Sisyphus' Back Story

Sisyphus walks through his world with curiosity and love for his fellow man. His close knit family was creative, hardworking and generous within his community. His mother was the most well-known artist in Corinth. She was famous for the colors she wove into scarves that brought joy and pride to those who wore them. Even Scooter, the boy's beloved sheep dog was never seen without his bright, warm scarf.

Sisyphus remembers his successful father who sold art, goods from the artisans and crafts people, traveling throughout the Peloponnese. The boy often accompanied his father on his travels, absorbing beauty, culture, and a love for the traditions of Greek life. His father always told him he could be anything he wanted to be and introduced Sisyphus to that world. A love for adventure and an entrepreneurial spirit was born during this period of Sisyphus' youth.

Many festivals ripe with music, dance, food and wine were a big part of community life. Sisyphus was passionately involved in these celebrations, dancing, drinking and flirting with as many females as possible. His French kissing technique drove the girls wild and their parents irate. He was banned from festivals for a time but took up sporting competitions as his hormones became unwieldy. He was gaining a reputation as a shrewd gambler, winning more off the field than in the games. A heart breaking memory was the day Scooter was run down and killed on the road to the Spartan games by the fiery red chariot belonging to Ares. The chariot never stopped, Ares never looked back and Sisyphus pledged payback. He would never forget.

As the sweet memories of childhood faded against the reality of creating a prosperous and inspiring life, the young idealist found it easy to gain supporters but almost impossible to change the social and political problems caused by the powers that be. The drudgery for hard working citizens does not produce equitable rewards.

Sisyphus runs for the Senate and wins easily but forces his idealist goals on the citizens who clearly are not ready to suffer or die for a better life. Sisyphus creates mandatory education standards for the citizens of Corinth. This radical idea angers Zeus, who tries of buy off Sisyphus.

In the privacy of his meditations, Sisyphus doubts the citizens appreciate his goals for them. He wonders what he can do to show them the future they can have. In the end Zeus and Sisyphus are locked in unsolvable conflict.

SONGS

ACT 1
You make your own future
Nothing lasts forever

ACT 2
Reap the seeds you sew
Stowaway
The truth must be told
Share your love

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

The underlying story for our show follows the historical events of the Greek Myth of Sisyphus during the time of the Greek Gods. In 1942 Albert Camus wrote a philosophical treatise where he introduces his theory 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 more of 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 of the ancient city of Corinth 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