SCHEDULE & ADMISSION: 
Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m.

Visions and Voices is providing complimentary tickets for the April 16 and 17 performances. Tickets for April 18 and 19 may be purchased through the USC School of Dramatic Arts.

To reserve a free ticket for April 16 and 17, RSVP HERE.
To purchase tickets for April 18 and 19, visit https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/the-gods-are-not-to-blame/.

DESCRIPTION: 
The USC School of Dramatic Arts presents The Gods Are Not to Blame, Nigerian playwright Ola Rotimi’s acclaimed adaptation of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Set against a backdrop of a Yoruba kingdom, The Gods Are Not to Blame is a gripping tale of King Odewale’s tragic journey of self-discovery. As plague and famine threaten his people, the king’s determined search for truth leads to his downfall. While drawing inspiration from Oedipus Rex, this epic tragedy stands as a powerful work of drama that explores the inescapable nature of destiny. 

This production features a unique partnership with SDA Professor Bayo Akinfemi’s professional theatre company, African Theatre Artistes Society (ATARS), bringing professional actors to work alongside students.

The shows on Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17, will be followed by a conversation with cast members and creators, moderated by Bayo Akinfemi.

Bio: 

Bayo Akinfemi is an assistant professor of theatre practice at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. A two-time Best Actor Gemini Awards nominee, for Human Cargo and The Border, Akinfemi is currently a series regular on Bob Hearts Abishola, a CBS/Warner Bros. sitcom going into its fifth season, and is also the dialect coach and culture consultant for the show. Akinfemi’s acting credits include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Survivor’s Remorse. His credits as a director include an episode of Bob Hearts Abishola, a short film titled Rump, and Nollywood feature films Busted Life and Paparazzi: Eye in the Dark. He is also the founder and artistic director of African Theatre Artistes Society (ATARS), Los Angeles, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a platform of artistic expression to artistes of African descent with the goal of bringing authentic African theatre to audiences in Los Angeles. 

Presented by the USC School of Dramatic Arts and USC Visions and Voices. Co-sponsored by the African Theatre Artistes Society.