The stage lights dim, the audience quiets, and a performer steps into the spotlight. Behind that moment are hours of rehearsal, design, and collaboration, the work now culminating in Parker’s fall play “Antigone Now,” opening on October 23.
The play reimagines Sophocles’ “Antigone” in a contemporary setting, exploring timeless questions of power, morality, and resistance. The production is directed by Dr. Caleb Goh, Parker’s new theater director, who has directed about 70 plays and musicals over the course of his career. Stage design and construction are being led by the stagecraft class under Theatre and Technical Manager Tom Moster and woodshop teacher Jake Rosenbluth.
Dr. Goh said he chose “Antigone Now” because he wanted to revisit a story rooted in Greek mythology while connecting it to modern ideas about leadership and conscience. “It provides a very strong female protagonist and raises questions of right and wrong,” he said. “It’s about standing up for what you believe in, even when it comes at great cost.”
According to Dr. Goh, the play challenges audiences to think critically about authority and justice, posing the question: “Does power always get to decide what is right?”
Sophomore actors Avi Grossman and Uriel Castaneda, who play Antigone and Creon, said rehearsals have been intense but rewarding. A typical rehearsal runs from 3:45 to 6 p.m. and includes scene run-throughs, notes from the director, and adjustments to blocking and performance.
“[Goh] often spends a lot of time dissecting to make sure we’re truly portraying the character,” Castañeda said. “He breaks down what motivates each decision, which helps everything feel more real.”
Goh said his directing approach focuses heavily on character development. “I like to ask, ‘What are your motivations, your objectives, your obstacles? Where are you at the start and end of the play?’” He added that he wants students to think beyond memorizing lines and instead understand the emotional arcs of their characters.
Both Grossman and Castañeda said this process has deepened their understanding of acting. “This year I was given both my role and direction for it,” Castañeda said. Grossman added that Goh’s approach allows time to build a sense of connection among the cast. “Getting the basics in early means we can really focus on developing our characters and the world of the play,” she said.
Goh described rehearsals as collaborative and energized. “The performers are very excited about the show, and they’re exploring it in depth,” he said. “They’re creating characters that are going to be riveting, exciting, and heartfelt.”
For Goh, a successful production comes when “all the elements come together harmoniously, when the sound, lighting, and design all support the story and it’s told as clearly and convincingly as possible.”
As the cast prepares for opening night, the Parker auditorium continues to buzz with energy each afternoon. The students, crew, and faculty behind “Antigone Now” are working to bring a centuries-old tragedy to life for a new audience.
“Antigone Now” opens Thursday, October 23, at 7 p.m. in the Heller Auditorium, with additional performances on Friday, October 24, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 25, at 2 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public. The play is recommended for audiences aged 14 and older.
