Sophocles in Chicago

Class Description

From a man claiming to exhibit his skull at the 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition to a 2026 production of Antigone in Wicker Park, the fifth-century BCE tragic playwright Sophocles has an established presence in the Windy City. Who was Sophocles anyway? How did his plays get to us, thousands of years later? Why was one of his plays staged at Hull House? Is the most performed version of Antigone in Chicago as progressive as it claims to be? In this course, we will read the infamous Oedipus cycle, one of Sophocles' lesser known plays, and two modern adaptations. We will also examine primary sources, from Chicago Tribune articles to stage manager's notes to writings by Jane Addams to editions of Sophocles dating back to the 16th century in the Newberry's collection as we consider the question "Why Sophocles?"

Sophia is a PhD Candidate in Comparative Literary Studies and Classics at Northwestern University. Her dissertation project is titled "Greek Tragedy on Chicago's Stages, 1990-2026." She lives in Roger's Park with her husband and menagerie of pets.

What to Expect

Format: In Person 

Class Capacity: 18 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Sophocles, trans. Nicholas Rudall, Oedipus the King. Ivan R. Dee, 2000. ISBN: 978 1566633086

• Sophocles, trans. Reginald Gibbons and Charles Segal, Antigone. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780199840205

• Lee Breuer, The Gospel at Colonus. Theatre Communications Group, 1993. ISBN: 9780930452940

• Digital Course Packet

First Assignment

• Please read Rudall’s translation of Oedipus Rex, as well as Ruth Scodel's brief biography of Sophocles (included in the course packet).

A Brief Syllabus

1. Introduction to Sophocles
2. Sophocles at the Newberry
3. Sophocles at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition
4. Sophocles’ Ajax at the Hull House Theatre
5. Adapting Sophocles 1: Jean Anouilh’s Antigone on Chicago’s Stages
6. Adapting Sophocles 2: Lee Breuer and Bob Telson’s Gospel at Colonus at the Goodman (1990) and Court (2023)

Cost and Registration

6 Sessions, $270 ($243 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($270), Community Supported ($250), and Sponsor ($290). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

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