An ancient myth, Michelangelo and a giant disco ball.
These all come together in this weekend’s production of “99 Ways to F@#K a Swan,” by UNC’s Professional Actor Training Program.
The play, which explores human desire over several eras in human history, will be the first performance of the semester from the performing arts training program.
Written by Kimberly Rosenstock, the play is based upon the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan.
In the myth, Queen Leda is impregnated both by her husband — the King of Sparta — and by Zeus, who came to her in the form of a swan. She lays two eggs, one from each man.
“The story of Zeus coming to Leda and seducing her on the riverbank was so brief, it seemed ripe for exploration which excited me a lot,” Rosenstock said in an e-mail.
Mike Donahue, director of the play, further described the contemporary adaptation.
“It’s about love and who we are attracted to and desire,” he said.
The play moves between various different historical periods, from Ancient Sparta to Renaissance Italy to modern day Manhattan.