Schedule announced for Oklahoma Contemporary's live marathon reading of The Odyssey

Interior shot of an empty, state-of-the-art theater space

Oklahoma Contemporary's Te Ata Theater will be home to the onsite portion of Oklahoma Contemporary's marathon Odyssey reading. (Photo by Rand Elliott)

Classical becomes contemporary in a few short days, when your arts center debuts a livestream marathon reading of Emily Wilson's groundbreaking translation of Homer's The Odyssey. Last week, we brought you news of Oklahoma Contemporary's star-studded, two-weekend event, featuring local community leaders and international artists, musicians, actors and more — broadcasting live from our new Te Ata Theater and from remote locations around the world.

Translator Wilson herself will narrate the final book at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29. "The Odyssey emerged from an oral folk poetry tradition in archaic Greece, and it’s a joy to see the poem’s performative roots being honored in twenty-first century fashion with this virtual live performance," she said.

Today we're looking ahead to these two monumental weekends with a full schedule of readers. Scope it out below, organize virtual viewing parties with your friends and make plans to tune in on YouTube, Facebook or here on our website.

A figure in an evening dress is photographed at the Grammy Awards

Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Leslie Feist, who performs under the stage name Feist, will kick off Book One of The Odyssey at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

Thursday, Aug. 20

7 p.m., Book One: Musician Leslie Feist
7:30 p.m., Book Two: Mayor David Holt
8 p.m., Book Three: Shahzad Ismaily
8:30 p.m., Book Four: Artist Octavio Abúndez

Friday, Aug. 21

7 p.m, Book Five: Poet and professor Ken Hada
7:30 p.m., Book Six: Actress Ali Ahn
8 p.m., Book Seven: Artist Muna Malik
8:30 p.m., Book Eight: Lost Ogle founder Patrick Riley

A figure in a denim shirt looks away from the camera

L.A.-based visual artist Muna Malik reads at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. (Source: themunamalik.com)

Saturday, Aug. 22

7 p.m., Book Nine: Actor and producer Tom Todoroff
7:30 p.m., Book 10: Curator heather ahtone
8 p.m., Book 11: Musician Joseph Keckler
8:30 p.m., Book 12: Composer Kate Soper

Thursday, Aug. 27

7 p.m., Book 13: Artist Bethany Joy Collins
7:30 p.m., Book 14: Community leader Robert Ruiz
8 p.m., Book 15: Writer and producer Bryan Cogman
8:30 p.m., Book 16: Calle Dos Cinco executive director Gloria Torres

A figure in sunglasses crouches in the middle of a desert

Lee Ranaldo, artist and co-founding member of seminal indie rock band Sonic Youth, reads at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. (source: leeranaldo.com)

Friday, Aug. 28

7 p.m., Book 17: Actor Raffi Barsoumian
7:30 p.m., Book 18: Councilwoman Nikki Nice
8 p.m., Book 19: Musician Nick Waterhouse
8:30 p.m., Book 20: Writer and podcast host Rebecca Nagle

Saturday, Aug. 29

7 p.m., Book 21: Musician Lee Ranaldo
7:30 p.m., Book 22: Artist Nicole Poole
8 p.m., Book 23: Actor Bebe Neuwirth
8:30 p.m., Book 24: Translator Emily Wilson

The Odyssey reading series from Oklahoma Contemporary aims to digitally re-create the experience of listening together to a tale told thousands of times, throughout histories and across continents. Join us in this epic undertaking beginning at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 20!

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Oklahoma Contemporary The Odyssey literature performing arts livestream