About This Production

Some laws are written. Some are not. And the space between them has always been where tragedy lives.

In this original adaptation by James Robert Shaw, Sophocles' ancient conflict unfolds in a fully immersive staging — no stage, no separation, no safe distance. Audiences move through the world of Thebes alongside its characters, and the world outside moves with them. Live social media feeds pulse through the performance in real time, weaving contemporary voices into an argument that never really ended. Antigone: Strophe/Antistrophe is not a play you watch. It is a place you inhabit — where a 2,500-year-old question about power, conscience, and the cost of resistance is still being answered, right now, by people just like you.

Part of SSA's Immersives Program

Each May, Shady Side Academy's Senior School sets aside three weeks for something different. Students leave traditional classroom structures behind and spend dedicated time exploring a single, interdisciplinary topic through direct experience — in the field, in the community, and in the world. These Immersive courses are a signature feature of an SSA education, designed to develop the kind of thinking that goes beyond covering chapters in a textbook.

Antigone: Strophe/Antistrophe is culminating project of Antigone in the Echo Chamber, one of this year's Immersive offerings — a course that lives at the intersection of classical literature, civic conscience, media literacy, and live performance.

A Collaboration Two Courses in the Making

This production was built from the ground up by two groups of students working in parallel. The performers in Antigone in the Echo Chamber developed the work from the inside out, exploring the text, inhabiting their characters, and shaping the live experience audiences will step into. At the same time, students in Backstage Pass — SSA's behind-the-scenes design and production course — created the world around them: the environments, the design, and the technical elements that make immersive theatre possible.

What you experience tonight is not the work of one class, one director, or one vision. It is the result of genuine collaboration — students making something together that neither group could have made alone.

Shady Side Academy Senior School serves a coed population of approximately 480 high school students in grades 9-12, both day and boarding. Our 130-acre campus is located in the Fox Chapel suburb of Pittsburgh.

Challenging Academics

Following a proven college preparatory curriculum, our students immerse themselves in hands-on learning opportunities, take college-level courses, and establish meaningful relationships with faculty mentors. We take a 21st-century approach to learning; rather than rote memorization and standardized test preparation, our students learn by conducting research, writing persuasive arguments, thinking critically, honing their study habits and managing their free time – all skills they will need to succeed in college.

Keeping Balance

Our commitment to a balanced education means we offer a breadth of arts and athletics opportunities, supported by top-notch facilities. Students can also explore their passions in more than 50 different student clubs, such as Science Olympiad or service learning. Many students travel the world through our global and off-campus programs whether in one of four international exchange programs or as a Parkin Fellow.

Cultivating Respect and Leadership

The mutual respect faculty and students have for each other is exemplified in our culture. As a prep school in Pennsylvania, we believe students have a voice and deserve the opportunity to lead alongside teachers, and they serve as voting members of our academic, admissions and discipline committees. Faculty advisors meet weekly with their advisees, and teachers and students converse while walking around the quad or enjoying lunch together. We are a close-knit community, grounded in our five Guiding Principles of honesty, kindness, responsibility, respect and safety.

Boarding

Approximately 15 percent of students participate in our boarding program five or seven days a week. Whether playing studying together in the dorms or exploring Pittsburgh on weekends, boarders gain responsibility and independence, preparing them for college life.

College and Beyond

Our three full-time college counselors ensure students find a place where they will thrive. Our alumni achieve at top colleges and find success in a variety of professions around the world.