The Facts
On September 14, 2026, the J. Paul Getty Trust announced that the Latino Theater Company’s adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone, titled Antigone: In the Language of Kings, is now on stage at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles. The production, directed by José Luis Valenzuela and written by Evelina Fernández, resets the classic tragedy in pre-conquest Tenochtitlan, with Esperanza América playing the lead as Antíkona. Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays until October 3, 2026. The play incorporates pre-Hispanic music, poetry, and Nahuatl language, using only Indigenous instruments such as drums, conch, and turtle shells.
The Signal
The adaptation repositions Antigone as an Indigenous Latina confronting tyranny, a choice that speaks directly to contemporary Latino experiences in the United States. By weaving Aztec writings and Nahua oratory into Sophocles’ framework, the production reframes a timeless narrative of resistance within a specific cultural heritage. For the Getty Villa, hosting this collaboration extends its programming beyond classical European works, signaling an institutional commitment to diverse, community-rooted storytelling that resonates with Los Angeles’ population.
- People: José Luis Valenzuela, Evelina Fernández, Esperanza América
- Museums: J. Paul Getty Museum (Getty Villa)
- Locations: Los Angeles
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