Elektra and Orestes by Alfred Church
The Division of Performing Arts is pleased to announce its annual Theatre Tea Talk, this year in conjunction with its upcoming production of Sophokles’ Elektra. The talk, titled “Exploring Grief” is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, at 2:00 PM in the Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare on the DeSales campus, and is provided as an enrichment event before the opening of the production on Wednesday, February 24.
“We began these enrichment presentations a few years ago and they’ve been very well received,” says John Bell, head of the division of performing arts. “We try to offer interesting programs to illuminate some of the more complex themes in the upcoming production. Our patrons enjoy the opportunity for advance exploration.”
“Exploring Grief” will examine the deeper motives behind Sophokles’ grief stricken Elektra and her obsessive quest for vengeance. The presentation will feature Bro. Daniel Wisniewski, head of the division of sciences and mathematics at DeSales, Dr. Galina Yermolenko, professor of English at DeSales and Mr. Dick Williams, a clinical social worker and social work educator. The panel will provide insight into the grieving process through the lenses of the play, modern behavior science, and Salesian philosophy.
Brother Daniel P. Wisniewski, O.S.F.S., Ph.D. has been a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics/Computer Science at DeSales University since 2001, and currently serves as Head of the Division of Sciences & Mathematics. In addition to his mathematics teaching and research, Brother Dan pursues a variety of studies related to the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, particularly spiritual friendship, grief, and the intersection of Salesian spirituality and the science-religion dialogue.
Dick Williams graduated from the University of Connecticut with his Masters Degree in Social Work. His professional career has been both as a clinical social worker and social work educator. A majority of his clinical experience has been as a mental health practitioner in both the military and the Veterans Administration working especially with combat veterans and prisoners of war. Dick has taught at the undergraduate level for DeSales University and at Marywood University Graduate School of Social Work DeSales campus. Dick is also a founding member of a professional consulting group training mental health and social service providers.
Galina Yermolenko is Associate Professor of English in the Humanities Department at DeSales University. She received her Ph.D. in English from Marquette University, with a specialty in British Medieval and Renaissance Literature. She also holds a doctorate degree in Germanic Philology from Simferopol State University. Dr. Yermolenko teaches a variety of courses, including Chaucer; Shakespeare; Renaissance Literature; Russian Literature; European Literature; Fiction; and Drama. Her scholarly interests involve early modern literary and cultural relations between Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean world.
The cost for the event is $11 per person and includes Greek pastries, coffee and tea, as well as the presentation. Refreshments and tours of the state-of-the-art Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare are available beginning at 1:30 PM. The tea talk begins at 2:00 p.m.
For more information, or to purchase tickets online or call the Labuda Center Box Office
at 610-282-3192.