ANTIGONE written by Jean Anouilh & adapted by Lewis Galantiere
Antigone
Written by Jean Anouilh | Adapted by Lewis Galantiere
“What a person can do, a person should do.”
Based on the ancient Greek tragedy and first produced under Nazi censorship in 1944 Paris, Anouilh’s retelling of Sophocles’ play explores the conflict between individual conscience and political necessity. Two strong-willed heroes debate the meaning of power and responsibility.
For decades, Galantiere’s English-language adaptation has been lauded for its relatable characters, unexpected humor, and accessible yet poetic language.
Maybe this time Antigone’s courage will be contagious.
May 31 – June 27, 2026
Preview: May 31 at 7:00
Preview: June 1 at 8:00
Press Opening: June 3 at 8:00
Performances:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00
Sundays at 3:00
Saturdays at 3:00 (June 13 and June 20)
Note: the 3:00 performance on Saturday June 13
will be our understudy performance.
Venue Information:
The Den Theatre
1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 697-3830
Creatives
Director: Elaine Carlson*
Assistant Director: Hayley Rice
Technical Director: Jeremiah Barr*
Fight & Intimacy Director: Maureen Yasko
Production Manager: Alexa Berkowitz*
Stage Manager: Esau Andaleon
Scenic Designer: Trevor Dotson
Costume Designer: Rachel M. Sypniewski
Lighting Designer: RobbyMoe Reeves
Sound Designer: Alex Trinh
Props Designer: Tristan Brandon*
Production Photos & Promotional Graphics
by Steven Townshend, Distant Era
A strong, compact production, just 95 swift minutes … an example of art as an act of defiance … both Heather Dennis and Jared Dennis are phenomenal as Antigone and Creon.
Promethean Theatre Ensemble’s Antigone demonstrates why this centuries-old story continues to endure.
…this particular adaptation was pretty easy to follow…enjoyable and understandable…Christina Renee Jones is sheer perfection.
Applause for
Anouilh’s Antigone
The production is a reminder of the glories of Chicago’s storied storefront theater which made our city the theater capital of America. The cast is superb from top to bottom…Antigone is the most happily surprise production of the past few years. Don’t miss it.
…the climactic face-off between Creon and Antigone—which takes place in Trevor Dotson’s deliberately sterile, office-like set, featuring a background of textured slabs suggestive of weathered columns—makes for shatteringly good and startlingly relevant drama.
This is a thoughtful, well crafted and resonant work. It is also delightfully funny, despite its doleful end…. a classic everyone should see live.
This version of Antigone, less well-known and certainly less often produced than Sophocles’ classic telling of the tale, is the perfect one for these darker times when even truth itself is called into question.
Heather Dennis’ Antigone is all raw nerves and quivering sinews…It’s an astonishing livewire of a performance.
Cast
Chorus: Christina Renee Jones*
Antigone: Heather Dennis*
Nurse: marssie Mencotti
Ismene: Meghann Tabor*
Haemon: Layke Fowler
Creon: Jared Dennis*
First Guard: Gunner Bradley*
Second Guard: Brendan Hutt*
Third Guard/Messenger: Gavin Blayne
Page: Anthony J. Harris
Eurydice: Alex George
Understudies
“Wonderstudies” are truly the bedrock of the theatre. These dedicated professionals work alongside the cast to develop characters and fulfill the promise that the show will go on. The Chicago theatre community – producers, performers, and audiences – is indebted to understudies and the directing/stage management teams that help them prepare.
Understudy Chorus: Alex George
Understudy Antigone: Anna Rose Steinmeyer
Understudy Haemon: Nate Hall
Understudy Creon: Chris Lysy
Understudy Guards/Messenger: Dame Grant
Understudy Ismene/Nurse/Eurydice/Page: Jennifer Mohr
* Promethean Theatre Ensemble member
Our Community Partner for this Production
The ACLU of Illinois is a non partisan organization that works to protect and expand civil rights in Illinois through litigating, lobbying and educating the public in areas of racial justice, religious liberty, freedom of expression, privacy the rights of children and people with disabilities, criminal justice reform, fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals, and reproductive justice. Click here to learn more. Click here to join Promethean in supporting the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois | American Civil Liberties Union