“Silenced as an apostle and framed as a prostitute, the manipulation of Mary Magdalene’s story was meant to undermine women's leadership centuries ago, and its effects still shape our reality today.” 

—Sylvia Milo 

(Morristown, NJ, October 2022)—From the creators of?The Other?Mozart, comes the World Premiere of a new music-theater piece about the web of clashing myths, beliefs, symbols, and decrees surrounding the life of Mary Magdalene. Created by playwright/performer Sylvia Milo and composer and percussionist Nathan Davis,?I am the utterance of my name: Divining Mary Magdalene, is their latest collaboration which was created partially while in residence at Live Arts at the Morris Museum. This multi-media theatrical event will take place at the Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre on Friday, November 4 at 8:00 PM, Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 PM. 

Equal parts theater, experimental music performance, and ritual, the artists draw on a multitude of texts and sources—biblical, Gnostic, heretical, medieval, and modern— to create a drama that unfolds in seven apparitions of Mary Magdalene, portrayed by Milo. Davis plays instruments both ancient and modern—hammered dulcimer, harmonium, and hand drums—interweaving live sound design with field recordings from sites significant to the mythology.  

"It is thrilling to have Sylvia and Nathan bringing their latest work to life right here in Morristown with their incredibly talented team of creative collaborators! Witnessing an artist like Sylvia Milo take ownership of one of the most depicted women of all time becomes a journey of cultural archeology and an empowering artistic imagining. Join these artists in their multi-media exploration of who was, and crucially, who IS Mary Magdalene for a theatrical happening so unique you may forget which side of the Hudson you are on,” states Brett Wellman Messenger, Curatorial Director of Live Arts. 

Milo’s project The Other Mozart, which centers around Mozart’s genius sister, Maria Anne Mozart, has been performed internationally to critical acclaim including a run at Live Arts at the Morris Museum in 2019.   

Tickets are $35.00, $30.00 for Museum Members, $20.00 for students and can be purchased at: morrismuseum.org/magdalene 

Face masks are required for all patrons while inside the Bickford Theatre. This policy is subject to change at any time. Please check back on our website or call the box office for our current policy before your scheduled performance date. For assistance and to make purchases by phone, call the box office at 973-971-3706. 

About the Morris Museum 

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, multifaceted arts and cultural institution serving the public through its exhibitions and performances, which strive to interpret the past and discover the future through art, sound, and motion. The Museum is home to the historic and internationally-significant Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata. The Museum’s Bickford Theatre is a 312-seat performing-arts facility, offering unique programming in film, jazz, and live performance through its innovative series, Live Arts. As New Jersey’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, it launched Spark!Lab, a dynamic, Smithsonian-created learning space which will inspire young visitors to create, collaborate, and innovate.