Tiny Beautiful Things Adds More Shows in Athens
Greek adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's memoir extends run with extra performances in Athens
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Nia Vardalos has just announced additional performances of the Greek‐language adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things at Athens’s historic Pallas Theater. Originally slated for a limited ten‐show engagement, the production sold out in record time, prompting organizers to expand the run with extra dates. Tickets are available via the Pallas Theater box office and more.com_greece.
Nia Vardalos Shines In Greek Premiere
The Oscar‐nominated writer‐actor, best known for her breakout role in 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding, stars as “Sugar,” the pseudonymous advice columnist at the heart of the play. Born and raised in Winnipeg to Greek immigrants, Vardalos has drawn on her bicultural roots throughout a career spanning two decades. Her turn in Tiny Beautiful Things marks her debut on the Athens stage, delivering Strayed’s deeply personal essays with warmth, humor, and candor.
Vardalos first teased her role on Instagram, explaining that the intricate tattoos required for Sugar are applied with special eight‐day‐lasting decals and removed with a custom cleanser. “For anyone who wants to try something, I urge you to do it and stay positive when others do too!” she wrote, adding, “Reach. Be fearless. Work hard.” Her message underlines the play’s themes of resilience and self‐discovery.
Production Details And Added Shows
Directed by Spyros Katsagannis and produced by J. Kent, the Greek premiere runs in translation by Spiros Katsagannis. Performances last 1 hour and 35 minutes without intermission, bringing Strayed’s Dear Sugar essays to life in modern Greek. The initial ten shows sold out within days of release, leading to at least four extra performances on new dates later this month. Viewers can reserve seats through pallastheater.com or @more.com_greece on Instagram.
The theatrical staging is intimate: a single set, minimalist lighting, and Vardalos’s direct address to the audience. Greek press have praised the production’s faithfulness to Strayed’s voice and Vardalos’s magnetic presence. One local reviewer noted, “Her delivery is equal parts compassionate and razor‐sharp—every laugh and tear lands exactly as it should.”
Audience Praise And Behind The Scenes
On opening night, Vardalos shared a group selfie backstage with the cast, captioning it, “Athens Cast, you have our hearts.” Fans have flooded social media with praise for the ensemble’s chemistry and the production’s emotional depth. Other posts highlight the creative team, including costume designer Danae Loukaki and lighting engineer Dimitris Kitsos, whose work earned special mention in Greek outlets.
Many audience members also commented on the authenticity of Vardalos’s accent in Greek. In an earlier Instagram update, she explained, “My accent is different because I am Greek, born and raised in Canada.” Her willingness to lean into those differences has resonated with bilingual viewers, who appreciate the blend of North American and Hellenic inflections.
From Page To Stage: Tiny Beautiful Things
Cheryl Strayed’s collection began as an online advice column titled Dear Sugar. Its essays cover topics from grief and addiction to self‐acceptance and love. Publisher Vintage Books released Tiny Beautiful Things in 2012, and the material has since inspired podcasts, a memoir, and stage adaptations worldwide. Vardalos’s production is the first Greek translation authorized by Strayed’s estate.
Next week’s extra performances will include a post‐show conversation with Vardalos and Katsagannis, moderated by Greek poet Giannis Parios, who attended the opening and shared a photo with the star backstage. His presence underlines the play’s cross‐generational appeal in Greece.
With demand still high, ticket buyers are advised to book early. Whether you’re a theater regular or a fan of the bestselling book, Tiny Beautiful Things promises an evening of laughter, tears, and unexpected connection under the venerable dome of the Pallas Theater.
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