Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 3 pm Free | Advance ticket required To attend in person, or watch online via Zoom, register here: https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3928.html On the anniversary of the wildly popular musical adaptation Oedipus at Colonus, join three visionaries behind the play’s origin and evolution. Composer/co-lyricist Bob Telson and co-directors Charles Newell and Mark J.P. Hood discuss the history of this enduring gospel version of Sophocles’s 2,400-year-old play, still going strong and running at the Getty Villa through September 30. Bob Telson is an American composer, singer/songwriter, and pianist best known for his work in musical theater and film, for which he has received Tony, Pulitzer, and Academy Award nominations. Among his best known works are the score for the film Bagdad Café and the musical The Gospel at Colonus, starring Morgan Freeman and The Five Blind Boys of Alabama. His songs have been recorded by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Joe Cocker, Etta James, k.d. lang, and Caetano Veloso. Mark J.P. Hood (Director, Music Director) is a professional actor and singer from Chicago. His television credits include House of Payne, Grand Crew, The Resident, Churchy, and more. He was a fan favorite on The Voice and has been seen on stage in The Scottsboro Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sister Act: The Musical, The Other Cinderella (BTAA Award, Best Leading Actor in a Musical), and others. He’s performed with Kirk Franklin, Maverick City, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Kelly Rowland, H.E.R., and many more. Charles Newell (Director) is the Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director of Court Theater in Chicago. Together with Angel Ysaguirre, he accepted the 2022 Regional Theatre Tony Award on behalf of Court Theatre's staff and artists. His recent directorial credits include The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice (co-directed with Gabrielle Randle-Bent), Oedipus Rex, and The Adventures of Augie March. Charlie is a co-founder of the Civic Actor Studio, a leadership program of the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement. Photo credit: Mark Spates Smith and company of The Gospel at Colonus. Photo: Joe Mazza