The Aquila Theatre has received a $292,585 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to launch a new program, PAGE & STAGE: Theatre, Tradition, and Culture in America.

The company will join with the Urban Libraries Council, the American Philogical Association, and the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University to develop and guide the program, which will present theatrical events, reading groups, and lectures about classical literature around the country between March 2009 and May 2010.

As previously announced, the company's 2008-2009 Off-Broadway season, to be presented at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, will kick off with the world premiere stage adaptation of Joseph Heller's Catch 22, adapted and directed by Peter Meineck, November 14-December 20, opening November 23. The work centers on Yossarian, a bombardier on a B-25, based on a small island off the coast of Italy in 1944. He starts to question the futile and ridiculous administration of his air base and seeks a way to preserve his life when the whole world around him seems to be going mad.

In the spring, Aquila will present the entirety of Homer's Iliad as a trilogy, March 27-April 26. The production is inspired by the cover of Stanley Lombardo's translation, which is a photograph of the D-day landings, entitled, "Into the Jaws of Death." A disparate group of soldiers and refugees take refuge from a savage war and find solace and humanity in Homer's epic tale.

For more information, visit www.aquilatheatre.com.