Antigone Reimagined: Anna Ziegler’s Contemporary Take on a Classic Tragedy at The Public Theater

Anna Ziegler’s Antigone (This Play I Read in High School), currently running at The Public Theater in New York City, offers a compelling and timely reimagining of Sophocles’s ancient tragedy. The production, starring Celia Keenan-Bolger and Susannah Perkins, tackles themes of bodily autonomy and moral obligation, resonating deeply with contemporary audiences.

A Modern Lens on an Ancient Conflict

Ziegler’s adaptation centers on Antigone’s refusal to obey a decree from her uncle, Creon, which forbids her from burying her brother, Polynices, deemed a traitor. However, the play shifts the core conflict from honoring the dead to a deeply personal struggle over reproductive rights. In this version, Antigone (Susannah Perkins) is pregnant and faces an impossible choice: carry the pregnancy to term under a new law enacted by Creon (Tony Shalhoub) that bans abortion, or defy the law and assert control over her own body.

The Chorus as a Contemporary Voice

The production employs a unique narrative structure, featuring Celia Keenan-Bolger as “Dicey,” the Chorus. Dicey, a forty-year-old woman, reflects on her lifelong connection to the story of Antigone, finding in the character a voice for those who feel silenced. However, the play also introduces a young woman reading Sophocles’s Antigone on an airplane, who questions the play’s focus on a man’s body rather than Antigone’s own agency. This encounter prompts Dicey to re-examine the story through a modern lens.

Performances and Production

Susannah Perkins delivers a powerful performance as Antigone, portraying her evolution from a rebellious young woman to a figure of unwavering moral conviction. Tony Shalhoub brings a “silky pomposity” to the role of Creon, even as Keenan-Bolger provides clarity and emotional depth as the Chorus. The production’s setting, inspired by classical amphitheaters, creates a visually striking backdrop for the unfolding drama.

A Complex and Provocative Work

While Ziegler’s adaptation successfully updates the themes of Antigone for a modern audience, the play doesn’t shy away from the complexities of the original tragedy. The production explores the tension between individual freedom and societal obligations, and the profound consequences of defying unjust laws. The play’s conclusion, however, diverges from the traditional tragic outcome, offering a more hopeful, though perhaps less definitive, resolution for the Chorus.

Where to See It

Antigone (This Play I Read in High School) is playing at The Public Theater in New York City from March 12 to March 22, 2026. Tickets and more information are available on The Public Theater’s website.