On February 12, 2025
Arts, Dining & Entertainment

BarnArts reimagines ‘Antigone’ with a playful approach

Courtesy BarnArts Actors rehearsed the prologue fight scene in BarnArt’s upcoming production of “Antigone.”

Friday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 23—BARNARD —BarnArts launches its 2025 season with a bold new production of “Antigone,” running Feb. 14-15 & 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 & 23 at 2 p.m. at Barnard Town Hall. This reimagined take on Sophokles’ classic tragedy, translated by poet Anne Carson, blends humor, music, and movement, creating a vibrant performance that highlights the gravity and joy of life’s struggles.

Director Erin Bennett envisions “Antigone” through the lens of a scrappy street performance featuring a cast of nine BarnArts actors who bring the production to life with juggling, singing, and original music. The show embraces a lively, contemporary aesthetic while staying true to the timeless themes of justice, defiance, and love.

“The language completely floored me,” Bennett said, who discovered Carson’s translation while researching her Dartmouth master’s thesis. “It’s so full of humor, humanity, and poetry.”

The play follows Antigone as she challenges the decree of King Kreon, who refuses to bury her brother after a brutal war. Her act of defiance sets off a powerful chain of events that forces the people of Thebes to confront their values and fears.

A unique and engaging adaptation

Anne Carson’s translation strips the text to its core themes, making it accessible to modern audiences while preserving its ancient roots. 

“Catholics have been known to love it, but so have anarchists, libertarians, Marxists, and poets of all time,” says actor Aaron Michael Hodge (Haimon).

The cast was immediately drawn to Carson’s language. Kevin Donohue (Kreon), a Dartmouth Classics graduate, praised the script as “fresh, idiomatic, and modern, while still dedicated to the source material.” 

Bridgette Hammond (Antigone) noted, “Each word is powerful and meaningful, which is both a joy and a challenge as an actor—there are no throwaway lines, nowhere to hide.”

Bennett’s artistic direction elevates “Antigone” beyond traditional tragedy. “Grief and tragedy are not relegated to the shadows,” she explained. “Antigone is willing to die for what’s right, even when all the beauty of living is at her fingertips. I want the audience to see that the world she would leave behind is imperfect, sometimes violent, but filled with music, dancing, and love.”

A cast of BarnArts regulars with a new face in the lead

BarnArts newcomer Bridgette Hammond (Antigone) joins a cast of familiar faces, bringing experience from a decade of Chicago’s dance and theater scene. “It’s a tight-knit community that at the same time has been so welcoming,” she shared.

Returning BarnArts actors include:

Aaron Michael Hodge (Haimon) – 11 BarnArts productions since 2015

Dory Psomas (Messenger) – 6 shows since 2017

Olivia Piepmeier (Guard) – 5 shows since 2023

Kyle Huck (Teiresias) – 4 shows since 2022

Kevin Donohue (Kreon) – 4 shows since 2023

Fergus Ryan (Polyneikes) – 3 shows since 2024

Julianne Borger (Ismene) – 2 shows since 2024

Laura Montgomery (Eurydike) – 2 shows since 2024

“BarnArts has reinvigorated the high school theater kid within me,” Borger said, echoing the sentiments of many cast members.

Bennett worked closely with the cast to integrate their unique skills into the show—the result: a production brimming with unexpected elements, including kazoos, a ukulele, and tambourines. Original music is being developed in collaboration with BarnArts music directors Carol Cronce and Neal Cronce.

Costume designer August Doughty crafted a contemporary and timeless aesthetic, evoking the look of a ragtag group of traveling performers. Linda Treash serves as producer and set designer, with Corey Doughty handling lighting design and Eben Farinas as master carpenter.

“Erin has deep hands-on theater experience, academic study, and a pure love of theater that shines through,” BarnArts Executive Director Linda Treash said. “I knew she would bring something truly special to this production.”

Tickets for “Antigone” are $20 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased in advance at barnarts.org.

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