American Repertory Theatre
 

Antigone logo

by Sophocles
translated by Robert Fagles
directed by François Rochaix

performed at the Loeb Drama Center
November 24, 2000 - January 21, 2001

Cast - Synopsis - Photos - Links

Set Design by Jean-Claude Maret
Costume Design by Catherine Zuber
Movement by Margaret Eginton
Lighting Design by Michael Chybowski
Sound Design by David Remedios
Stage Manager Deborah Vandergrift

Antigone and Ismene (Aysan Çelik, Rachael Warren)

Antigone and Ismeme (Aysan Çelik, Rachael Warren)

Antigone, daughter of the cursed house of Oedipus, must defy her king to bury her brother, the fallen leader of a failed rebellion. Can one young girl, willing to sacrifice everything, face down the power of a state determined to destroy her if she does not obey? Sophocles' timeless myth pits the baser instincts of enmity and revenge against the power of love and reconciliation.

Running time is approximately two hours; there is no intermission.

CAST

Aysan Celik

. . . Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta

Rachael Warren

. . . Ismene, sister of Antigone

John Douglas Thompson

. . . Creon, king of Thebes, Uncle of Antigone and Ismene

Thomas Derrah

. . . Sentry

Sean Dugan

. . . Haemon, son of Creon and Eurydice

Alvin Epstein

. . . Tiresias, a blind prophet

Benjamin Evett

. . . Messenger

Jodi Lin

. . . Eurydice, wife of Creon

Jack Atamian
Darrin Browne
Tenelle Cadogan
Scott Draper
Sean Dugan
Benjamin Evett*
Sean Kelly*
Nicholas Newell
Trevor Oswalt*
Jonathon Roberts*
James Spencer
Marguerite Stimpson
Margaret Trecker

. . . Chorus of Theban citezens and Soldiers

*Archaic Chorus

Robbie Eginton
Gabe Goodman
Ezra Lichtman

. . . Child

Vessela Stoyanova

. . . Percussionist

SYNOPSIS OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE TRAGEDY

After King Oedipus left Thebes, blinded and disgraced, his two sons Eteocles and Polynices were elected co-rulers of the city. They agreed to reign for alternate years, but at the end of his first term, Eteocles refused to relinquish the throne to his brother and banished him from Thebes.

Polynices raised an army in Argos and returned to Thebes, threatening to destroy the city if Eteocles didn't yield. A terrible civil war ensued, both brothers were killed, and their uncle Creon proclaimed himself King of Thebes.

As his first act of government, Creon declared Polynices a traitor to the city, and forbade anyone to give his corpse a proper burial. The play begins as Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and sister to Eteocles and Polynices, hears of this edict, and resolves to bury her brother in secret.

PHOTOS

Click on any thumbnail to view a full-size image in a separate window.

RELATED LINKS 

Libation Bearers
A scene from The Oresteia

This production was made possible in part through the generosity of the Carr Foundation.

Antigone is part of Cross Currents, a major multi-year initiative of the A.R.T. and the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc.

Special thanks to The Costas and Mary Maliotis Charitable Foundation, Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Euterpe Dukakis, and the Gerondelis Foundation for their support of the presentation of classical Greek drama at the A.R.T.

Additional support for this production was provided by the Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

American Repertory Theatre
This page updated January 22, 2001
webmanager@amrep.org