After weeks of rehearsal, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s drama club members took to the stage this November to perform a flawless rendition of Jean Anouilh’s “Antigone” before fascinated audiences.

Dozens of students took part in the fall production as actors, chorus members and as part of the lighting, audio, stage construction, painting and refreshments crews. Collaborating together, the students worked under the direction of Tony Butera to bring the story to life. 

The show, adapted by Lewis Galantiere and inspired by Sophocles’ work of the same name, provided a unique experience for the cast, crew and the audience, as it was presented in a small black box theater setting. The cast performed the entire show within a 16 foot by 16 foot area, while the audience sat right in front of them and to their sides. 

"We wanted to introduce the students to this type of stage setting because they will most certainly experience it in college,” said Butera. “It's a different style of acting. The students get to see what it feels like to be that close to the audience and the audience gains a whole new perspective of what it feels like to be part of the play."

After two of the performances, the cast held question and answer periods with the audience, where topics such as music selections, character choices, acting styles and the unique feelings of being situated so close to each other were discussed.