Fresno State’s University Theatre will begin its 2017-2018 season with “A Particle of Dread (Oedipus Variations),” written by Sam Shepard and directed by J. Daniel Herring. It was the final play written by Shepard, the late American playwright.

The production, which will run Sept. 29 through Oct. 7  at 7:30 p.m. (except for 2 p.m. on Oct. 1) in the Dennis and Cheryl Woods Theatre at Fresno State, is dedicated in memory of Shepard.

In “A Particle of Dread,” Sam Shepard takes one of the most famous plays in history —“Oedipus Rex” — and transforms it into a modern American classic. In this telling, Oedipus, King of Thebes, prophesized to kill his father and marry his mother, alternates between his classical identity and that of contemporary “Otto.”

Dazzlingly inventive, ringing with the timelessness of myth, “A Particle of Dread” is an unforgettable work that grapples with questions of storytelling and destiny — the narratives that are passed down, and how they shape lives.

“I am absolutely honored to be directing the final play of one of America’s finest playwrights,” Herring said. “Sam Shepard’s legacy will live on in his unique style of storytelling, complex characters and vibrant language.”

Following the Oct. 1 matinee performance, there will be a talkback with the cast and Dr. Honora Chapman, associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State.

The cast includes: Sara Marie Adam, Ruby Arreguin, Hannah Berry, Kat Campos, Gian Console, Thuy Duong, Aaron Gomes, Ian Jones, Andrew Navarette, Anthony teNyenhuis, Andrew Trevino and Steven Weatherbee.

Tickets are $17 for adults; $15 for Fresno State faculty, staff, alumni and military; and $10 for students. Group rates, as well as season tickets are available. Box office hours are noon to 4 p.m. on weekdays and one hour before each performance.

Parking is free for shows on Friday through Sunday night. For shows on Tuesday through Thursday night, parking permits are required and can be purchased at dispensers in parking lots on campus.

For more information, contact the box office at 559.278.2216 or universitytheatre@csufresno.edu.