King & Old Man
Nolan Palmer

The Fox
Eric Polani Jensen*

Priest, Arnom, et al
Jeff Allan Pierce

Bardia, et al
Brian Pucheu

Tarin, Cupid, Trunia, Illerdia, et al
Brandon Riel

Understudies

Orual
Marianna de Fazio

Redival, Judge, Batta, Ansit, et al
Ashleigh Coe

King, Old Man, & The Fox
Frank Lawler*

Priest, Arnom, Bardia, Tarin, Cupid, Trunia, Illerdia, et al
Rowan Gallagher

Production

Director
Marianne Savell**

Assistant Director
Amanda E. Rountree

Scenic Designer
Jordan Gerow

Costume Designer
Sarah Burch Gordon

Lighting Designer
Tucker Goodman

Sound & Projections Designer
Mark Lund

Prop Master
Jaiden Clark

Stage Manager
Clara King*

Assistant Stage Manager
Nicola Krause*

Dialect Coach
Alyssa Keene

Dramaturg
Sonja Lowe

Setting

The Kingdom of Glome

Till We Have Faces is approximately two hours and 30 minutes including one 15-minute intermission. 

*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre, Taproot Theatre Company, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

Have you ever had that magical experience where you and a friend fall in love with the same book? That experience is what started the journey that led to this show. It’s also why these program notes are written with two voices­—because we both want to welcome you into this amazing story!

We’ve been close friends for… let’s just say “a long time.” It’s a friendship that has lasted across distance and through many life changes. We were still relatively new friends when Marianne encouraged Karen to read Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis. Karen was fascinated by this story of a skeptic who encounters something that is unmistakably Divine, and how that encounter quite literally changes her world. Marianne was enchanted by the mythic scope and swept away by the emotion in this narrative: rage, grief, love, regret, repentance, and every other facet of the human experience.

In his book Miracles, C.S. Lewis defined myth as “a real though unfocused gleam of divine truth falling on human imagination.” In a letter to his friend Fr. Peter Milward, Lewis added that a good myth is a “story out of which ever varying meanings will grow for different readers and in different ages.” When he set out to write Till We Have Faces, Lewis was actively attempting to put his ideas into practice and write “a good myth.” In our humble opinion, and in the opinion of decades of literary scholars, he succeeded.

This “myth retold” is a tale that is both epic and intimate. It directs our eyes to a distant horizon filled with gods, kings, and warriors. It challenges us to look deep within—to face our true selves. In our own experiences, we’ve found that any encounter with spiritual truths feels exactly like Lewis’s definition of myth; both immensely vast and intensely personal at the same time.

The legacy of C.S. Lewis and his unique stories of hope have played an important role in Taproot’s history. Some of you may remember one of the earliest productions toured by the founding members of Taproot was a re-telling of Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. So, at the beginning of this 50th Anniversary Season, celebrating Taproot’s past, present, and future, it is particularly meaningful that we have the opportunity to open our 2026 Jewell Mainstage Season with this beautiful adaptation of a C.S. Lewis classic. We can’t wait to share this epic story with all of you! We hope that you enjoy

the journey as much as we did. 

Karen Lund
Playwright & Taproot’s Producing Artistic Director

Marianne Savell
Director

Cast

Melanie Godsey (she/her)
Redival, Judge, et al
Melanie always loves working at Taproot! Recent roles include Alice in The Book of Will and Shelby in Steel Magnolias (Taproot Theatre), Hortensio/Gremio in Shrew (Union Arts Center), and Margot/Maxine understudy in Dial M for Murder (Village Theatre). She also recently had the pleasure of directing A Charlie Brown Christmas at Taproot! Melanie is a playwright, director, and producer with The Co-Conspirators. Love to her JRMs.

Eric Polani Jensen
The Fox
Eric is thrilled to be part of Taproot’s 50th Anniversary Season. He has been a member of the Pacific Northwest theatre scene for over 30 years. Previous Taproot credits include Mayor Dobbs in Bright Star and John Heminges in The Book of Will. Other recent credits include Andrew MacLaren in Brigadoon and Mr. Mushnick in Little Shop of Horrors. Thank you for supporting live theatre!

Kim Morris
Batta, Ansit, et al
Kim is delighted to be performing C.S. Lewis’s story with this fantastic cast and crew and celebrating this new play adapted by Karen Lund for Taproot’s 50th Anniversary Season! She was last seen as Aunt Agatha in Happy Christmas, Jeeves. Favorite Taproot credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Silent Sky, The Foreigner, All My Sons, The Importance of Being Earnest (2007), and Black Coffee. Kim also teaches students grades Pre-K–3 with Taproot’s Acting Studio. Big love to my family! 1 Corinthians 10:31

Alanah Pascual
Young Orual
Alanah is a Filipina Latina actor from California. Favorite past productions include An Enemy of the People (Union Arts Center) and Unrivaled (Seattle Public Theater). Alanah is also a director, producer, and teacher, having had the joy of teaching Taproot’s Summer Acting Camps! Alanah is currently directing and producing What to Expect (Pork Filled Productions) running April 5–8 at Seattle Public Theater.

Jeff Allen Pierce
Priest, Arnom, et al
Jeff returns to Taproot after playing multiple roles in Murder on the Links and J.R.R. Tolkien in Lewis & Tolkien last year. He also understudied for A Sherlock Carol; My Lord, What A Night; and The Book of Will. Other favorite roles include Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun and Sam in Fully Committed. Jeff has also performed with GreenStage, Theatre22, Idaho Repertory Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Nolan Palmer
King & Old Man
Nolan has worked in Seattle since 1980 as an actor, director, and writer. He is the co-founder of Babylon Theatre and The 15 Minute Babylon Theatre Hour. Nolan has worked with Taproot since 1981 as an actor or director in over 70 productions and is thrilled to be back for Till We Have Faces. He was most recently seen as Richard Burbage and William Jaggard in The Book of Will. Thank you, Taproot, my friends. Love to Re and O.

Brian Pucheu
Bardia, et al
Brian is quite chuffed to be back at Taproot! Previous Taproot credits include Jimmy Jay in Brightstar and Mr. Darcy in all three Christmas at Pemberley productions. Other credits include George in Sunday in the Park with George and Karnak in Ride the Cyclone at SecondStory Repertory, Ingvar in Ingvar! A Musical Furniture Saga and Mycroft Holmes in Ms. Holmes at Latitude Theatre, and The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance at the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Brian would like to thank the cast and crew for all their wonderful work and, as always, his bunnies.

Brandon Riel
Tarin, Cupid, Trunia, Illerdia, et al
Brandon is always delighted to return to Taproot where he last understudied Murder on the Links and The Hello Girls. Favorite credits include Snowed In (Again) at ArtsWest and Pride and Prejudice at Harlequin Productions. As a theatre artist, Brandon has also worked with Village Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, and other regional companies. He holds his MFA from the University of Washington School of Drama. Love and thanks to his incredible people. Proverbs 16:9

Ayo Tushinde
Psyche & New Queen
Ayo is grateful to make their Taproot debut! They are most interested in telling stories through a lens of intersectionality, enhancing our community, and continuing to inspire vital change in our ever-shifting society. Favorite credits include Antipholus in The Comedy of Errors and Laertes in Hamlet at Seattle Shakespeare Company. They have enjoyed working with many local theatres including Union Arts Center, Café Nordo, Seattle Rep, Intiman Theatre, and Seattle Public Theater.

Candace Vance
Orual
Candace is thrilled to celebrate Taproot's 50th Anniversary Season! Favorite Taproot credits include Rachel in A Woman of No Importance, Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Locally, she has also appeared at ACT, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Public Theater, and Book-It Repertory Theatre, among others. Candace has also enjoyed working internationally as Julieta in the national and Spain tour of Romeo y Julieta and in The Quality of Mercy: A Tour of Love Through Shakespeare's Words in Paris. candacevance.com

Understudies

Ashleigh Coe
Redival, Judge, Batta, Ansit, et al u/s
Ashleigh is thrilled to be returning to the Taproot stage! Previous Taproot credits include As It is in Heaven, A Christmas Carol, Pageantry, and Foolish Wiseman. She was also a member of Taproot’s Road Company, touring bullying-prevention shows to schools all around the PNW. Enjoy the show!

Marianna de Fazio
Orual u/s
Marianna last appeared at Taproot as Sister Polly in As It is in Heaven. Other Taproot credits include Madeline Bassett in Jeeves in Bloom and Raz in A Civil War Christmas. Marianna most recently performed in As You Like It with Wooden O/Union Arts Center and in Letters from Max with Seattle Public Theater. She also coaches dialect at Taproot and many other theatres and local high schools. Marianna earned her MFA from the University of Washington. Thank you for supporting live theatre! mariannadefazio.com

Rowan Gallagher
Priest, Arnom, Bardia, Tarin, Cupid, Trunia, Illerdia, et al u/s
Rowan is a director, actor, dramaturg, and dialect coach in and around Seattle. They were an early founding ensemble member of Magpie Artists Ensemble and an original core ensemble member of Latitude Theatre. Rowan has worked with Taproot a number of times behind the scenes, including as dramaturg for Black Coffee and The Hello Girls, and as dialect coach for The Wickhams and Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position. Their recent projects in Seattle also include directing the past two years of Victorian Christmas Cards, playwrights festivals, and, most recently, assistant directing A Klingon Christmas Carol with Latitude Theatre.

Rebecca Gelzer
Young Orual, Psyche, & New Queen u/s
Rebecca is delighted to return to Taproot after recently playing Sally in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Since moving back to her roots in the PNW, she has had the pleasure of working with Taproot Theatre, InD Theatre, Harlequin Productions, Woodinville Repertory Theatre, and more. When not acting, Rebecca works as a music director and teaching artist, building SEL-based theatre curriculum for public schools. Proud Shakes & Co. alum. Thanks to Marianne and this incredible creative team.

Frank Lawler
King, Old Man, & The Fox u/s
Frank was last seen at Taproot in Lady Windermere’s Fan. Other Taproot credits include Camping with Henry and Tom, Busman’s Honeymoon, and Joyful Noise. He has also performed with ACT, Harlequin Productions, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Public Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Sound Theatre Company, Witness Immersive, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, Annex Theatre, and Theater Schmeater. In April, Frank will perform in Moby Dick with Vashon Repertory Theatre. Love, as ever, to Ann and Rowan.

Production Team

Jaiden Clark (he/him)
Prop Master
Jaiden is a prop, scenic, and sound designer and a proud Production Associate at Taproot Theatre. His recent design credits include prop design for Taproot’s Road Company and Murder on the Links, and scenic design for Ingvar! A Musical Furniture Saga at Latitude Theatre and Hall of Horror at Dark Council Production.

Jordan Gerow
Scenic Designer
Jordan is a designer and artist in the Seattle area. She has an MFA in Scenic Design from Illinois State University and a BA in Theatre Production from Seattle Pacific University. Jordan is also a designer at Analog Heart Creative and a visual artist, working on both original pieces and commissions. Recent works can be seen at jordangerow.com and current project updates on Instagram @jordangerowdesign. Thanks to all the people!

Sarah Burch Gordon
Costume Designer
Sarah is thrilled to return to the Pacific Northwest and Taproot. Favorite designs at Taproot include Persuasion, Dracula, and The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge. She has also designed at Seattle Children's Theatre and Edmonds College. Most recently, she worked as the Costume Director at The Atlanta Opera. Sarah is also a visual artist and teacher. She is excited to be designing for Taproot’s 50th Anniversary Season!

Tucker Goodman
Lighting Designer
Tucker is happy to return to Taproot where he most recently designed lighting for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Other Taproot lighting design credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, Murder on the Links, and Happy Christmas, Jeeves. Tucker recently designed scenery for Seattle Shakespeare Company, Woodland Park Players, Butler Opera Center, and Cape Fear Regional Theatre, among others. He also works as a scenic designer with Analog Heart.

Clara King
Stage Manager
Clara is a proud AEA Stage Manager and freelance theatre artist based in Seattle. She is also on staff as Taproot’s Production Associate and is the Production Manager with Woodland Park Players. As a stage manager, she has recently collaborated with Seattle Opera, LA Opera, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Broadway Rose Theatre Company, La Mirada Theater, and the New London Barn Playhouse. Clara received their MFA in Stage Management from CalArts. She gives all her love to Ella. ckingsm.com

Alyssa Keene
Dialect Coach
Alyssa has been coaching dialects for 20+ years, recently coaching Always… Patsy Cline and A Woman of No Importance at Taproot Theatre, as well as Mary Poppins at The 5th Avenue Theatre. As an actress, you may have seen her in Cowboys Are My Weakness at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and Much Ado About Nothing at Island Shakespeare Festival. Alyssa is thrilled to have also recently entered the world of audiobook narration with The Beekeeper’s Question by Christina Baldwin.

Karen Lund
Playwright & Producing Artistic Director
Taproot was voted The Seattle Times Best in the PNW People’s Choice for Best Theater Company in 2024 and received the 2024 Gregory Award for Outstanding Performing Arts Organization of the Year. Recent directing work includes Taproot’s Murder on the Links, Always… Patsy Cline, and Lewis & Tolkien. Karen also recently directed Brigadoon at Village Theatre. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union (SDC) and is a professional voiceover artist. Karen would like to thank her amazing family, Mark, Jake, and Hannah.

Mark Lund
Sound & Projections Designer
Mark recently designed for A Sherlock Carol, Murder on the Links, Always… Patsy Cline, The Book of Will, The Hello Girls, and Black Coffee at Taproot. Other design work includes Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and multiple award-winning short films. He has voiced many regional and national projects for T-Mobile, The North Face, the NHL, FedEx, Amazon, Super Smash Bros., and Starfox as Falco Lombardi. Love to Karen, Hannah, and Jake.

Sonja Lowe
Dramaturg
Sonja has a BA in Theatre from Seattle Pacific University and a MLitt in Dramaturgy from the University of Glasgow. A former Taproot intern, Sonja has served on the Taproot Theatre staff in multiple capacities since she was first hired in 2010. She is currently the Literary Manager and Resident Dramaturg at Taproot, and also contributes to dramaturgical research for other regional theatres in the Pacific Northwest.

Amanda E. Rountree
Assistant Director
Amanda is thrilled to be back at Taproot after assistant directing Happy Christmas, Jeeves and My Lord, What a Night, and directing Taproot’s recent touring production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Select directing credits include The Oresteia and Photograph 51 (UW School of Drama), Glass. Kill. Bluebeard’s Friends. (Strawberry Theatre Workshop’s Strawberry Jam), and The Crucible (New Threads Theatre Company). She has also worked with Village Theatre, Seattle Public Theater, and Mirror Stage. Amanda earned her MFA in Directing from the University of Washington. aerountree.com

Marianne Savell
Director
Marianne has directed As It is in Heaven, Black Coffee, Steel Magnolias, and Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as co-directed Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Nerd, all at Taproot. Taproot acting credits include The Amish Project, As You Like It, The Voice of the Prairie, and Bullshot Crummond. Marianne served as the Producing Director of Actors Co-op in Hollywood, CA, where she directed many productions including Wit, Hamlet, King Lear, Long Days Journey Into Night, and the world premiere of Gulf View Drive. She is an alumnus of Director’s Lab West, the New Harmony Project, and a member of the SDC.

Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theater as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions, and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks

Production Crew

Crew

Directing Observer – Tristan R. Caulkins

Dramaturgy Observer – Alexis Averbuj

Casting

Casting Director – Bretteney Beverly

Casting Associate – Pilar O’Connell

Costume Staff

Dresser – Jaclyn Deshaye

Draper – Martha Mitchell

Stitchers – Scían Hayes, Veronica Dimoff

Wig Specialist – Jaclyn Deshaye

Wig Designer – Joyce Degenfelder

Scenic & Lighting Staff

Master Electrician – Aiyana Stephens

Scenic Carpenter – Garrett Dill

Welder – Tim Samland

Scenic Charge Artist – Mark Lund

Scenic Artists – Jaiden Clark, Morgan Rae

Lighting Programmer – Matthew Ray

Light Board Operator – Tiana Price

Electricians – Glen Fritz, Morgan Poirer, Madeleine Rush, Matthew Ray, Amanda Sweger

Scenic Strike – Taylor Malec^†, David Natale^†, Brett North^†, Theresa Oborn^†

† All stage work performed by employees represented by I.A.T.S.E., Local No. 15.

Stop by concessions before the show to pre-order your intermission refreshments.

Taproot’s concessions menu features Pacific Northwest wine and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and a variety of snacks, including specialty items chosen for each show.

Specials curated for Till We Have Faces:

• King’s Goblet. Gin, vanilla, lemon bitters, soda water, and golden shimmer
• Fox’s Wisdom. Bourbon, honey, syrup, and lemon
• Wine of the Gods. Red wine sangria with fruit garnish
• The Sisters’ Spritzers.
  • Pomegranate juice with lime and soda water
  • Grapefruit juice with vanilla and soda water
  • Blackcurrant juice and soda water
• C.S. Lewis’s Lemon Scone. (Seattle Scone Company)
• Batta’s Baklava. (Hummus Cafe)

50^th Anniversary Specials:

Celebrate all season long with our 50th Anniversary Bubbles & Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie (Lá Liath Bakery).

Empowerment & Responsibility: Paintings by Danika Wright

January 21–February 28, 2026

INSERT LARGE DISPLAY PHOTO:  Danika-Wright-Blue-Streak-Mama Caption Blue Streak Mama, Oil on Canvas, 19 x 23. Danika Wright.

Danika Wright is inspired by people and their relationship with the world around them. In her portraits, she has tackled topics such as climate change, women's empowerment, and juggling reality. Formerly a 3D artist in the film and game industry, her skills in realism combine with an emotional, evocative style. Each of her portraits tells a story and her series of works expand on those stories, presenting her views on some of the most human issues we face.

As we explore the story of sisters, love, jealousy, and the Divine in Till We Have Faces, Danika’s figures reflect our own humanity, how we perceive our places in the world, and how we respect and cherish each other and our Earth.

In the series A Celebration of Women, Danika was influenced by Melinda Gates’s book The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. “These paintings pay tribute to women,” she writes, “whose strength, resilience, and leadership create ripples of positive change. Through color [and] composition this series honors the often-unseen profound impact that supporting women have on families, communities, and global progress.”

The series Climate Change “draws inspiration from climate activists, especially the young leaders at the forefront of the global climate movement. Their urgency, courage, and unwavering demand for accountability inspired this collection. The paintings portray the emotional weight of climate anxiety as well as the hope that emerges from collective action.”

All works are for sale unless marked by a red dot or NFS (not for sale). Please visit Danika’s website at danika-wright.com for more details about her work and to contact the artist for purchase enquiries.
—Gina Cavallo, Curator & Director of Development

By Sonja Lowe and Alexis Averbuj

A British author, literary scholar, and lay theologian, C.S. Lewis is perhaps best known as the creator of the fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Other readers are fans of his science fiction stories in The Space Trilogy, or his many theological writings like Mere Christianity, The Problem with Pain, and The Screwtape Letters. But out of all his many books, Lewis’s personal favorite was Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. Ironically, this work was not a success during his lifetime. In a letter to a friend, Lewis wrote, “that book, which I consider far and away the best I have written, has been my one big failure both with critics and with the public.”

The particular myth that Lewis is retelling in Till We Have Faces is the ancient tale of Cupid and Psyche. One of the earliest written accounts of this story is recorded in Metamorphoses by Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis (or Platonicus) who was born around 125 CE. In this version, Psyche (a Greek word meaning soul) is a mortal woman who is married to Cupid, the God of Love. Although she lives in his beautiful palace, when Cupid comes to her every night, she is forbidden from ever seeing his face. Psyche’s sisters are jealous of her grand palace, and they trick Psyche into looking at Cupid as he lays sleeping. This action causes Psyche to be exiled, and she endures difficult trials before finally being reunited with her husband.

When Lewis first encountered this Latin text as a student, he was struck by a “what if” question: What if Psyche’s sisters couldn’t see the palace? If that was the case, then the story becomes a more complex myth about faith and skepticism. It was an idea that stayed with Lewis for 35 years. He even toyed with different poetic forms of this story.

Then, in 1955, Joy Davidman (later Lewis’s wife) visited his home in Oxford with her two sons. It was during her stay that Lewis wrote the first chapter of Till We Have Faces, late at night after the two of them spent an evening discussing ideas. Joy continued to be a creative collaborator as she converted Lewis’s handwritten pages into typewritten chapters of the novel. Lewis described her as “indispensable” to the project and Joy’s son believed that it was she who gave Lewis the courage to write a book entirely from a female point of view. When the book was published in 1956, it was dedicated to Joy Davidman.

In the decades since, Till We Have Faces has grown in both popularity and critical acclaim. While still not as well-known as Lewis’s other classics, the story of Orual’s spiritual journey has impacted generations of readers and literary scholars now cite it as one of Lewis’s best novels. Dr. Rolland Hein, professor of English, emeritus, at Wheaton College goes so far as to write, “In Till We Have Faces, Lewis is at his best, giving insights toward the end of his life on such vital subjects as the importance of spiritual perception and the nature of final judgment. It’s a must read for all who are interested in Lewis’s thought.”?

1. The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. 3,p. 1181 (to Anne Scott, August 26, 1960).

2. Downing, David C. “A Place for Till We Have Faces.” Wade Center Blog. Posted 10.08.2018. Accessed 12.08.2025. https://wadecenterblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/place-for-twhf/

By Chloe Woodward

Taproot Theatre has long shared a special relationship with the works of C.S. Lewis—a connection embraced just as affectionately by our patrons.

In the late 1970s, just after our founding, Taproot performed its first touring production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Since then, Lewis’s imaginative and thoughtful writing has inspired many productions at Taproot like Shadowlands in 2004 and Lewis & Tolkien last year.

Whether we’re bringing his stories to life or presenting a play based on his legacy, Taproot has been a home for Lewis’s wonder and wisdom that audiences cherish.

By Sabrina Ruff

C.S.  Lewis's Till We Have Faces is part of a long literary tradition of adapting and retelling Greek myths. Explore both the well-known and unknown retellings of these timeless tales.

Metamorphoses by Apuleius

C.S. Lewis based his own retelling on Apuleius’s 2nd century novel Metamorphoses, considered to be the original written version of the story of Cupid and Psyche. Also known as “The Golden Ass,” Metamorphoses follows the journey of Lucius, who is transformed into an ass due to his curiosity about magic, ultimately leading to his redemption through the goddess Isis.

Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve

Widely considered to be based on the story of Cupid and Psyche, Villeneuve first published her fairytale anonymously in La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins (The Young American and Marine Tales) in 1740. Since then, it has been adapted and retold many times, most notably into a 1991 Disney animated film.

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

Often taught in classrooms, Hamilton’s collection of myths offers not only a modern interpretation of the stories that contemporary readers can understand but a well-researched perspective on the cultural and social norms that defined the myths of that time and why they continue to be influential today.

Of course, what makes Lewis’s novel so unique is the focus on the female characters. While many Greek myths have male protagonists, there has been a recent trend in retelling these stories from a feminine—and feminist—perspective.

Other Female-Centered Retellings of Greek Myths

• Pandora’s Jar: Women in Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes flips the script on traditionally male-led myths, bringing previously under-examined stories of Greek women like Pandora, Medusa, and Medea to the forefront.
• Helen of Troy by Margaret George depicts Helen as more than a pretty face that “launched a thousand ships.” She is a complex character grappling with the longing to be understood and loved for more than her beauty.
• The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is centered around Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, and her own recollections of the events that took place while her husband was experiencing his Odyssey.
• Circe by Madeline Miller follows the story of the titular character, born to the sun god Helios and the nymph Perse. She turns to forbidden magic to carve out her own path after facing her family’s neglect and scorn.

Interested in learning more about the life and work of C.S. Lewis, or perhaps the reasoning behind the Christian themes of the story?

• Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis
  A profound exploration of Lewis’s spiritual journey from atheism to Christianity. The book is a partial autobiography that delves into Lewis’s life from childhood until his conversion in 1931.
• The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter
  The Inklings, a group of Oxford academics centered around C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams, were known for their informal gatherings. Carpenter’s book provides an intimate look at the group’s dynamics, and the creative friction that led to the birth of some of the 20th century’s most beloved works of fiction.
• C.S. Lewis: A Life by Alister McGrath
  After thoroughly examining recently published Lewis correspondences, McGrath challenges some beliefs about the exact timing of Lewis’s shift from atheism to theism and then to Christianity. He paints a portrait of an eccentric thinker who became an inspiring, if reluctant, prophet for our times.

Up Next on the Jewell Mainstage

Ain’t Misbehavin

The Fats Waller Music Show by Richard Maltby, Jr.

The club is alive, the band is swingin’, and the music of a jazz legend brings the house down. This immersive musical revue celebrates the life of Fats Waller on stage with joy, rhythm, and soul. Remembering his generation-defining songs and lasting impact on today’s music, this exuberant Tony Award-winning tribute to Black artistry sings, laughs, hopes, and lives out loud.

March 18–April 25

Early Bird tickets: $30

Make your purchase by March 18 for any performance on or before March 28.

Use promo code EARLY35 online or by phone at 206.781.9707.

*How to purchase Early Bird Tickets: Find the promo code field located at the top of the ticketing page. Enter code before adding regular tickets to cart. This offer is only valid for regular-priced tickets in seat levels B and C for Ain't Misbehavin' performances. Cannot be combined with other discounts and is not valid on previously purchased tickets. Limit four (4) tickets per person.

Registration open for spring and summer sessions.
For grades Pre-K –12

Whether you want to go behind-the-scenes or get hands-on experience acting, singing, and dancing, Taproot has the perfect camp for any theatre-loving student.

Visit taproottheatre.org/acting-studio for more information and to register today!

Join us for Taproot’s 50th Anniversary Season!

There's still time to subscribe at taproottheatre.org/2026season.

This year marks a golden milestone—50 years of stories told with heart, courage, laughter, and hope. As we celebrate this legacy, we’re also dreaming forward. Because while we honor where we’ve been, we’re even more excited about where we’re going.

It’s a yearlong celebration of the artists, audiences, and stories that have shaped Taproot and a bold leap into what’s next. We invite you to laugh with us, reflect with us, celebrate with us, and—above all—hope with us.

Barefoot in the Park | May 13–June 20
By Neil Simon
Taproot further develops its reputation of producing classic comedies with a production of Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. Set in 1960s New York, this rom-com about a buttoned-up young lawyer and his free-spirited bride is full of wit, chemistry, and charm.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | July 8–August 15
Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
From iconic duo Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Taproot tailors the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for its intimate stage, inviting audiences to experience a powerful performance up-close. Previously presented in 2007, this vibrant new production bursts with pop, gospel, calypso, and rock.

Conscience | September 16–October 24
By Joe DiPietro
The season closes with a regional premiere of Joe DiPietro’s Conscience, a gripping play based on true events that shaped history. Following the story of Margaret Chase Smith, a U.S. Senator who stood up to McCarthyism in the 1950s, this stirring new work still resonates today.

As we kick off our 50th Anniversary Season, Taproot Theatre recognizes the impact that our donors and patrons have made on every single one of our seasons. We simply wouldn’t be here without the generosity of our community.

Be a part of the celebration and help us continue to tell stories of hope for another 50 years!

Thank you!

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Taproot Theatre Contributors

Taproot Theatre gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support of our Annual Fund and Nolte Legacy Fund. This list reflects gifts made between April 13, 2023 and April 13, 2024. If you have any questions or would like more information about making a tax-deductible gift to Taproot Theatre Company

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