In trying to make sense of Michael Brown’s death, six years ago Sunday, one theater company looked to ancient Greece. On Sunday evening, join thousands from around the globe for a web-based performance of Antigone in Ferguson, a program that premiered in 2016 and is going virtual for the first time this weekend.
The program, by New York City–based Theater of War Productions, includes dramatic readings from Sophocles’ Antigone, as well as live choral music and discussions on race and social justice.
Bryan Doerries, artistic director for Theater of War Productions, says that the discussion portion is by far the most important part of the production. It’s not meant as an afterthought—it’s the main event. Panelists for the facilitated discussion include Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother; and Valerie Bell, Sean Bell’s mother.
Why Antigone?
(Quick cheat sheet: in the ancient Greek play, Antigone defies the king’s decree that her brother Polyneices be denied a proper burial, instead being left to rot on the battlefield where he died leading a foreign army. She’s condemned to death for her righteous defiance.)
“At the center of this play is a body that is desecrated,” Doerries says. “Michael Brown’s body became emblematic for thousands upon thousands of Black bodies that have been desecrated by the state.”
The program includes original music by Phil Woodmore, including the song “I’m Covered,” performed by a choir that includes activists, teachers, law enforcement officers, and others, based in New York and St. Louis. The lead vocalist is Michael Brown’s teacher, De-Rance Blaylock. Providing star power to the readings are actors Oscar Isaac, Tracie Thoms, Ato Blankson Wood, and Juaamane Willams.
Don’t expect a literal production of Antigone, though. The actors will present the texts, but the meaning is made by the audience.
“To be clear, our projects don’t interpret the plays for the audience,” says Doerries. “No costumes, no props. We’re not saying this character is this historical figure. It’s not about making easy analogies.”
As anyone who’s attended a Zoom birthday party knows, the platform isn’t perfect when it comes to multiple voices at once. But the sound designer for Theater of War Productions has created a tech workaround that should have the singing voices from across the country mixed pretty well—though maybe not perfectly, Doerries allows.
However, there is a definite perk: “Culture is typically a one-way stream,” Doerries says. “We’re using Zoom’s webinar platform which can hold up to 50,000 people. If you raise your hand, there is a possibility you may end up on screen. This new online model creates an amphitheater that’s larger than ever before.”
Antigone in Ferguson is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. The production is free. Register online for the Zoom link. The event is part of The Michael Brown Foundation’s Annual Michael Brown, Jr. Memorial Weekend.
