Open to Public
The Oedipus Project
Free Event
Tue, Apr 21.2026
The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors, public servants, and community members reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global discussions about climate change, ecological disaster, ethical leadership, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play is a timeless story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, the play has served a powerful catalyst for engaging diverse communities in dynamic discussions about the climate crisis.
Featuring performances by Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain, The Social Network), Dr. Anthony Fauci (Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University School of Medicine and McCourt School of Public Policy), Jumaane Williams (New York City Public Advocate), Chuck Schumer (Minority Leader of the United States Senate),
Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire, Dopesick) Bill Irwin (Interstellar, Sesame Street), Erika Rose (Queens Girl in Africa, In Darfur), and Craig Wallace (Fences, A Christmas Carol).
The Oedipus Project at Georgetown University is presented as part of DC Climate Week by Theater of War Productions, The Earth Commons, and the Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics.
Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.
Registration is required to attend in person or on Zoom. This free, public, hybrid event will take place for a live audience, in person at Gaston Hall - Georgetown University and on Zoom. In-person registration does not guarantee you a seat. Please arrive by 6:30pm. If you choose to join us online, this event can be accessed on personal devices. The event Zoom link will be distributed via email and available to registered attendees starting two days prior to the event. This event will be captioned in English on Zoom.
About the play
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Oedipus the King by Sophocles
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King tells the story of an overconfident ruler during the time of a great plague, who refuses to listen to trusted advisors, ignores prophecy, and—after launching an investigation—discovers that he is the source of the contagion that is ravaging his people and his land. Upon uncovering the truth about himself and his role in the disaster, the king loses nearly everything—his crown, his wife, his power, his country, his honor—and wanders off into exile, a fate worse than death in ancient Greece. Oedipus the King is a timeless story about leadership, accountability, and the challenges faced by citizens and elected officials during pandemics and plagues.
Cast Members
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Jesse Eisenberg
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Mare Winningham
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Jumaane Williams
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Anthony Fauci
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Erika Rose
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Marjolaine Goldsmith
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Bill Irwin
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Craig Wallace
Explore Projects
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Racialized Police ViolenceAntigone in FergusonAntigone in Ferguson is a groundbreaking project that fuses dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral music performed by a diverse choir, including activists, youth, teachers, police officers, and concerned citizens from St. Louis, Missouri and New York City, culminating in powerful, healing discussions about racialized violence, police brutality, systemic oppression, gender-based violence, health inequality, and social justice. Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014, through a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, MO, and premiered at Normandy High School, Michael Brown’s alma mater, in September of 2016.
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Consent & Sexual ViolenceTapeTape has been developed as a sexual assault awareness and prevention training program that uses dramatic readings of Stephen Belber’s 1999 play to ignite powerful discussions about consent, sexual assault, rape, and power dynamics.
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Caregiving & DeathThe Nurse AntigoneA groundbreaking project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of frontline nurses—to help frame powerful, guided discussions about the unique challenges faced by nurses before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.