The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission presents MEDEA adapted and directed by Jacqueline Youm at Harmony Hall Arts Center.
Performances will be November 12 - November 15, 2026.
SHOW SYNOPSIS
Medea is the story of a former princess and sorceress who is exiled in Corinth with her husband Jason, her two children, her nurse, and an attendant. They are refugees. She decides to extract revenge when her husband abandons her for Corinth’s princess, Creüsa. The play explores the themes of betrayal, foreign identity, and horrifying revenge. This adaptation also depicts how the patriarchy and misogyny pollute everything that it touches and ultimately leads to the demise of all (in some way or another).
CONTENT ADVISORY
- Graphic death of Creusa (the bride) and others.
- The death of the children.
- There is some on-stage intimacy (kissing) and violence. We will be working with an intimacy and fight director for those moments.
SETTING Corinth.
CHARACTERS
CHORUS : (4 needed) Any age 18+. Femme presenting. All kinds of personalities. They are the glue of the story. They represent the mind of Medea, they are also the people of Corinth against Medea, they are part of Creon’s court… Some singing may be required.
JASON : late 20’s to 40’s. Male presenting.
NURSE : Older presenting. Any gender. The voice of reason who tries to calm Medea. They are the good conscience of Medea.
ATTENDANT : Any age 18+. Any gender. They take care of the children mostly and are very close to the nurse. They both admire and fear Medea.
CHILDREN : 10-14 y.o. Any gender. They have their own personalities and love very much their parents, the nurse, and the attendant. They listen more to their mother Medea overall. Playful and jovial. Competitive with each other.
CREON : late 40s and up. Male presenting. King of Corinth. The authority. He forces Jason to marry his daughter Creüsa. He banishes Medea out of fear of her powers and possible retaliation.
AEGEUS : late 40s and up. Male presenting. King of Athens. Desperate to become a father. Strong, resilient, empathetic, compassionate. He has some healthy fear of Medea and Creon.
MESSENGER : Any age 18+. Any gender. The bearer of bad news. Fearful. Torn. Traumatized.
** If you have any questions, please email jacqueline.youm@ssstage.org. **
MEDEA AUDITION SIDES
Please record the monologue or scenario for any roles you are interested in.
(Please feel free to use the text for your audition. Memorization is appreciated but not expected)
CHORUS
[chanting the nuptials of Jason and Creüsa |JOYFUL / play with song & movement if you want]:
Now on our royal nuptials graciously smiling,
Here may the lords of heaven and the deeps of the ocean
Come while the people feast in pious rejoicing!
First to the gods who sway the scepter of heaven,
Pealing forth their will in the voice of thunder,
Let the white bull his proud head bow in tribute.
Then to the fair Lucina, her gift we offer,
White as the driven snow, this beautiful maiden,
Still with her neck untouched by the yoke of bondage.
Thou who alone canst rule the heart of the war-god,
Thou who linkest in peace the opposing nations,
Out of thy generous hand abundance pouring—
Thee we offer a daintier gift, O Concord!
Thou who, on the marriage torches attending,
Night's dark gloom with favoring hand dispellest,
Hither come with languishing footstep drunken,
Binding thy temples fair with garlands of roses!
Star of the evening, thou who to twilight leadest
The day, and hailest again the dawn of the morning,
All too slowly thou com'st for lovers impatient,
Eager to see thy sign in the glow of the sunset.
The fairest of girls is she,
The Athenian maids outshining,
Or the Spartan maiden with armor laden,
No burden of war declining.
Not by Alpheus' sacred stream,
Nor Boeotia's musical water,
Is there any fair who can compare
With our lovely Corinthian daughter.
Our Thessalian prince excels,
In beauty of form and face,
Even Bacchus, the son of the fierce-flaming one,
Who yokes the wild tigers in place.
The murmuring tripod's lord,
Though the fairest in heavenly story,
The twins with their star bright gleaming afar—
All yield to our Jason in glory.
When in her train of courtly maidens she mingles—
Like the bright sunshine paling the starry splendor,
Or the full moonlight quenching the Pleiads' brilliance,
So does she shine, all peerless, of fair ones the fairest.
Now, O Jason, freed from the hateful wedlock
That held thee bound to the barbarous Colchian woman,
Joyfully wed the fair Corinthian maiden,
While at last her parents' blessings attend thee.
Ho then, youths, with licensed jest and rejoicing,
Loud let the songs of gladness ring through the city;
Rarely against our lords such freedom is given.
Fair and noble band of Bacchus, the thyrsus-bearer,
Now is the time to light the glittering torches of pinewood.
Shake on high the festal fire with languishing fingers;
Now let the bold and merry Fescennine laughter and jesting
Sound through our ranks. Let Medea fare in silence and darkness,
If perchance another lord she shall wed in her exile.
_______________________________________________
JASON
In speech at least, meseemeth, I must be
Not evil; Since thou wilt build so wondrous high
Thy deeds of service in my jeopardy,
To all my crew and quest I know but one
Saviour, of Gods or mortals one alone,
The Cyprian. Oh, thou hast both brain and wit,
Yet underneath . . . nay, all the tale of it
Were graceless telling; how sheer love, a fire
Of poison-shafts, compelled thee with desire
To save me. But enough. I will not score
That count too close. 'Twas good help: and therefor
I give thee thanks, howe'er the help was wrought.
Howbeit, in my deliverance, thou hast got
Far more than given. A good Greek land hath been
Thy lasting home, not barbary. Thou hast seen
Our ordered life, and justice, and the long
Still grasp of law not changing with the strong
Man's pleasure. Then, all Hellas far and near
Hath learned thy wisdom, and in every ear
Thy fame is. Had thy days run by unseen
On that last edge of the world, where then had been
The story of great Medea? Thou and I . . .
Next for thy cavilling
Of wrath at mine alliance with a king,
Here thou shalt see I both was wise, and free
From touch of passion, and a friend to thee
Most potent, and my children . . . Nay, be still!
When first I stood in Corinth, clogged with ill
From many a desperate mischance, what bliss
Could I that day have dreamed of, like to this,
To wed with a king's daughter, I exiled
And beggared? Not—what makes thy passion wild—
From loathing of thy bed; not over-fraught
With love for this new bride; not that I sought
To upbuild mine house with offspring: 'tis enough,
What thou hast borne: I make no word thereof:
But, first and greatest, that we all might dwell
In a fair house and want not, knowing well
That poor men have no friends, but far and near
Shunning and silence. Next, I sought to rear
Our sons in nurture worthy of my race,
And, raising brethren to them, in one place
Join both my houses, and be all from now
Prince-like and happy. What more need hast thou
Of children? And for me, it serves my star
To link in strength the children that now are
With those that shall be.
Have I counselled ill?
Would to God
We mortals by some other seed could raise
Our fruits, and no blind women block our ways!
Then had there been no curse to wreck mankind.
_______________________________________________
NURSE
Would God no Argo e'er had winged the seas
To Colchis through the blue Symplêgades:
No shaft of riven pine in Pêlion's glen
Shaped that first oar-blade in the hands of men
Valiant, who won, to save King Pelias' vow,
The fleece All-golden! Never then, I trow,
Mine own princess, her spirit wounded sore
With love of Jason, to the encastled shore
Had sailed of old Iôlcos: never wrought
The daughters of King Pelias, knowing not,
To spill their father's life: nor fled in fear,
Hunted for that fierce sin, to Corinth here
With Jason and her babes. This folk at need
Stood friend to her, and she in word and deed
Served alway Jason. Surely this doth bind,
Through all ill days, the hurts of humankind,
When man and woman in one music move.
But now, the world is angry, and true love
Sick as with poison. Jason doth forsake
My mistress and his own two sons, to make
His couch in a king's chamber. He must wed:
Wed with this Creon's child, who now is head
And chief of Corinth. Wherefore sore betrayed
Medea calleth up the oath they made,
All fasting now
And cold, her body yielded up to pain,
Her days a waste of weeping, she hath lain,
Since first she knew that he was false. Her eyes
Are lifted not; and all her visage lies
In the dust. If friends will speak, she hears no more
Than some dead rock or wave that beats the shore:
Only the white throat in a sudden shame
May writhe, and all alone she moans the name
Of father, and land, and home, forsook that day
For this man's sake, who casteth her away.
Not to be quite shut out from home . . . alas,
She knoweth now how rare a thing that was!
_______________________________________________
ATTENDANT
Thou ancient treasure of my lady's room,
What mak'st thou here before the gates alone,
And always turning on thy lips some moan
Of old mischances? Will our mistress be
Content, this long time to be left by thee?
I heard an old man talking, where he sate
At draughts in the sun, beside the fountain gate,
And never thought of me, there standing still
Beside him. And he said, 'Twas Creon's will,
Being lord of all this land, that she be sent,
And with her her two sons, to banishment.
Maybe 'tis all false. For myself, I know
No further, and I would it were not so.
_______________________________________________
CHILDREN
Improvise what you would say to your parents if you saw a monster on your way home. How would you deal with the situation? Make big choices!
_______________________________________________
CREON
Thou woman sullen-eyed and hot with hate
Against thy lord, Medea, I here command
That thou and thy two children from this land
Go forth to banishment. Make no delay:
Seeing ourselves, the King, are come this day
To see our charge fulfilled; nor shall again
Look homeward ere we have led thy children twain
And thee beyond our realm's last boundary.
I fear thee, woman—little need
To cloak my reasons—lest thou work some deed
Of darkness on my child. And in that fear
Reasons enough have part. Thou comest here
A wise-woman confessed, and full of lore
In unknown ways of evil. Thou art sore
In heart, being parted from thy lover's arms.
And more, thou hast made menace . . . so the alarms
But now have reached mine ear . . . on bride and groom,
And him who gave the bride, to work thy doom
Of vengeance. Which, ere yet it be too late,
I sweep aside. I choose to earn thine hate
Of set will now, not palter with the mood
Of mercy, and hereafter weep in blood.
_______________________________________________
AEGEUS
Woman, indeed my heart goes forth to show
This help to thee, first for religion's sake,
Then for thy promised hope, to heal my ache
Of childlessness. 'Tis this hath made mine whole
Life as a shadow, and starved out my soul.
But thus it stands with me. Once make thy way
To Attic earth, I, as in law I may,
Will keep thee and befriend. But in this land,
Where Creon rules, I may not raise my hand
To shelter thee. Move of thine own essay
To seek my house, there thou shalt alway stay,
Inviolate, never to be seized again.
But come thyself from Corinth. I would fain
Even in foreign eyes be always just.
_______________________________________________
MESSENGER
When once she saw the raiment, she could still
Her joy no more, but gave him all his will.
And almost ere the father and the two
Children were gone from out the room, she drew
The flowerèd garments forth, and sate her down
To her arraying: bound the golden crown
Through her long curls, and in a mirror fair
Arranged their separate clusters, smiling there
At the dead self that faced her. Then aside
She pushed her seat, and paced those chambers wide
Alone, her white foot poising delicately—
So passing joyful in those gifts was she!—
And many a time would pause, straight-limbed, and wheel
Her head to watch the long fold to her heel
Sweeping. And then came something strange. Her cheek
Seemed pale, and back with crooked steps and weak
Groping of arms she walked, and scarcely found
Her old seat, that she fell not to the ground.
Among the handmaids was a woman old
And grey, who deemed, I think, that Pan had hold
Upon her, or some spirit, and raised a keen
Awakening shout; till through her lips was seen
A white foam crawling, and her eyeballs back
Twisted, and all her face dead pale for lack
Of life: and while that old dame called, the cry
Turned strangely to its opposite, to die
Sobbing. Oh, swiftly then one woman flew
To seek her father's rooms, one for the new
Bridegroom, to tell the tale. And all the place
Was loud with hurrying feet.
So long a space
As a swift walker on a measured way
Would pace a furlong's course in, there she lay
Speechless, with veilèd lids. Then wide her eyes
She oped, and wildly, as she strove to rise,
Shrieked: for two diverse waves upon her rolled
Of stabbing death. The carcanet of gold
That gripped her brow was molten in a dire
And wondrous river of devouring fire.
And those fine robes, the gift thy children gave—
God's mercy!—everywhere did lap and lave
The delicate flesh; till up she sprang, and fled,
A fiery pillar, shaking locks and head
This way and that, seeking to cast the crown
Somewhere away. But like a thing nailed down
The burning gold held fast the anadem,
And through her locks, the more she scattered them,
Came fire the fiercer, till to earth she fell
A thing—save to her sire—scarce nameable,
And strove no more. That cheek of royal mien,
Where was it—or the place where eyes had been?
Only from crown and temples came faint blood
Shot through with fire. The very flesh, it stood
Out from the bones, as from a wounded pine
The gum starts, where those gnawing poisons fine
Bit in the dark—a ghastly sight!
Nature Quest Arts Contest: East Coast Adventures! Calling all youth ARTIST!
Explore your backyard, a local park, or other outdoor environments and tell your nature story by drawing, painting, photography, or poetry. Highlight plants, animals, and habitats that are all along the East Coast! The Eastern Coast of the United States offers a massive diversity of stunning natural environments, with Maryland being one of the few states where you can genuinely experience all four distinct seasons and a unique mid-Atlantic geography that packs diverse lands from rugged granite coastlines, ancient mountain ranges, and dense maritime forests. Explore the eastern coasts and share your views of these beautiful landscapes and native animals with the Nature Quest art contest!
Artwork Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Finalists must drop-off their artwork to a designated location (TBD) any day between November 30 - December 11, 9am-4pm. Location for artwork drop-off will be sent directly to winners and finalists.
Eligibility Requirements:
- This contest is open to Prince George's County residents that are 18 years old and under. No purchase is necessary.
- Entries must be inspired by nature.
- Content of the work must be original. Use of another artist’s work is not eligible.
- You may enter as many categories as you want!
Awards
For the drawing/painting, photography, and poetry categories 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be chosen from each age group. 1st place is awarded $300, 2nd place is awarded $200, and 3rd place is awarded $100
*Drawings & Paintings are all in the same category. Elementary School: K - Grade 5 Middle School: Grades 6 – 8 High School: Grades 9 - 12
Important Dates & Deadlines:
Submissions Open: July 1 – November 1, 2026
Artwork Deadline: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Winners & Finalists Announced: November 23, 2026
Artwork Drop-off: November 30 - December 11, 2026
Opening Reception Date: Friday, January 8, 2027 6:30-8:30pm
Exhibit Open from January 8 – 21, 2027
Questions? If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Shaiday Dancy (Shaiday.dancy@pgparks.com)
The 2027 Nature Quest Art Contest is a program of The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.
Public Art Opportunity
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Prince George’s County, Maryland
Good Luck Community Center
8601 Good Luck Road, Lanham, Maryland 20706
SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS ACCEPTED AT: https://m-ncppc.submittable.com
UNTIL: 12 MIDNIGHT, EASTERN STANDARD TIME ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026.
I. PROJECT OVERVIEW & CONTEXT
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County invites professional visual artists and design teams to submit qualifications for two major exterior public art opportunities at the new Good Luck Community Center.
This project represents a complete, modern transformation of the site. The existing facility, parking layout, and playgrounds are being razed to clear the way for a brand-new, single-story, approximately 25,000 gross square foot (GSF) state-of-the-art community center and gymnasium. Sited deliberately near the northwest corner of the lot closer to Good Luck Road, the new facility utilizes an open "L" configuration that creates a generous, highly visible front entry sequence.
The public art pieces are envisioned as critical neighborhood anchors that will sit within this main entrance threshold. Highly visible to westbound vehicular traffic on Good Luck Road and active pedestrians entering the site, these works will establish a profound sense of place, welcoming multi-generational families to a space dedicated to recreation, equity, and sustainability.
Artists or artist teams may submit credentials for either one or both opportunities outlined below. However, selected semi-finalists will ultimately be commissioned to execute only one project.
II. ABOUT M-NCPPC PRINCE GEORGE’S DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a celebrated bi-county agency established in 1927 to oversee park development and land-use planning across Prince George's and Montgomery Counties.
The Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County is a six-time National Gold Medal winner for excellence in park and recreation management. Managing over 27,000 acres of parkland, the Department provides top-tier community centers, athletic complexes, historic sites, and cultural art programming designed to enrich the lives of all county residents. Through its Public and Visual Arts Unit, the Department champions strategic place-keeping initiatives that weave professional contemporary artwork directly into civic infrastructure.
III. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS & ART OPPORTUNITIES Opportunity #1: Exterior Public Art Piece (Entry Plaza Sculpture)
- Budget: $200,000 maximum allocation (all-inclusive of design, engineering drawings, fabrication, structural footings, transport, installation, and artist fees).
- Location & Footprint: To be installed within a designated area situated on the primary front entrance plaza, directly framed by the building's main approach sequence.
- Scale & Geometry: Abstract forms are highly preferred. The final sculpture must be multi-dimensional and dynamic, presenting an impactful composition from all viewing angles. The vertical height must not exceed 18 feet, and the physical structure must safely clear all pedestrian pathways, maintaining required sightlines for vehicle circulation and primary building signage.
- Materiality & Landscape Integration: To match the facility's low-maintenance, biophilic design approach (which features vertical metal siding, split-face concrete block, and natural wood-look phenolic rain screen panels), steel is designated as the primary sculptural material, with concrete acceptable as a secondary medium. Other permanent, climate-resilient exterior materials may be proposed.
- Thematic Directions: Proposals during should creatively address or interpret one or more of the following core project themes:
o Movement (celebrating active recreation and dance)
o Community Center Identity (e.g., creative interpretations of "Good Luck")
o Neighborhood History and Local Heritage
o Sportsmanship, Unity, and Equity
o Sustainability in Form, Concept, or Execution
o Safe, Passive Interactivity
- Site Color Palette: The architectural design centers on a sustainable palette of blacks, deep greens, and natural woods. To contrast and complete this layout, community stakeholders have expressed a strong historical affinity for red, black, and green. Artists are encouraged to utilize red or vibrant greens as an eye-catching, celebratory pop of color to highlight the main entrance.
Opportunity #2: Artistic Seating Element
- Budget: $50,000 maximum allocation (all-inclusive of design, fabrication, delivery, anchorage hardware, and site installation).
- Physical Description: A functional, permanent public art bench seating element designed to serve patrons utilizing the exterior plaza and perimeter walkways.
- Technical Parameters: The seating must be constructed of exceptionally durable, vandal-resistant, weather-hardened materials suitable for multi-generational public use (e.g., cast concrete, sculpted stone, treated metals, or heavy-duty composites). It must strictly adhere to universal accessibility codes and municipal structural requirements.
- Coordination: The artist will collaborate directly with CGS Architects, Bradley Site Design, and MCN Build to review subterranean grading, foundation anchoring requirements, and structural site utility lines prior to installation.
Design Development Stipend: The Artist Selection Committee will select three (3) semi-finalists for each opportunity to advance to the formal proposal phase. Semi-finalists for the Opportunity #1- Exterior Public Art Piece, will receive a $2,000 stipend, and semi-finalists for the Opportunity #2- Artistic Seating Element, will receive a $1,000 stipend, to offset design development, presentation renderings, and travel expenses.
SITE IMAGES
IV. ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA
Artist Eligibility
- This opportunity is strictly open to professional visual artists and design teams who reside or maintain an active, verifiable professional studio space within Maryland, Washington, D.C., or Virginia (DMV region).
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age or older at the time of submission.
- Applicants must demonstrate a successful professional history of executing durable, permanent public art installations of a similar financial and structural scale.
- M-NCPPC employees and immediate family members are ineligible to apply.
Selection Process & Criteria
An Artist Selection Committee consisting of cultural arts strategists, project architects, public art professionals, and local community stakeholders will evaluate all eligible submissions across three distinct phases.
- Phase 1: Qualifications Review: Submissions will be evaluated based on the artistic excellence of past work samples, proven technical capability to work with outdoor media, and the clarity of the initial Statement of Interest. The committee will select three (3) semi-finalists for each opportunity.
- Phase 2: Proposal Development: Semi-finalists will receive detailed architectural construction drawings, a comprehensive site briefing, and a $2,000 design stipend. Over a one-month period, semi-finalists will develop site-specific design concepts, technical material specifications, and accurate scale renderings. Finalists must submit three (3) professional references at this stage.
- Phase 3: Final Presentation: Semi-finalists will make a formal presentation of their design proposals and mockups to the Selection Committee. One final artist or team per opportunity will be selected to enter into a contract for fabrication and installation.
V. SUBMISSION PROCEDURES & REQUIREMENTS
All application materials must be uploaded digitally via Submittable.com. No physical sketches, design mockups, or formal proposals should be submitted during this initial request for qualifications phase.
Required Application Components
- Contact & Team Profile: Full legal name, studio address, email, telephone number, and website for the primary artist or designated team lead.
- Statement of Interest: A written statement (maximum 1,000 words) clearly indicating which opportunity (Opportunity #1, Opportunity #2, or both) you are pursuing. Outline your artistic philosophy, interest in this community, and how your technical experience positions you to address the project's core themes.
- Digital Portfolio (Work Samples): Up to ten (10) high-resolution digital images of completed, permanent original artworks. Detail shots or alternate viewing angles of a single project count toward the 10-image maximum. Each image must be accompanied by detailed metadata: Project Title and Location, Exact Materials and Fabrication Methods, Physical Dimensions, Total Project Budget (inclusive of all fees), Year of Completion
- Professional Resume / CV: A current professional curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages per individual) highlighting public commissions, relevant exhibitions, and awards. Teams must compile individual resumes for all active members into a single PDF document.
VI. PROJECT TIMELINE & BENCHMARKS
Currently, the project is approaching the initiation of the construction phase with final completion scheduled for June 2027. All selected project semi-finalists will be given an updated project timeline for key public art benchmarks to coordinate with the overall construction project schedule.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
12 MIDNIGHT (EASTERN STANDARD TIME) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026.
https://m-ncppc.submittable.com
CONTACT:
Brittney McGowan
Public Art Specialist
Arts and Cultural Heritage Division
M-NCPPC Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation
brittney.mcgowan@pgparks.com
43rd Annual Choreographer's Showcase The Choreographer's Showcase is one of the longest-running showcases of new and established choreographers in the country. The showcase highlights new and seasoned choreographers who present their work in concert selected by a panel of adjudicators. The performance will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, 7 pm. Visit pgparks.com for ticket info.
DEADLINE for Submission: Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
In-Person auditions will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, 10 am - 6 pm at the Publick Playhouse (5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, MD 20784). Note: Choreographers with scheduling conflicts may opt to submit a video submission for consideration.
Eligibility Requirements:
- This Call is open for all Choreographers over 18 years old, residing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
- Each Choreographer can only submit ONE original work.
- Performance time: min. 3 minutes, max. 8 minutes
- Content of the work must be original. Use of another artist’s choreography is not eligible.
- Any music track must be credited in the application
- Nudity and/or violence may not be depicted. Such content will disqualify the submission.
For Video Auditions:
- Videos can be recorded in any location, indoors or outdoors, provided local requirements of safety are maintained.
- Video MUST BE GOOD QUALITY with the camera positioned to see movement clearly. Video can be filmed by another person.
- Each video should contain only one dance performance and the file should be named with the name of the choreographer and the performance
- The following video file formats are acceptable: MP4, MOV + download on Vimeo video platform
Awards
Each selected choreographer will receive an award of $1000. If two choreographers team up to create work, they will share the award.
Questions? If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Megan Merchant at megan.merchant@pgparks.com.
The 2026 Choreographer's Showcase is a program of The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.