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Antigone

By Jean Anouilh
Directed by Bruce Coughran

January 22 through February 20, 2010
and Thursday, February 18th.

Anouilh’s Antigone is an adaptation of Sophocles’ tragic play. Written in 1942, when the Nazis occupied France, the play revolves around the conflict between the idealist Antigone and her rigid uncle, Creon, over the proper burial of Antigone’s brother, Polynices.

The play has been interpreted to represent the struggle of the French Resistance against the Vichy government during the Nazi occupation. Often considered his masterpiece, ANTIGONE cemented Anouilh’s reputation as a dramatist upon its Paris debut in 1943. Actors Ensemble presents ANTIGONE in celebration of Anouilh’s (born June 23, 1910) centennial year.

“The play is certainly about standing up to oppressive authority, but I also wanted to explore its spiritual dimensions.” says director Bruce Coughran. “I was curious about where a young woman finds the inner resolve to perform what is essentially an act of civil disobedience. Working on ANTIGONE has provided some surprising answers.”

Originally from southern California, Bruce Coughran has been directing and assistant directing up and down the West Coast. He recently directed the world premiere of “Bad Connection?” at West Valley College in Sausalito, and several staged readings for Subterranean Shakespeare Theatre Company. He has also been an assistant director at the Old Globe in San Diego, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, ACT in San Francisco, and the Berkeley Opera. This is the first play he has directed for Actors Ensemble.

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley has been producing rarely seen plays in Berkeley since 1957. Run solely by the efforts of its volunteers, AE is Berkeley's longest-running theater company, enlisting the talents of 100's of actors, technicians, artists and volunteers year after year.

The play was an instant success when it was first staged in Paris in 1944.

ANTIGONE By Jean Anouilh, Directed by Bruce Coughran will be performed Fridays and Saturdays, January 22 through February 20, 2010 with an extra performance on Thursday, February 18th. All performances begin at 8:00 pm.


The reviews are in:

The Berkeley Daily Planet Arts & Entertainment by Ken Bullock - Berkeley Daily Planet


The Performers

Antigone Brianna McWhorter
Creon Lee Vogt
Chorus Norman Macleod
Ismene Kate Brauneis-Krull
Ismene (Understudy) Allison Blackwell
Nurse Maureen Coyne
Haemon Jose Garcia
Eurydice Helen Slomowitz, Michele Delattre, Lisa Drostova, Martha Luehrmann, Karol Luque, Rose Anne Raphael, Victoria F. Siegel, Shannon Warrick. (Performing on differing dates)
Messenger Rahi Azizi
Guard Bob Lane
Guard John Hurst
Guard Fredrick Lein
Guard Bob Lane
Page Max Kahl

 

Production

Director Bruce Coughran
Producer Jerome Solberg
Set Design Jerome Solberg
Costume Design Kim Stewart
Lighting Design Bob Gudmundsson
Light/Sound Operation Yu (Patience) Wu & Maia Zimonja
Set Construction Assistant Silas Humphreys
Stage Manager Ericka Wells
Light Production Yu Wu & Maia Mizonja
Costumes Assistant Helen Slomowitz
Assistant Light Design Kate Aragon
Musician Tom Ferguson
Graphics Shu Ping Guan


Additional Downloads & Links

Link to Directors Comments Video on YouTube You Tube Link
Play Program Download PDF
Antigone Postcard Download PDF
View Performance Photos Photos
Play Poster Download PDF
   

  • Description:

    Rahi Azizi & Guards

  • Description:

    Lee Vogt & Max Kahl

  • Description:

    Guards and Brianna McWhorter

  • Description:

    Rahi Azizi

Thank You

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is delighted to acknowledge the Berkeley Civic Arts Program and Civic Arts Commission's support in the form of a grant of $8,000.00 awarded in 2017. Also, a thank you to Theatre Bay Area for a grant of $2,500.00.

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Actors Ensemble of Berkeley - P.O. Box 663 - Berkeley - California - 94701 ¦ Our Answering Service: (510) 649-5999 ¦

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID #946139640, since 04-1967