About the project
Antigone in Ferguson
Dramatic Reading of Antigone, by Sophocles
Translated and Directed by Bryan Doerries
Music Composed By Phil Woodmore
Antigone in Ferguson is a groundbreaking project, developed by Theater of War Productions, which fuses dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral music performed by a diverse choir, including activists, youth, teachers, police officers, and concerned citizens from St. Louis, Missouri and New York City, culminating in powerful, healing discussions about racialized violence, police brutality, systemic oppression, gender-based violence, health inequality, and social justice. Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014, through a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, MO, and premiered at Normandy High School, Michael Brown’s alma mater, in September of 2016.
In light of the uprising and protests catalyzed by the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Dion Johnson, and many others; and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on black and brown communities, Antigone in Ferguson aims to generate dialogue, consciousness, compassion, outrage, understanding, and positive action at this critical moment.
Every night that we sing “I’m Covered” at the end of the play, it’s my way of covering my student Michael Brown.
About the play
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Antigone by Sophocles
Sophocles’ Antigone is an ancient play about a teenage girl who wishes to bury her brother, Polyneices, who recently died in a brutal civil war. Creon, the new, untested king, has ruled that Polyneices’ body must remain above the earth, and that anyone who breaks this law will be put to death. Antigone openly and intentionally defies his edict, covering her brother’s body with dirt and publicly declaring her allegiance to a higher law, one that transcends that of the state—the law of love. Creon is then forced, by his own political rhetoric, and the by fragile social order that he has barely begun to establish since the civil war, to make an example of his niece, by sentencing her to death. In the process of following through with his own decree, Creon loses everything. At its core, Antigone is a play about what happens when personal conviction and state law clash, raising the question: When everyone is right (or feels justified), how do we avert the violence that will inevitably take place?
Antigone in Ferguson Highlights
Antigone in Ferguson Online Premiere Trailer
On Zoom / 2020
This special event was presented on August 9, 2020 as part of "The Virtual Experience" 6th Annual Michael Brown Memorial Weekend in honor of the life of Michael Brown Jr., and foreground the perspectives of families who have lost their loved ones to police brutality and community violence. We were honored to have Gwen Carr (Eric Garner’s mother), Valerie Bell (Sean Bell’s mother), Marion Gray-Hopkins (Gary Hopkins Jr’s mother), and Uncle Bobby X (Oscar Grant’s uncle) kick off the discussion with their gut responses to the performance, and Cori Bush introduce the event.
This event featured performances by Oscar Isaac, Tracie Thoms, Ato Blankson-Wood, Willie Woodmore, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, De-Rance Blaylock, Duane Martin Foster, Marcelle Davies Lashley, John Leggette, and Gheremi Clay, and the Antigone in Ferguson Choir.
"I'm Covered" Antigone in Ferguson Virtual Choir
2020
In this time of violence, outrage, division, and grief, Theater of War Productions is honored to share this virtual offering, performed by the Antigone in Ferguson Choir, directed by composer Phil Woodmore @phil_woodmore, and led by the amazing De-Rance Blaylock @deepopstar, graduate of Normandy High School and teacher of Michael Brown. The singers and musicians featured in this video include educators, students, activists, social workers, members of the faith community, and police officers from St. Louis and New York City who have made the commitment to sing together in order to start powerful, uncomfortable, transformative discussions about race and gender-based violence.
The song, “I’m Covered,” written by Phil Woodmore for the project Antigone in Ferguson, is a healing hymn that comes at the end of the play as a collective response to the violence, outrage, division, and grief that precedes it. "Every night that we sing 'I’m Covered' at the end of the play,” said Ms. Blaylock, “it’s my way of covering my student Michael Brown.” We hope that in watching this video, you feel covered, if not by a higher power, then by the humanity, spirit, and hope at the center of the song.
We offer “I’m Covered” for interpretation and discussion, with the hope that it will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
In solidarity,
Theater of War Productions
Special thanks to our partners the Brooklyn Public Library @bplpresentsand the Stavros Niarchos Foundation @snforg.
House Seats: Antigone in Ferguson
All Arts / 2019
Experience a powerful fusion of Sophocles’ classic tragedy, Antigone, with live music from a contemporary gospel choir and highly personal community discussion. This multifaceted production explores themes of tragedy, trauma and social justice, and shows us that a 2500-year-old play is still relevant today. The all-star ensemble of actors includes Samira Wiley, Chris Noth and Tamara Tunie. Watch the video.
Duane Foster sings in Antigone in Fergsuon
Wellspring Church, St. Louis, MO / 2016
Crowd on the basketball court
Howard Playground, Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY / 2017
Paul Giamatti playing Creon
Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD / 2017
Mrs. Norma Leggette speaks in the audience during Antigone in Ferguson discussion
Wellspring Church, St. Louis, MO / 2016
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: Duane Foster
2018
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: Marcelle Davies-Lashley
Brooklyn, NY / 2018
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: De Andrea Blaylock-Johnson
Ferguson, MO / 2018
Antigone in Ferguson, Meet the Choir: De-Rance Blaylock
Normandy High School, St. Louis, MO / 2018
Antigone in Ferguson, Meet the Choir: Willie Wooodmore
St. Peters, MO / 2018
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: Lt. Latricia Allen
St. Louis, MO / 2018
The Healing Power of Greek Tragedy
Smithsonian Magazine / 2017
What About Justice?: Paul Giamatti and Sonja Sohn star in 'Antigone in Ferguson' at Coppin
City Paper / 2017
Read the article
Michael Brown and the Raw Power of ‘Antigone in Ferguson’
The Daily Beast / 2018
A Chorus Remembers Michael Brown in ‘Antigone in Ferguson’
The New York Times / 2018
Michael Brown Sr. served on the panel during the discussion of Antigone in Ferguson. Read the article.
Antigone in Ferguson brings protest theater to Harlem
Time Out / 2018
Missouri Theater Embraces Ferguson Echoes In 'Antigone' Production
NPR / 2016
Antigone in Ferguson - Onassis Festival NY - Antigone Now
Onassis Foundation USA / 2016
Antigone in Ferguson presented at the Onassis Foundation's Festival Antigone Now
Antigone in Ferguson presented at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Nostos Festival
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, Greece / 2017
Tracie Thoms plays Antigone
on Zoom / 2020
On August 9 2020, we had the privilege of presenting Antigone in Ferguson as part of the 6th Annual Michael Brown Memorial Weekend in honor of the life of Michael Brown Jr., hosted by Chosen for Change with opening remarks by Cori Bush, and panelists: Gwen Carr, Valerie Bell, Uncle Bobby X, and Marion Gray-Hopkins, thousands of audience members tuned in from 48 countries.
Cori Bush delivers opening remarks
on Zoom / 2020
On August 9 2020, we had the privilege of presenting Antigone in Ferguson as part of the 6th Annual Michael Brown Memorial Weekend in honor of the life of Michael Brown Jr., hosted by Chosen for Change with opening remarks by Cori Bush, and panelists: Gwen Carr, Valerie Bell, Uncle Bobby X, and Marion Gray-Hopkins, thousands of audience members tuned in from 48 countries.
Oscar Isaac plays Creon
on Zoom / 2020
Marjolaine Goldsmith plays Ismene and Euridyce
on Zoom / 2020
Soloist De-Rance Blaylock
on Zoom / 2020
Ato Blankson Wood plays Haemon
on Zoom / 2020
Willie Woodmore plays Tiresias
on Zoom / 2020
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams plays the Messenger
on Zoom / 2020
Chorus of Antigone in Ferguson
on Zoom / 2020
The music composed and conducted by Phil Woodmore, is sung by 5 soloists and a choir composed of Activists, teachers, law enforcement officers, members of the faith community, and students, from St. Louis and New York City. Our sound technician Matt Craig, found a way to feature the music and vocalists on zoom so we could have a live performance of the music in the live event!
Moses Ingram Plays Antigone
On Zoom / 2020
Tate Donovan plays Creon
on Zoom / 2020
Corey Hawkins plays Haemon
On Zoom / 2020
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