The Play

“For where the eye of the heart is, there is the treasure”

– from the Gospel of Mary (2nd Century) – banned, buried, and rediscovered

Silenced as an apostle, framed as a prostitute, portrayed as the wife, mythologized as a hermit and tantric priestess, exalted as Goddess, Mary Magdalene has always been controversial and dangerous to the status quo.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is a music-theater piece untangling and illuminating the many surrounding beliefs, myths, contradictions, iconography, and decrees, in search of Magdalene and the meaning of her radical Gospel.

Drawing from ancient texts, artworks, contemporary scholarship, and representations in contemporary culture, Sylvia Milo’s portrayal creates a prismatic image of Mary Magdalene in seven apparitions. Nathan Davis performs the rich musical score live onstage using instruments both ancient and modern – hammered dulcimer, harmonium, and hand drums – interweaving the sound design with field recordings from sites significant to the myths. A radiant video projection design and choreography expand the space — and our understanding of this essential story.

Created and performed by playwright/actress Sylvia Milo and composer/percussionist Nathan Davis, Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is their second collaboration after the critically acclaimed play, The Other Mozart, about the forgotten genius sister of Amadeus.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name was supported by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts from Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Helen F. Whitaker Fund, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Howard Gilman Foundation, Anonymous.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name also received development support from Live Arts at the Morris Museum, PS21 Chatham, the Bogliasco Foundation (Italy), the Camargo Foundation (France) Baryshnikov Arts Center (NYC), All for One, and Theaterlab.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name was chosen as a finalist project for Creative Capital and promoted through “On Our Radar”.

“For where the eye of the heart is, there is the treasure”

– from the Gospel of Mary (2nd Century) – banned, buried, and rediscovered

Silenced as an apostle, framed as a prostitute, portrayed as the wife, mythologized as a hermit and tantric priestess, exalted as Goddess, Mary Magdalene has always been controversial and dangerous to the status quo.

Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is a music-theater piece untangling and illuminating the many surrounding beliefs, myths, contradictions, iconography, and decrees, in search of Magdalene and the meaning of her radical Gospel.

Created and performed by playwright/actress Sylvia Milo and composer/percussionist Nathan Davis, Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is their second collaboration after the critically acclaimed play, The Other Mozart, about the forgotten genius sister of Amadeus.

Created and performed by playwright/actress Sylvia Milo and composer/percussionist Nathan Davis, Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name is their second collaboration after the critically acclaimed play, The Other Mozart, about the forgotten genius sister of Amadeus.