Rush Rehm
Professor of Theater and Performance Studies and of Classics, Emeritus
Bio
An actor, director, and professor of Theater & Performance Studies and Classics, Rush Rehm publishes in the areas of Greek tragedy and contemporary politics. He also serves as Artistic Director of Stanford Repertory Theater, a professional theater company that presents staged readings, full productions, and a dramatic festival and symposium based on a major playwright or theme each summer.
Rehm’s books include Aeschylus’ *Oresteia: A Theatre Version*(Melbourne 1978); *Greek Tragic Theatre* (Routledge: London 1992, paper 1994, modern Greek translation 1999, 2nd revised edition, *Understanding Greek Tragic Theatre (2016); *Marriage to Death: The Conflation of Marriage and Funeral Rituals in Greek Tragedy* (Princeton 1994, paper 1996); *The Play of Space: Spatial Transformation in Greek Tragedy* (Princeton 2002); *Radical Theatre: Greek Tragedy and the Modern World* (Duckworth: London 2003), *Euripides' Electra* (Bloomsbury: London 2020)
Recent contributions to edited volumes include essays in *Greek Drama in the Americas* (Oxford), *Aeschylus’ Tragedies: The Cultural Divide and the Trauma of Adaptation* (Brill: Leiden), *The Brill Companion to Sophocles* (Brill: Leiden), *The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre* (Cambridge), *Rebel Women* (Methuen: London), *Aeschylus’ Agamemnon in Performance* (Oxford), *Sophocles and the Greek Language* (Brill), *Antigone’s Answer* (Atlanta), *Classics in Post-Colonial Worlds*(Oxford), *Space in Ancient Greek Literature: Studies in Ancient Greek Narrative* (Mnemosyne), *Blackwell’s Encyclopedia of Greek Tragedy* (Oxford), *Looking at Antigone* (Bloomsbury: London), *The Brill Companion to Euripides* (Leiden), *Looking at Agamemnon* (Bloomsbury), *Looking at Persians* (Bloomsbury 2021), *Handbook on Theatre and Migration* (Palgrave 2022), among others.
As well as seminars on ancient theater and culture, Rehm teaches courses on contemporary politics, the media, and U.S. imperialism.
Academic Appointments
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Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, Theater and Performance Studies
Administrative Appointments
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Professor of Drama and Classics, Stanford University (2003 - Present)
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Associate Professor of Drama and Classics, Stanford University (1995 - 2002)
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Assistant Professor of Drama, Stanford University (1990 - 1995)
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Assistant Professorby courtesy, Classics, Stanford University (1990 - 1995)
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Assistant Professor of Classics and Theatre Studies, Emory University (1985 - 1990)
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Lecturer, Drama Course, Melbourne University (1979 - 1980)
Honors & Awards
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Montalvo Artist in Residence, with We Players, *Romeo and Juliet*, Montalvo Arts Center (2016)
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Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Service to Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2014)
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Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction (with Courtney Walsh), *Moby Dick-Rehearsed*, Theatre Bay Area (2014)
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Stanford Hoagland Grant for Innovating Undergraduate Curriculum, Stanford University (2013-16)
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Donald Andrewes Whittier Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center, Stanford University (1995-1996)
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Lila Wallace–Reader’s Digest Arts Partners Grant (with the Lively Arts at Stanford), Lila-Wallace Arts Partners (1992–93)
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Junior Fellow, The Center for Hellenic Studies (Harvard University) (1989-1990)
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ACLS Grant, 1987–88 (American School of Classical Studies, Athens), American Council of Learned Societies (1987 - 88)
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Whiting Fellowship, Institute of Classical Studies, London (1984-1985)
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Graduate Fellowship, Stanford Humanities Center (1982-1984)
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Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, Melbourne, United States Department of Education (1973-1975)
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Daniel M. Sachs Graduating Scholarship, Princeton University (1973-1974)
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National Merit Scholarship, Princeton University (1968-1972)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
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Member, Curriculum Revision, Stanford University
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Member, Senior and Junior Searches, Stanford University
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Outside Reviewer, Stanford University
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Reader/Referee, Cambridge university press
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Reader/Referee, Transactions of the American Philological Association
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Reader/Referee, Theatre Journal
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Reader/Referee, MD (Materiali e discussioni per 1 'ana list dei testi classici, Pisa)
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Reader/Referee, Arethusa
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Reader/Referee, Classical Antiquity
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Reader/Referee, Oxford university press
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Reader/Referee, Princeton university press
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Reader/Referee, Classical World
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Reader/Referee, Classical Philology
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Academic Senate, Stanford University (2017 - 2018)
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Academic Senate, Stanford University (2013 - 2015)
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Preliminary Application Reviewer, Stanford Humanities Center, Stanford University (2007 - 2009)
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Project Director, Stages of Reconciliation (Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts) (2007 - 2008)
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Academic Senate, Stanford University (2005 - 2007)
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Chair, Drama Department Committees: Graduate Studies, Stanford University (2005 - 2006)
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Director, Stanford Theater Discovery Institute (2000 - 2004)
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Academic Senate, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
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Chair, Drama Department Committees: Graduate Studies, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
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Member, Production Advisory Board, Stanford University (1998 - 2007)
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Member, Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities: Committee-in-Charge (1998 - 2006)
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Artistic Director, Stanford Repertory Theater (1997 - Present)
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Preliminary Application Reviewer, Stanford Humanities Center, Stanford University (1995 - 2003)
Professional Education
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Ph.D., Stanford University, Drama (Directing and Criticism) and Humanities (1985)
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M.A., Classical Studies, Melbourne University (1975)
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B.A., Princeton University, Creative Writing/Classics (1973)
Current Research and Scholarly Interests
Stanford Repertory Theater (SRT) presents *Voices of the Earth: From Sophocles to Rachel Carson and Beyond* at tthe Sebastopol Arts Center later November 7, 2021. With the collaboration and support of the Henry Miller Library, the Arts Council for Monterey County, and Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment, SRT's *Voices of the Earth" (audio) was broadcast in 21 3-minute sections on NPR radio station KCBX (San Luis Obisbo) during the first 3 weeks of Earth Month, culminating in the Earth Day celebrations April 22, 2021. KALW (San Francisco) also aired segments of the program. The audio/visual version of *Voices of the Earth* is available for use by schools, arts councils, and environmental groups, free of charge, and the script is also available for free. Contact stanfordrep@stanford.edu, or go to our website stanfordreptheater.com
Projects
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Ancient Tragedies/Modern Stages, Stanford University/Ecole normale superieure/Paul Valery in Montpellier
Professor Eleni Papalexiou at the University of the Peloponnese and I are collaborating to develop a summer institute in the Argolid, "Ancient Tragedies/Modern Stages," exploring contemporary approaches to staging Greek tragedy. A combination of workshops, lectures, classes, and performances will provide participants with an up-to-date understanding of how our oldest theatrical form, Greek tragedy, continues to challenge contemporary theater artists and audiences in the 21st century.
Location
Napflion, Greece
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Bilingual Beckett, Stanford University/Ecole normale superieure/Paul Valery in Montpellier
I continue working on a long-term project entitled "Bilingual Beckett," which has included Stanford Repertory Theater's bilingual production of Samuel Beckett's *Happy Days/Oh les beaux jours," performed at Stanford, San Francisco, Montpellier, and Paris.
Location
France
Collaborators
- Joëlle Chambon, Maître de conferences en Etudes Théâtrales, Université Paul-Valéry-Montpellier 3
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Comparative Clytemnestra, Stanford University/Stanford Repertory Theater
SRT's "Comparative Clytemnestra" (performance/lecture focusing on the various treatments of Clytemnestra in Greek tragedy, with actress Courtney Walsh) will travel to New Zealand and Australia in the fall of 2015. This work will find its way into the revision of my 1992 *Greek Tragic Theatre,* which will come out in a new version entitled *Understanding Greek Tragedy* in 2016
Location
Wellington, New Zealand
2024-25 Courses
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Independent Studies (4)
- Directed Reading in Classics (Graduate Students)
CLASSICS 298 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Directed Readings (Undergraduate)
CLASSICS 198 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Dissertation Proposal Preparation
CLASSICS 297 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Undergraduate Thesis: Senior Research
CLASSICS 199 (Aut, Win, Spr)
- Directed Reading in Classics (Graduate Students)
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Prior Year Courses
2023-24 Courses
- Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14 (Aut) - Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14A (Aut) - Learning Theater: From Audience to Critic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
TAPS 11SC (Sum) - Noam Chomsky: The Drama of Resistance
TAPS 180Q (Aut)
2022-23 Courses
- Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14 (Aut) - Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14A (Aut) - In and Out of the Margins: The Plays of Athol Fugard
OSPCPTWN 35 (Spr) - Learning Theater: From Audience to Critic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
TAPS 11SC (Sum) - Noam Chomsky: The Drama of Resistance
TAPS 180Q (Aut) - To Die For: Antigone and Political Dissent
CLASSICS 17N, TAPS 12N (Aut)
2021-22 Courses
- Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14 (Aut) - Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
ESF 14A (Aut) - Learning Theater: From Audience to Critic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
TAPS 11SC (Sum) - Noam Chomsky: The Drama of Resistance
TAPS 180Q (Aut) - To Die For: Antigone and Political Dissent
CLASSICS 17N, TAPS 12N (Aut)
- Education as Self-Fashioning: The Challenge of Choice
All Publications
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Greek Tragedy on the Move: The Birth of a Panhellenic Art Form c.500-300 BC. (Book Review)
JOURNAL OF HELLENIC STUDIES
2020; 140: 252–53
View details for DOI 10.1017/S0075426920000257
View details for Web of Science ID 000599548300025
- Ritual in Sophocles Brill Companion to Sophocles edited by Markantonatos, A. Leiden and Boston. 2012: 411–428
- Sophocles Space in Ancient Greek Literature: Studies in Ancient Greek Narrative edited by Jong, I. d. Leiden and Boston. 2012: 307–323
- Aeschylus Space in Ancient Greek Literature: Studies in Ancient Greek Narrative edited by Jong, I. d. Leiden and Boston. 2012: 325–339
- Ifyou are a woman': Theatrical Womanizing in Sophocles' Antigone and Fugard, Kani, and Ntshona's The Island Classics in Post-Colonial Worlds edited by Gillispie, C., Hardwick, L. Cambridge. 2010: 211–217
- Performance and Cure by K.V. Hartigan, Text & Presentation Comp. Drama Conf. 2010; 7: 166-168
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Sophocles and Alcibiades: Athenian Politics in Ancient Greek Literature (Book Review)
COMPARATIVE DRAMA
2009; 43 (3): 402-405
View details for Web of Science ID 000272017400006
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How to Stage Greek Tragedy Today (Book Review)
CLASSICAL WORLD
2009; 102 (4): 501-502
View details for Web of Science ID 000269760300012
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Greek Ritual Poetics (Book Review)
JOURNAL OF HELLENIC STUDIES
2008; 128: 208-209
View details for Web of Science ID 000262847000066
- The Future of Dramatic Literature Text and Presentation edited by Constantinidis, S. 2008: 216–218
- Festivals and Audiences in Athens and Rome Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre edited by Walton, M., McDonald, M. Cambridge. 2007: 184–201
- Ifyou are a woman': Theatrical Womanizing in Sophocles' Antigone and Fugard, Kani, and Ntshona's The Island Classics in Post-Colonial Worlds edited by Gillispie, C., Hardwick, L. Cambridge. 2007: 211–227
- Sophocles on Fire--To Pyr in Philoctetes Sophocles and the Greek Language: Aspects of Diction, Syntax, and the Greek Language edited by Jong, I. d., Rijksbaron, A. Leiden: Brill. 2006: 95–107
- Cassandra- The Prophetess Unveiled Agamemnon in Performance edited by Hall, E., McIntosh, F. Oxford. 2006: 343–358
- All Theater Is Revolutionary Theater by B. Bennett Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2006
- Antigone and Family Values Antigone's Answer: Essays on Death and Burial, Family and State in Classical Athens edited by Patterson, C. B. Helios. 2006: 187–218
- Female Solidarity: Timely Resistance in Greek Tragedy Rebel Women edited by Wilmer, S. London: Methuen. 2005: 177–192
- "Introduction," R.C Jebb's commentary Oedipus at Co/onus edited by Easterling, P. E. London: Duckworth. 2004: 31–56
- Radical Theatre: Greek Tragedy and the Modern World London: Duckworth. 2003
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Dolos and dike in Sophokles' 'Elektra' (Book Review)
GNOMON-KRITISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DIE GESAMTE KLASSISCHE ALTERTUMSWISSENSCHAFT
2003; 75 (6): 543-545
View details for Web of Science ID 000185198500011
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Greek theatre performance: An introduction (Book Review)
CLASSICAL JOURNAL
2002; 98 (2): 228-232
View details for Web of Science ID 000180569100012
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'Supplices', the satyr play: Charles Mee's 'Big Love'
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY
2002; 123 (1): 111-118
View details for Web of Science ID 000174806300007
- The Play of Space: Spatial Transformation in Greek Tragedy Princeton University Press. 2002
- Before, Behind, Beyond: Tragic Space in Euripides' Heracles Euripides edited by Cropp, M., Lee, K., Sansone, D. Chicago. 2000: 363–375
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Dionysus writes: The invention of theatre in ancient Greece (Book Review)
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO QUARTERLY
1999; 69 (1): 167-168
View details for Web of Science ID 000085713500040
- Greek Tragic Theatre (modern Greek translation) Routledge. 1998
- Choral Presence, Absence, and Interaction in Euripides Arion 1996: 45-60
- Marriage to Death: The Conflation of Wedding and Funeral Rituals in Greek Tragedy Princeton University Press. 1996
- Public Spaces, Private Voices: Sophocles' Electra and Euripides' Suppliant Women Drama 1996; 4: 49-61
- Theatre de Complicite: An Appreciation TheatreForum 1995; 6: 88-96
- Greek Tragic Theatre Routledge. 1994
- Marriage to Death: The Conjlation of Wedding and Funeral Rituals in Greek Tragedy Princeton University Press. 1994
- Greek Tragic Theatre Routledge. 1992
- Aeschylus: The Commerce of Tragedy and Politics Syracuse, The Fairest Greek City edited by Wescoar, B. D. Rome. 1989: 31–34
- Medea and the Logos ofthe Heroic Eranos 1989; 87: 97-115
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THE STAGING OF SUPPLIANT PLAYS + GREEK TRAGEDY
GREEK ROMAN AND BYZANTINE STUDIES
1988; 29 (3): 263-307
View details for Web of Science ID A1988AG46100002
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BRENTON 'BLOODY POETRY'
THEATRE JOURNAL
1987; 39 (4): 521-522
View details for Web of Science ID A1987L532300023
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SHEPARD 'CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS'
THEATRE JOURNAL
1986; 38 (2): 217-218
View details for Web of Science ID A1986C520300010
- Aeschylus and Performance Themes in Drama edited by Redmond, J. Cambridge U. Press. 1985: 229–248
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AESCHYLUS 'ORESTEIA' TRILOGY
THEATRE JOURNAL
1985; 37 (4): 509-510
View details for Web of Science ID A1985AWQ1100028
- From Performance: Iliad Scripsi 1981: 108-112
- On Time and Timing: Waiting for Godot and the Theatre Viewpoints edited by McFarlane, B. Melbourne. 1980: 66–81
- Aeschylus' Oresteia: A Theatre Version Melbourne: Hawthorn Press. 1978