Through song, dance, poetry and Greek tragedies, theater professor Andonia Cakouros shared with the audience the journey of her life and 38 years with her students.

On a dark stage the evening of May 6, the chorus, 11 Sacramento State students, stood in a circle about to take the audience on an expedition of raw emotions, dark and light experiences that are filled with anger, frustration and love.

“Unveiling the Soul” was written, directed and acted by Cakouros, with input and assistance from 11 students making up the chorus.

“I originally conceived it 13 years ago and it was supposed to be a one-woman show, and then last year when I was given permission to do it, it turned out to be me plus a chorus of 11, which is more appropriate for me here at the university ‘cause it’s never been about me alone, it’s really me and the students, so it turned organically into a piece about our journey and mine,” said Cakouros.

The play began with the chorus unwinding the cloth that was wrapped around Cakouros; as if they were beginning the process of unraveling Cakouros’ soul, the inner workings of her deepest thoughts, allowing the audience to peer into the intensity of her emotions.

“Unveiling the Soul” was broken up into eight sections: “Universe Womb,” “Primitive,” “Ancient Greek,” “Christian,” “Ancestors,” “Ancient and Modern Woman,” “Transformation/Liberation” and “Flight.” Each section was cohesive with the one before and each was different in emotion and story.

The storytelling was nontraditional. There was no set dialogue between characters or a traditional storyline with a protagonist or villain.

The audience was left to figure out the story through body movement, facial expressions and reactions; how the body could portray such deep emotion with the help of improvisation, music and poetry.

Different instances affected Cakouros, like the death of her parents, and her never having had children, showing how she was able to cope and what helped her get through the agony she portrayed on stage.

“When she was talking about her parents that was improved, she improves it every night, something different, something more beautiful and deep,” said chorus member Dechelle Conway. “When we’re crying up there we are legitimately crying, it’s real for us, sometimes it’s stuff we haven’t even heard.”

So much emotion was conveyed on the stage it was hard for the audience not to be included in the experience.

On the way in the theater, each person was given a plastic candle that lit up, and were told to turn it on when instructed, making the scene that much more powerful and inclusive.

“It felt amazing finally having an audience, and being together and feeling like a real chorus and being so in sync,” said Conway.

“The way she connects with people, you know she just doesn’t overlook you, she looks right through your eyes and sees you and really notices you,” said chorus member Angel Rodriguez.

Chorus member Cole Winslow, along with Rodriguez both expressed their deep admiration for Cakouros and how it was truly an honor to be in her presence, working with her as a professor and director before she retires after the semester comes to a close.

When asked what she will miss the most about working at Sac State Cakouros said it would be her students.

“I love them, and connecting with their souls and loving them and having them love me and watching them grow and stretch and lifting them when they make mistakes, I don’t know how to explain it; they’re my life for 38 years,” said Cakouros.

Cakouros has not only been a dedicated staff member at Sac State, but she has been someone for students to relate to and talk to when they needed a shoulder and when everything was spinning out of control.

She will be truly missed by not only the chorus that was able to help her through this journey, but also all the lives she touched on and off campus.

“It just has been extraordinary,” said Cakouros. “It’s been many, many things, both dark and light. Both deep, both light, both playful, it’s been an excavation into the deepest parts of my soul, I think we all need to do that in order to grow.”