Antaeus Theatre Company
 The Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center (2017) | |
| Formation | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit theatre company |
| Location | Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Website | www |
Antaeus Theatre Company is a professional American classical theatre company based in Glendale, California.[1] Founded in 1991 by Dakin Matthews and Lillian Groag as a project of Center Theatre Group,[2] the theatre has since been listed as one of the best intimate theatres in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times.[1] Since 2017, the company has been located at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center.[3][4]
History
[edit]Founding
[edit]The Antaeus Company, as it was originally known, was founded in 1991 as a project of the Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum, by Co-Artistic Directors Dakin Matthews and Lillian Groag.[5][6] They believed that a professional classical ensemble could thrive in a city driven by the television and film industry.[7] Initially, productions were “partner cast,” to accommodate actors committing to long runs without losing short-term television and film work.[8]
North Hollywood & Non-Profit Status
[edit]In April 1996, Antaeus moved to the NewPlace Theatre Center in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District.[9] The venue was used for rehearsals and education, while the company performed their full productions at other venues, such as The Getty Villa, the Skirball Center, Ventura Court Theatre, the Theatre at Boston Court, Providence High School, and the Ivy Substation.[5]
Antaeus received federal tax-exempt status in February 1996, as a Non-Profit organization.[10]
Arts Education Outreach
[edit]Antaeus created an outreach program for underserved youth and began performing student matinee performances of their main-stage productions, for middle and high school students, with Glendale Unified School District.[11][12]
ClassicsFest
[edit]In 2004, the company began an annual festival of staged readings of classic plays, titled ClassicsFest.[13]
Shared space with Deaf West Theatre
[edit]After NewPlace Theatre Center was sold, Antaeus Theatre Company shared a theatre space with Deaf West Theatre, before taking sole occupancy.[14] Originally referred to as Deaf West Theatre, the theatre space became known as the Antaeus/Deaf West Space.[15]
Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center
[edit]In March 2017, Antaeus opened the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, a new permanent home in Downtown Glendale.[3][4][16]
COVID-19
[edit]In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Antaeus commissioned The Zip Code Plays, a series of short audio plays of which three seasons were produced.[17][18]
Playwright Commissions
[edit]In 2021, Antaeus began commissioning new plays based on classics, awarded to select playwrights each year between 2022-2024.[19]
Leadership
[edit]As of 2026, Antaeus Theatre Company's Artistic Director is Nike Doukas, who succeeded former Artistic Director Bill Brochtrup.[20] Executive Director, Joe Witt, joined the leadership team in 2026, replacing the outgoing Ana Rose O'Halloran.[21]
Production history
[edit]| Show Title: | Directed By: | Season: |
|---|---|---|
| The Wood Demon by Anton Chekhov, In a World Premiere Translation by Nicholas Saunders & Frank Dwyer | Frank Dwyer | 1994 |
| Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Frank Dwyer | 1996 |
| Patience by W.S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan | Maryedith Burrell, Music Direction by Jan Powell | 1998 |
| The Liar by Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, in a new rhyming verse translation by Dakin Matthews | Anne McNaughton | 2000 |
| The Man Who Had All The Luck by Arthur Miller | Dan Fields | |
| Mercadet by Honoré de Balzac, Translated by Robert Cornthwaite | Dakin Matthews & John Achorn | 2001 |
| Legal Briefs by Billy K. Welles, Miguel de Cervantes, J.M. Barrie, Gilbert & Sullivan | Michael Haney, Emily Chase, Anne McNaughton | |
| Proof of the Promise by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, World Premiere Rhyming Verse Translation by Dakin Matthews | Anne McNaughton | 2002 |
| Chekhov x 4 by Anton Chekhov. Translations by Nicholas Saunders and Frank Dwyer | Sabin Epstein, Stephanie Shroyer, Michael Michetti, Andy Robinson | 2004 |
| Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, Music by Paul Dessau, Hanns Eisler, Kurt Weill, and Jan Powell & Ken Stone, English Version by Eric Bentley | Andrew J. Robinson | 2005 |
| Pera Palas by Sinan Unel | Michael Michetti | |
| Tonight at 8:30 by Noël Coward | William Ludel, Michael Murray, Stephanie Shroyer, Stefan Novinski, Robert Goldsby, Brendon Fox | 2007 |
| American Tales, Book and Lyrics by Ken Stone, Music by Jan Powell | Thor Steingraber & Kay Cole | 2008 |
| Cousin Bette by Jeffrey Hatcher | Jeanie Hackett | 2009 |
| King Lear by William Shakespeare | Bart DeLorenzo | 2010 |
| The Autumn Garden by Lillian Hellman | Larry Biederman | |
| The Malcontent by John Marston | Elizabeth Swain | 2011 |
| Peace in Our Time by Noël Coward, Adaptation by Barry Creyton | Casey Stangl | |
| The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, Translated by Paul Schmidt | Andrew J. Traister | 2012 |
| Macbeth by William Shakespeare | Jessica Kubzansky | |
| You Can't Take it With You by George Kaufman and Moss Hart | Gigi Bermingham | |
| Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw | Robin Larsen | 2013 |
| The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Armin Shimerman and Geoffrey Wade | |
| The Liar by David Ives, From the Comedy by Pierre Corneille | Casey Stangl | |
| Top Girls by Caryl Churchill | Cameron Watson | 2014 |
| The Curse of Oedipus by Kenneth Cavander | Casey Stangl | |
| Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black & White by Alice Childress | Gregg T. Daniel | |
| Henry IV, Part One by William Shakespeare | Michael Murray | 2015 |
| Picnic by William Inge | Cameron Watson | |
| Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Annie Baker | Robin Larsen | |
| Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill | Casey Stangl | 2016 |
| Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, In a Version by Andrew Upton | Steven Robman | |
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams | Cameron Watson | 2016/17 |
| As You Like It by William Shakespeare | Rob Clare | 2017/18 |
| Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, From the Novel by Choderlos de Laclos | Robin Larsen | |
| The Hothouse by Harold Pinter | Nike Doukas | |
| Native Son by Nambi E. Kelley, Adapted from the novel by Richard Wright | Andi Chapman | |
| Three Days in the Country by Patrick Marber, A Version of Turgenev’s A Month in the Country | Andrew Paul | |
| The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman | Cameron Watson | 2018/19 |
| The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh | Steven Robman | |
| Diana of Dobson's by Cicely Hamilton | Casey Stangl | |
| Native Son: Block Party 2019 by Nambi E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Richard Wright | Andi Chapman | |
| The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, Translated by Alistair Beaton | Stephanie Shroyer | |
| The Abuelas by Stephanie Alison Walker | Andi Chapman | 2019/20 |
| Eight Nights by Jennifer Maisel | Emily Chase | |
| Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare | Armin Shimerman & Elizabeth Swain | |
| Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Elizabeth Swain | 2021/22 |
| Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins | Jennifer Chang | 2022/23 |
| The Changeling by Jennifer Rowland (Audio Play) | Cameron Watson | |
| Love and Information by Caryl Churchill | Emily Chase | |
| The Tempest by William Shakespeare | Nike Doukas | |
| SHE by Marlow Wyatt | Andi Chapman | 2023/24 |
| The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare | Elizabeth Swain | |
| Nora - A Stage Version of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Ingmar Bergman. Translated and Adapted by Frederick J. Marker and Lise-Lone Marker | Cameron Watson | |
| Granny, or How To Forgive When You Can’t Forget: A Play in Poems by Natalie Nicole Dressel (Audio Play) | Ann Noble | |
| The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde | Gigi Bermingham | 2024/25 |
| Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare | Armin Shimerman | |
| The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams | Carolyn Ratteray | |
| Cymbeline by William Shakespeare | Nike Doukas | 2025/26 |
| All My Sons by Arthur Miller | Oánh Nguyễn | |
| Antigone by Sophokles, newly translated and adapted by Kenneth Cavander | Andy Wolk |
Audio Plays at Antaeus
[edit]| Title | Written By | Directed By |
|---|---|---|
| 90011: South Central - Los Angeles | Khari Wyatt | Bernadette Speakes |
| 90272: Pacific Palisades - Annexing the Palisades | Alex Goldberg | Ann Noble |
| 90403: Santa Monica - Plucker | Nayna Agrawal | Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx |
| 90024: Westwood - All Information Herein Is Classified | Deb Hiett | Carolyn Ratteray |
| 91352: Sun Valley - Salvage | Steve Serpas | Julia Fletcher |
| 90012: DTLA - Clara and Serra and The Talking Bear | Angela J. Davis | Steven Robman |
| Title | Written By | Directed By |
|---|---|---|
| 90069: West Hollywood - Brunch, Interrupted | Sean Abley | Michael A. Shepperd |
| 90026: Echo Park - $10 and a Tambourine | Mildred Inez Lewis | Gigi Bermingham |
| 90303: Inglewood - The Vig | Paula Cizmar | Bernadette Speakes |
| 91331: Pacoima - Gold & Shine | Khari Wyatt | Saundra McClain |
| 91601: North Hollywood - End of the Line | Peppur Chambers | Gregg T. Daniel |
| 91754: Monterey Park - Bingo Bitches | Elizabeth Wong | Jennifer Chang |
| Title | Written By | Directed By |
|---|---|---|
| 91201: Glendale - The Six Pianos of Miradero | Alex Goldberg | Lisa Sanaye Dring |
| 91505: Burbank - True Sound | Steve Apostolina | Gregg T. Daniel |
| 90262: Lynwood - Blue Like You | Ann Noble | Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx |
| 90027: Griffith Park - The Fire In-Between | Peppur Chambers | Rondrell McCormick |
| 90039: Frogtown - Anaxyrus Boreas | Daniel Hirsch | Sara Lyons |
| 90028: Hollywood - Marie Dressler: Good Gal | Diana Burbano | Cameron Watson |
References
[edit]- 1 2 McNulty, Charles; Gelt, Jessica; Crust, Kevin (2025-10-22). "The 52 best places to see plays and musicals in Southern California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "LA's Best Small Performing Arts Theaters". CBS Los Angeles. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 Landa, Jeff (2017-03-01). "Antaeus Theatre Co. has a new home in downtown Glendale". Glendale News-Press. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Antaeus Theatre Company Builds New Performing Arts Center". Playbill. February 16, 2017. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 Martinez, Julio (November–December 2007). "Antaeus Begins Its 15th Dream Season" (PDF). LA Stage (40) – via Antaeus.
- ↑ Center Theatre Group (January 17, 2026). "The Importance of Being Earnest" (PDF). Performances Magazine. p. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
- ↑ Weinert-Kendt, Rob (2015-05-04). "Actor Dakin Matthews on Why L.A.'s 99-Seat Plan Doesn't Deserve to Die". americantheatre.org. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ Delin, Kevin (2016-10-28). "When Two Actors Are Better Than One". americantheatre.org. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Selfless acts of 'Courage'". Los Angeles Times. 2005-05-08. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Suozzo, Andrea; Glassford, Alec; Ngu, Ash; Roberts, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Antaeus Company - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Antaeus Partnership". glened.org. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Arts Education at Antaeus". Antaeus. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Production History: ClassicsFest". Antaeus. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Theater review: Antaeus Company's 'The Malcontent' at Deaf West Theatre". Los Angeles Times. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Meisel, Myron (2012-07-19). "Macbeth: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Antaeus Theatre Company to Open New Venue". American Theatre. 2017-02-13. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ↑ "Review: Podcast tales from the 90403 (and 90024 and 90012) in 'The Zip Code Plays'". Los Angeles Times. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Theater: The Zip Code Plays Deliver Los Angeles to Your Laptop". LA Weekly. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ↑ "Alex Alpharaoh, Lisa Sanaye Dring Receive Antaeus NEXT Commissions". American Theatre. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ↑ "Nike Doukas Named Antaeus Artistic Director". American Theatre. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Group, Dream Warrior. "Antaeus Leadership Transition". Antaeus. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ "Production History". Antaeus. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "The Zip Code Plays". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Zip Code Plays Season Three – Press Release – Lucy Pollak Public Relations". Retrieved 2026-07-07.
