We’re all familiar with mythological characters like Medea, Odysseus, and Orpheus; we know the symbolism of the Trojan Horse and the Golden Fleece. But how many recall the tale of Memnon, a powerful Ethiopian king who was summoned to Troy to help defend the city against the Greeks? Once a critical part of the ancient Greek and Roman canon, this story has been forgotten for over a millennium. “It is an ancient artifact, a treasure, that we have been sitting on this whole time,” says Carl Cofield, the artistic director of the hip and happening Classical Theatre of Harlem. Last September, Cofield directed Memnon, a new play by Will Power, as part of the Getty Villa’s theater program. Performances took place in the museum’s outdoor amphitheater in Los Angeles. As Cofield told AIR MAIL’s Matthew Gurewitsch, he’s passionate about the Greeks and the amphitheater setting. “The Greeks called theater ‘the seeing place’—you see the actor, and the actor sees you.” Memnon now has its East Coast premiere in Marcus Garvey Park, with free, outdoor performances at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater. Cofield directs, Tiffany Rea-Fisher choreographs, and Eric Berryman stars in the title role. —Jeanne Malle