Arts, Etc.Theater

Production presents a truly modern ‘Antigone’

Senior Ashley Miguel played the lead in her thesis production of Jean Anouilh’s version of “Antigone.” First performed in France in 1944, the play was adapted for Dailey Theatre by Elizabeth Pietrzak. Antigone (Miguel) is pestered by the Nurse (Maro Parian) as to why she was away from her bed in the middle of the night. This is the first of several productions of the school year. / photo by Rhiannon Mim
Senior Ashley Miguel played the lead in her thesis production of Jean Anouilh’s version of “Antigone.” First performed in France in 1944, the play was adapted for Dailey Theatre by Elizabeth Pietrzak. Antigone (Miguel) is pestered by the Nurse (Maro Parian) as to why she was away from her bed in the middle of the night. This is the first of several productions of the school year. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

Susan Acker
Staff Writer

Antigone has a new face: senior Ashley Miguel.

Miguel portrayed the daughter of Oedipus Rex for her senior acting thesis in Dailey Theatre Oct. 18-20 in Jean Anouilh’s version of “Antigone.”

The play is about Antigone’s struggle in trying to bury the body of her brother Polynices after the new king – Antigone’s uncle Creon – has ordered that her brother shall not be buried.

Spurred by her religious views that the dead must be buried, she decides she cannot obey the king’s edict.

“I find it relates a lot to our current political situation,” said Elizabeth Pietrzak, ULV theater manager, who directed “Antigone.”

“The themes of the play center around whose laws and rules are more correct,” she said.

Adriana Moreno, a senior liberal studies major, said she had to see the play for a class, but that she was there for herself as well.

“I’ve been to one production here last year and it was a lot of fun,” Moreno said. “Ever since then I’ve been trying to go see plays, but I haven’t been able to.”

Joshua Prisk played one of the guards in Thebes and said he has been involved with at least six productions on campus.

“I thought it was a beautiful classic story that needed to be retold,” Prisk, a sophomore theater and political science major, said.

Prisk said that when he saw the play in France, he liked that it was political.

“I saw ‘Antigone’ before, but never like that,” Amanda Garcia, an English major at Citrus College, said.

Antigone began with two narrators in the beginning of the story who informed the audience of who were whom and the main idea of the story.

Narlyia Sterling was one of the narrators or part of the chorus as noted in the play’s program.

“Because it was Ashley’s senior thesis I accepted the role and because it was something different,” Sterling, a sophomore theater arts major, said. “It goes against government rules and standards; goes against the grain.”

Sterling said that she would also most likely take part in the upcoming play “King Stag.”

“I thought it was a good interpretation; you could see all the sides of the situation,” Corinne Watkins, a sophomore biology major, said.

“I thought there were some really unusual, challenging things,” Sean Dillon, assistant professor of theatre arts, said. “She’s got a real gift for a lot of areas of theater.”

“It’s great to see her realize a project she’s worked so hard on; she’s done a lot for our theater,” Dillon said.

Miguel stated in an address at the end of the program that, “While the story comes from ancient Greek myths and legends, the character of Antigone is now very real for me. The central question of this play deals with happiness and the values of life.”

“Antigone” is just one of the productions planned for this school year. “The King Stag” and “Hamlet” are also in the works.

Susan Acker can be reached at sacker@ulv.edu.

Susan Acker, Managing Editor
Susan Acker
Other Stories
Rhiannon Mim, Photography Editor
Rhiannon Mim
Other Stories
Previous article
Happenings
Next article
Poets ruin ULV’s Homecoming

Latest Stories

Related articles

Arts, Etc.

Pietrzak takes new position

Beth Pietrzak, University of La Verne theater manager and alumna, announced her mid-fall semester resignation and accompanying acceptance of a position as technical director at Cal State Los Angeles.
LV Life

Student support is offered over the ‘Rainbow’

The ULV campus remains a supportive, forward-thinking community. Since some struggle with many issues revolving around sexuality, the Rainbow Alliance has decided to incorporate this notion in its celebration of National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11.
Arts, Etc.

Poetry lures faculty to Leo’s Den

Poets gathered for an afternoon of celebrating the seasons through poetry in Leo’s Den to mark the beginning of poetry month on May 1.
Arts, Etc.

Senior project revamps Shakespearean classic

Sword fighting, ghosts, revenge, love and suspense are what can be expected from the production of “Hamlet” taking place this weekend and next in the Dailey Theatre. “Hamlet” is theater major Sam Guzik’s acting senior project.