Sacramento State?s Department of Theatre and Dance and the Richard Bay Puppet Theatre present this year?s production of Medea.

A fresh spin has been put into this staging by way of life-size puppets interacting on stage with the actors. The Greek tragedy, penned by Euripedes, will continue through May 12.

The story is about Medea, the wife of mythical hero Jason (of the Argonauts). Jason?s travels to Corinth lead him to favor with the daughter of the city?s leader. His polygamous pursuit drives Medea into a thoroughly jealous rage, as she devises a homicidal plan to get revenge on her cheating husband.

The cast of puppets and people are led by senior Kristen Philips manipulating the puppet of Medea, and Danielle Thrower as her voice. Ernesto Bustos has double duty as the voices of Jason and Creon, and is represented on stage by puppeteer James Stek. All are theater majors.

Philips, Stek and other cast members operate what are known as rod puppets, or Bunraku puppets in Japanese theatre. These Americanized versions consist mostly of sticks and stand anywhere from three to seven feet tall with the operators dressed in black behind the puppets.

Director Richard Bay has performed in a wide range of local, regional and national venues, as well as overseas. One of his recent productions, “A Thousand Cranes,” was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and was among the winners at the American College Theatre Festival.

The show goes on at 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday at the Playwrights? Theatre in Shasta Hall. The cost of tickets are $12 general and $7 for students, alumni and seniors and are available at the CSUS Ticket Office, 278-4323 or at Tickets.com, 766-2277.