The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the highly anticipated world premiere of ANTIGONE (THIS PLAY I READ IN HIGH SCHOOL), a bold reimagining of Sophocles’ classic by 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Anna Ziegler. Under the direction of Drama Desk, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel nominee Tyne Rafaeli, the production begins performances in The Public’s Anspacher Theater on Feb. 26, with a Joseph Papp Free Performance. The official opening is set for March 11, running through March 22.
Previously announced stars Celia Keenan-Bolger and Tony Shalhoub will be joined by Ethan Dubin, Katie Kreisler, Susannah Perkins, Dave Quay, Calvin Leon Smith, and Haley Wong. Susannah Perkins takes on the central role of Antigone, while Shalhoub portrays Creon. Keenan-Bolger leads the Chorus, with Dubin, Kreisler, and Quay filling roles as cops and palace guards. Calvin Leon Smith plays Haemon, and Haley Wong rounds out the cast as Ismene.
Ziegler’s adaptation places Antigone in a world that mirrors contemporary challenges, exploring themes of autonomy, justice, and moral responsibility. The play follows the fiercely independent daughter of Oedipus as she navigates a kingdom governed by archaic laws that restrict women’s freedom. “I wrote this Antigone adaptation hoping to capture how absurd, painful, and deeply human it feels to navigate the moral minefields of our moment,” Ziegler said. “My hope is that audiences leave with a renewed appreciation for Antigone’s bravery—and also a sense of how hard it is to lead others, even as so many of our leaders fall short.”
Director Tyne Rafaeli describes the production as a fusion of ancient and modern sensibilities. “Anna has created a singular theatrical world that straddles ancient Thebes and modern America,” Rafaeli says. “The play asks the most important question of our time: what is a citizen to do in the face of an unjust law? It does so with imagination, humor, and visceral force.”
The production features scenic design by David Zinn, costumes by Enver Chakartash, lighting by Jen Schriever, sound design by Daniel Kluger, and prop management by Claire M. Kavanah. Additional creative team members will be announced in 2026.