A staged reading by professional actors is planned during a series of events to illustrate how Ancient Greek drama themes still resonate today.

Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives is a major national program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities that aims to create an in-depth cultural programming partnership between communities, libraries and theaters.

The program, April 18 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Grand Rapids Main Public Library, 111 Library NE, is free and open to the public.

The staged reading will include a repertoire of selections from Homer’s “Odyssey;” Aeschylus’ “Agamemnon;” Sophocles’ “Ajax;” and Euripides’ “Herakles.” The event will last approximately 90 minutes and will include an introduction, performed readings and a post-show discussion led by Diane Rayor, a professor of Classics at Grand Valley State University.