The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Philosophy and Religious Studies Department presents “Socrates Now,” a performance illustrating Socratic ethics, on Monday, April 1, at 7 p.m. in the St. Mary’s College Cole Cinema, Campus Center. Audience members are also invited to a post-performance discussion with solo performer Yannis Simonides, Emmy Award-winning actor and producer of the Greek Theatre of New York. The event is free and open to the public.
In the play, Simonides dramatizes Socrates’ life and ideas, from his famous philosophical contributions to his trial for corrupting the youth of Athens. Through his portrayal of Socrates’ eccentric personality and unique role in the development of ethical ideology, Simonides offers a profound commentary on social, political, and metaphysical philosophy in an entertaining and accessible manner.
Simonides was raised in Athens and went on to study acting and writing at the Yale Drama School. He is an Emmy-winning documentary producer and has worked as professor and chair of the New York University Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department. He has served as the executive producer of Greek Orthodox Telecommunications (GOTelecom) and the executive director of Hellenic Public Radio (COSMOS FM) in New York. Simonides founded and serves as director of Mythic Media and the Greek Theater (Elliniko Theatro) in New York.