Temple students have been experimenting with a new genre of theater through the production of The Seven, a hip-hip musical written by Will Power and directed by associate professor of theater Lee Kenneth Richardson.

Loosely based on Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes, Will Power’s rendition of this classic

Greek tragedy is set in an urban enclave and addresses issues of violence and community responsibility through the rhythms of hip-hop culture.

“Young people will come in and not realize that they are part of a tradition that is age old, because they are going to feel like this is their story and their music,” Richardson said.

Temple’s staging of The Seven will be the Philadelphia premiere of the show, which opened off-Broadway at the New York Theater Workshop.

The show opens at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 and runs through Feb. 22. For ticketing information, visit www.temple.edu/sct/theater.