Eco-friendly program access for our smartphone audience members

QR codes are machine-readable optical labels first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. Typically, a smartphone is used as a QR code scanner to convert the code into some useful form (such as a standard URL for a website, thereby obviating the need for a user to type it into a web browser).

Well, we've been trying to be as eco-friendly as possible since WYSIWYG won Plant Connection's Greener Planet Award. We sort of feel like we need to set an example now and it's so easy! Want to see the Sisyphus Program Guide from the Aurora Fox? Try it out now and yes we are tree lovers in Colorado.

The Eleusinian Mysteries

During the Age of Sisyphus, the Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for Demeter and Persephone. They are the "most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece". The mysteries represented the myth of the abduction of Persephone from her mother Demeter by the king of the underworld Hades, in a cycle with three phases, the "descent" (loss), the "search" and the "ascent", with the main theme the "ascent" of Persephone and the reunion with her mother. It was a major festival during the Hellenic era, and later spread to Rome.

The rites, ceremonies, and beliefs were kept secret and consistently preserved from antiquity. The citizens initiated believed that they would have a reward in the afterlife. There are many paintings and pieces of pottery that depict various aspects of the Mysteries. Since the Mysteries involved visions and conjuring of an afterlife, some scholars believe that the power and longevity of the Eleusinian Mysteries came from psychedelic drugs.

The pain (and the joy) of his success is his commitment to the cause

Much of the underlying premise for Sisyphus the Musical can be found in an essay written in 1942 by Albert Camus, where he introduces his philosophy of the absurd, man's futile search for meaning in the face of a world devoid of God and eternal truths or values. Our musical, is a portrayal of the paradox between free will and divine intervention.

In the final chapter of "Le Mythe de Sisyphe" Camus compares the absurdity of man's life with the situation of Sisyphus, a Greek figure who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again. The essay concludes, "The struggle itself ... is enough to fill a man's heart. In our musical, Sisyphus must teach the citizens to embrace their struggles, despite the wrath of the Gods.

Dawn's Back Story

Like a moth to the flame Dawn was drawn into the last blinding light of the sun's eclipse. Emerging in the arms of Gaea and fated to survive the massacre of the Titans, Dawn was charged by Gaea to restore the sunrise and bring the new day, forever.

Dawn lives completely in the now. She has no memories to haunt her or neurosis to weaken her. She doesn't look for happiness. She always was and always will be. Dawn is alone in her cosmic ecstasy. You can be taken on her flaming ride through space, blowing holes of fire and light into the darkest corners of the universe. Her aura can trap you; she can sacrifice you to the sun god. She is dangerous in her naivete.

Being called to Olympus challenges her very nature. What can she do? She walks in the universe filled with an ethereal perspective...knowing what is happening in the world of gods and humans but doesn't think about it. She is not political but she feels a deep sense of what is right, and is a natural philosopher. She connects with the innocence around her-nature, beauty, music.

Dawn is drawn to the humans when they gather to celebrate life. Her curiosity is sparked. Dawn undergoes the shock of feeling something new. Love is something she doesn't understand, can't explain but knows it has great power.

Dawn's attractions turn sexual as tension builds between the gods and humans. Zeus becomes corrupt, Dawn's free spirit morphs into sexual adventure and an uncontrollable need to experiment with human love. The irresistible Dawn becomes victim of Aphrodite's jealousy. When Dawn aligns herself with the humans and protects Sisyphus from the wrath Zeus, she becomes an outlaw from Olympus. She must chose her allegiance and her fate.

SONGS

ACT 1
The first day of the rest of your life
I want to touch you
Nothing lasts forever

ACT 2
My clairvoyance
Stowaway
I’m only human
Share your love

Godly Love versus Human Love

Early in the development of Sisyphus the Musical we explored how to best present the juxtaposition between the love interests of Ares and Aphrodite versus Dawn and Sisyphus.

In Greek Mythology, Ares and Aphrodite have been together for hundreds of years and they have a rather tenuous open marriage. We suggest that the only way they know they still love each other is when they become jealous of one another. In current day, they are police patrol partners who spend much of their time together, but never embrace the love they have for one another.

For Dawn and Sisyphus we wanted to connect the humanity of love with the underlying Greek Myth. We hoped to supplement Albert Camus' essay conclusion that "The struggle itself is enough to fill a man's heart" with a quote from Carl Sagan, an American astronomer, "For small creatures such as we, the vastness of the universe is only bearable through love." In current day, they work together as volunteers to help the homeless.

Zeus' Back Story

In the world of the gods, Zeus was top dog. Master of the sky, avenger of righteousness and protector of Olympus, he was an unpredictable father figure controlling everything. Carrying the burden of murdering his own father forced him to constantly look over his shoulder. He trusted no one especially the humans. In an explosive rage he sent floods to drown the humans on earth so that he could re-populate earth with mortals more grateful, loyal and subservient. He drank heavily, often babbling to his father for forgiveness and asking Gaea to release the curse of immortality.

Zeus was possessed with maintaining his power. Disguised as a human, Zeus would wonder the Corinthian fields, spying on the humans, trying to learn their deceitful plans against him. Occasionally he would steal a goat or a cask of mead from a farm. When he was caught, he was brushed off as a crazy old man who needed a hot meal, was fed and sent on his way.

Zeus became more twisted and restless, cavorting recklessly, kidnapping nubile daughters for his pleasure and creating hostility among the lesser gods. Zeus longs for a loyal ally. Like all the gods, he is alone, friendless.

Desiring ultimate power drives Zeus mad. He finds a dark collaborator in Thantos. Together they set against the humans and their leader Sisyphus. On a dark and moonless night, he sends his loyal henchman to take Sisyphus, to hell. The people rise-up against Zeus and Olympus. Believing he is almighty and immortal, Zeus makes a fatal error in the final confrontation.

SONGS

ACT 1
Let’s make a deal
We do what we want cause we can
Bada-bing bada-boom

ACT 2
Quid pro quo
My clairvoyance
Confidant
I’ll never give in

Dawn's mortal lover Tithonus

During the age of Sisyphus, Dawn had several mortal lovers including Tithonus. When Dawn asked Zeus to make Tithonus immortal she forgot to ask for eternal youth too. He indeed lived forever, but eventually he couldn't move or even lift his limbs, so Dawn laid him in a room with shining doors to comfort him. There he babbled endlessly and they say he turned into a cicada, eternally living, but begging for death to overcome him.

Dawn bore Tithonus two sons, Memnon and Emathion. Serendipitously, Memnon was killed by Achilles in the Trojan War, but Zeus granted Memnon immortality at the request of Dawn, while Achilles was killed by the god Apollo when he rushed towards the gates of Troy.

Ares' Back Story

Without fear or remorse, Ares conquers the physical world. The social and spirit realms have long interrupted his focus on the warrior world in which he reigns supreme. The headaches started before he could ride a powerful horse or lift a sword against an enemy. He screamed for hours in a darkened room until his sister, Aphrodite came to him, comforted him, loved him with her body and her beauty. Nightmares are a constant companion and sleep is illusive.

The icon of male sexuality and prowess in battle, has played his war games since childhood, killing eagles by hand, luring playmates into traps from which he would not free them. As night approaches he seeks out a female to relieve his hardened phallus and keep sleep at bay. Only in the light of early morning can he sleep, dosed with wine and herbs.


The terrible headaches feed his virulence in battle and his taste for blood grows strong. Ares secret stays hidden from everyone but Aphrodite. No one can know. His life and destiny depend on it. Sparring for the win in sport and competition keeps him focused on his role - god of war.

Using his sexual powers, he dominates and tethers women to his demands. He pleases himself first and wonders why Aphrodite is unhappy with their relationship. Love of self is the closest he can get to understanding romantic love. The knowledge that he is immortal only adds to his egotistical and arrogant behavior, covering his need to never let his guard down. This makes him unavailable for an intimate love relationship and leaves him alone. Aphrodite is his most complicated and enduring challenge. Fate has joined them forever.

SONGS

ACT 1
You got to do what you got to do
Kiss me before you go

ACT 2
No death do us part

Demeter preparing for Persephone's 2017 return?

During the Age of Sisyphus, Demeter, was in charge of the harvest. She loved her little daughter, Persephone and the crops grew high and healthy. As time passed, Persephone grew into a lovely goddess. That's when the trouble started. One day Hades, the king of the underworld, decided to take his three-headed dog out for a chariot ride. When they encountered Persephone, she only laughed and scratched the dogs heads. Hades fell deeply in love, grabbed her and dove deep into the darkest depths of the Underworld.

Hades locked Persephone in a beautifully decorated room in the Hall of Hades, but Persephone refused to eat. She had heard if you ate anything in Hades, you could never leave. Finally, in desperate hunger, Persephone ate six pomegranate seeds; meanwhile, back on earth, Demeter, missed her daughter terribly and the crops were dying. It was clear this could not go on, so Zeus sent his son Hermes to work a deal with Hades. This was the deal Hermes worked out:

If Persephone would marry Hades, she would live as queen of the Underworld for six months each winter. In the spring, Persephone would return to earth and live there for six months. Every spring, Demeter makes sure flowers are blooming and crops are growing and the fields are green with welcome. Every fall, when Persephone returns to the underworld, Demeter ignores the crops and flowers and lets them die. Each spring, Demeter brings everything to life again, ready to welcome her daughter's return.

To the ancient Greeks, that was the reason for seasons - winter, spring, summer, fall.

Thantos' Back Story

Thantos is lost. He was rejected by his mother and left to die, learning to survive by doing whatever it takes. He never experienced love and was only touched by the cold hand of his mother. Thantos becomes the loyal buddy, assassin, henchman, executioner and innocent victim of Zeus. Thantos is constantly trying to prove his loyalty to Zeus.

He is manipulated by Zeus who asks him to perform demeaning tasks for him. Eroticized by the female scent, Thantos stalks the conquests for Zeus. At times he has been allowed to watch Zeus in his sexual games with women. Thantos tries to have a secret life with a woman, but he is impotent and unable to experience love.

Thantos learned to use his great strength, imposing stature and commanding voice to survive captivity and starvation at the hands of war lords. He can frighten with his mere presence. He is conflicted between hurting or protecting the humans. He dreams of being an equal and having a friend, but he can't begin to put it together. He feels nothing about killing, doesn't feel physical pain but is tortured by his isolation. He falls into an endless loop of self-pity, blames the humans and can't figure out right from wrong. He has never refused Zeus anything, but one day he wants to be his own man.

SONGS

ACT 1
Bada-bing bada-boom
Only in the hearts of fools

ACT 2
I will make you scream

Aphrodite's Back Story

Aphrodite's destiny is written and her fate is sealed. From the moment of her birth Aphrodite was defined as the object of desire, the icon of beauty and love. As a young girl, she played alone, testing the fates by marking and scarring herself. She tore and muddied her gowns. She cut her hair off and bit her nails until they bled but each morning she was perfect again: was dressed and dragged into the temple by her handmaidens, to take her place beside Zeus.

Aphrodite disappeared with regularity. She visited the Oracle of Delphi where she could hide from her duties and learned about the powerful potions, cures, curses and trances she could use to retaliate against the humans and lesser gods. She learned to manipulate and expand her vacuous role in a long and lonely eternity.

She was loved, hated, beautiful and irresistible, this daughter of Zeus. Outbursts of emotions, fueled by her desire for freedom from the demands of perfection, the attention of bad boys from Sparta and women who challenged and criticized every part of her, each strand of hair, each measurement of the classic body. For all her gifts of sensuous attraction and seductive prowess, she is unfulfilled by her roll in Olympian life. Forever doomed to be an object of man's desires, she fights for equality with Ares, in hopes of turning his head and owning his heart. She acts out with rage when she is displeased. She throws tantrums when Ares doesn't respond to her and uses her powers with magic and the sacred arts to overcome her enemies, reorder the status quo and wield her powerful revenge upon the lesser gods and humans.

SONGS

ACT 1
You got to do what you got to do

ACT 2
No death do us part

Happy New Year!