Professor Gretchen Minton of Montana State University has written and is presenting an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens–renamed Timon of Anaconda–set in 1960s-70s Butte, Montana. The play tells the story of a mining mogul who loses everything and is abandoned by his friends. He then attempts to retreat to the wilderness, only to find that there is no place that does not have the mark of human activity. Minton uses Shakespeare as a means of exploring human impact on the earth, encouraging us to consider our role in ecological disaster, and also imagine a way forward that can include better stewardship of our natural world.

In this interview, Minton discusses the meaning and significance of her project, including the larger context of theater for education and change. For further information, visit her webpage at www.gretchenminton.com.