Antigone
Translation by Anne Carson and Directed by guest director Egla Hassan
When her dead brother is decreed a traitor, his body left unburied beyond the city walls, Antigone refuses to accept this most severe of punishments. Defying her uncle who governs, she dares to say 'No'. Forging ahead with a funeral alone, she places personal allegiance before politics, a tenacious act that will trigger a cycle of destruction.
Performed in Fisher Theater - October 8, 9 & 10 at 7:30 pm and October 11 at 2:00 pm
AUDITIONS
Thursday August 27, 6pm – 10pm in Carver 308
SignUp for Auditions HERE (this link will be live in August 2026)
Callbacks for Antigone will be held Fri Aug 28, 6pm – 10pm or Sat Aug 29, 10am – 4pm
Note, the SignUp for Antigone and A Christmas Carol are two separate sign-ups!
Audition Requirements:
Please prepare a contemporary monologue (90 seconds or less)
Audition form will be filled out upon arrival. Please be prepared to list all times you are unable to rehearse due to class, work and other commitments. Tentative rehearsal schedule is Monday – Friday 6-10pm beginning approximately August 31 and running through mandatory tech and production week, ending October 11.
DIRECTORS NOTES
ANTIGONE is a Greek tragedy whose universality in theme and ideas communicates strongly to our present social and political situation. Carson’s translation, while poetic, allows for direct and unencumbered performance style.
Characters
ANTIGONE
Female
Daughter of Oedipus, engaged to marry Haemon. Honorable, brave, loyal, loving, compassionate, and unwilling to compromise her values. She is the epitome of strength in conviction. Willing to die for her beliefs.
Strong-willed, fearless, and deeply loyal to her family and the gods’ laws. Antigone defies the king’s orders to honor her dead brother, even at the cost of her own life. Requires emotional intensity, conviction, and a commanding stage presence.
ISMENE
Female
Daughter of Oedipus, sister of Antigone. She is devoted and honorable, but much more pragmatic than her sister. She believes in living to fight another day.
Antigone’s sister. Gentle, cautious, and fearful of defying authority. She loves her sister but struggles between loyalty and survival. Requires emotional sensitivity and nuance.
KREON
Male
The surviving Sovereign of Thebes. He is uncompromising and refuses to be challenged by anyone. He was third in line to the throne and not expecting to reign, but after two generations of chaos and curse he is determined to right the ship and steady the course, no matter the cost. His rigid belief in state law drives the central conflict of the play. Requires strong vocal authority and dramatic range.
CHORUS / CHORUS LEADER
Both genders
A collective voice that comments on the action and themes of the play. Represents public opinion and moral reflection. Requires strong ensemble work, movement, and vocal unity.
MESSANGER
Loyal servant of Kreon. Delivers key news with urgency and clarity, often reporting tragic developments. Requires strong storytelling ability and vocal expression.
HAEMON
Kreon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé. Compassionate, thoughtful, and caught between love and duty. His arc reflects emotional conflict and moral tension. Requires strong emotional depth.
TEIRESIAS
A blind prophet who speaks with wisdom and authority. Warns Kreon of the consequences of his actions. Requires calm presence and powerful delivery.
EURYDIKE
Kreon’s wife and Haemon’s mother. Appears briefly but delivers significant emotional impact. Requires quiet strength and strong dramatic presence.
THE GUARD
A soldier tasked with reporting the burial of Polyneices. Practical, nervous, and occasionally comedic. Provides realism and tonal contrast. Requires good timing and character acting.
GUIDE
Functions as the guide for Teiresias (who is blind).