Antaeus Theatre Company is a professional American classical theatre company based in Glendale, California. Founded in 1991 by Dakin Matthews and Lillian Groag as a project of Center Theatre Group, the theatre has since been listed as one of the best intimate theatres in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times. Since 2017, the company has been located at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center.

History

Founding 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. They believed that a professional classical ensemble could thrive in a city driven by the television and film industry. Initially, productions were “partner cast,” to accommodate actors committing to long runs without losing short-term television and film work.

North Hollywood & Non-Profit Status In April 1996, Antaeus moved to the NewPlace Theatre Center in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District. 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.

Antaeus received federal tax-exempt status in February 1996, as a Non-Profit organization.

Arts Education Outreach 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.

ClassicsFest In 2004, the company began an annual festival of staged readings of classic plays, titled ClassicsFest.

Shared space with Deaf West Theatre After NewPlace Theatre Center was sold, Antaeus Theatre Company shared a theatre space with Deaf West Theatre, before taking sole occupancy. Originally referred to as Deaf West Theatre, the theatre space became known as the Antaeus/Deaf West Space.

Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center In March 2017, Antaeus opened the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, a new permanent home in Downtown Glendale.

COVID-19 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.

Playwright Commissions In 2021, Antaeus began commissioning new plays based on classics, awarded to select playwrights each year between 2022-2024.

Leadership As of 2026, Antaeus Theatre Company's Artistic Director is Nike Doukas, who succeeded former Artistic Director Bill Brochtrup. Executive Director, Joe Witt, joined the leadership team in 2026, replacing the outgoing Ana Rose O'Halloran.

Production history +Antaeus Production History:Show Title:Directed By:Season:The Wood Demon by Anton Chekhov, In a World Premiere Translation by Nicholas Saunders & Frank DwyerFrank Dwyer1994Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckFrank Dwyer1996Patience by W.S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur SullivanMaryedith Burrell, Music Direction by Jan Powell1998The Liar by Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, in a new rhyming verse translation by Dakin MatthewsAnne McNaughton2000The Man Who Had All The Luck by Arthur MillerDan FieldsMercadet by Honoré de Balzac, Translated by Robert CornthwaiteDakin Matthews & John Achorn2001Legal Briefs by Billy K. Welles, Miguel de Cervantes, J.M. Barrie, Gilbert & SullivanMichael Haney, Emily Chase, Anne McNaughtonProof of the Promise by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, World Premiere Rhyming Verse Translation by Dakin MatthewsAnne McNaughton2002Chekhov x 4 by Anton Chekhov. Translations by Nicholas Saunders and Frank DwyerSabin Epstein, Stephanie Shroyer, Michael Michetti, Andy Robinson2004Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, Music by Paul Dessau, Hanns Eisler, Kurt Weill, and Jan Powell & Ken Stone, English Version by Eric BentleyAndrew J. Robinson2005Pera Palas by Sinan UnelMichael MichettiTonight at 8:30 by Noël CowardWilliam Ludel, Michael Murray, Stephanie Shroyer, Stefan Novinski, Robert Goldsby, Brendon Fox2007American Tales, Book and Lyrics by Ken Stone, Music by Jan PowellThor Steingraber & Kay Cole2008Cousin Bette by Jeffrey HatcherJeanie Hackett2009King Lear by William ShakespeareBart DeLorenzo2010The Autumn Garden by Lillian HellmanLarry BiedermanThe Malcontent by John MarstonElizabeth Swain2011Peace in Our Time by Noël Coward, Adaptation by Barry CreytonCasey StanglThe Seagull by Anton Chekhov, Translated by Paul SchmidtAndrew J. Traister2012Macbeth by William ShakespeareJessica KubzanskyYou Can't Take it With You by George Kaufman and Moss HartGigi BerminghamMrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard ShawRobin Larsen2013The Crucible by Arthur MillerArmin Shimerman and Geoffrey WadeThe Liar by David Ives, From the Comedy by Pierre CorneilleCasey StanglTop Girls by Caryl ChurchillCameron Watson2014The Curse of Oedipus by Kenneth CavanderCasey StanglWedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black & White by Alice ChildressGregg T. DanielHenry IV, Part One by William ShakespeareMichael Murray2015Picnic by William IngeCameron WatsonUncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Annie BakerRobin LarsenCloud 9 by Caryl ChurchillCasey Stangl2016Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, In a Version by Andrew UptonSteven RobmanCat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee WilliamsCameron Watson2016/17As You Like It by William ShakespeareRob Clare2017/18Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, From the Novel by Choderlos de LaclosRobin LarsenThe Hothouse by Harold PinterNike DoukasNative Son by Nambi E. Kelley, Adapted from the novel by Richard WrightAndi ChapmanThree Days in the Country by Patrick Marber, A Version of Turgenev’s A Month in the CountryAndrew PaulThe Little Foxes by Lillian HellmanCameron Watson2018/19The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonaghSteven RobmanDiana of Dobson's by Cicely HamiltonCasey StanglNative Son: Block Party 2019 by Nambi E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Richard WrightAndi ChapmanThe Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, Translated by Alistair BeatonStephanie ShroyerThe Abuelas by Stephanie Alison WalkerAndi Chapman2019/20Eight Nights by Jennifer MaiselEmily ChaseMeasure for Measure by William ShakespeareArmin Shimerman & Elizabeth SwainHamlet by William ShakespeareElizabeth Swain2021/22Everybody by Branden Jacobs-JenkinsJennifer Chang2022/23The Changeling by Jennifer Rowland (Audio Play)Cameron WatsonLove and Information by Caryl ChurchillEmily ChaseThe Tempest by William ShakespeareNike DoukasSHE by Marlow WyattAndi Chapman2023/24The Winter's Tale by William ShakespeareElizabeth SwainNora - A Stage Version of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Ingmar Bergman. Translated and Adapted by Frederick J. Marker and Lise-Lone MarkerCameron WatsonGranny, or How To Forgive When You Can’t Forget: A Play in Poems by Natalie Nicole Dressel (Audio Play)Ann NobleThe Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar WildeGigi Bermingham2024/25Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareArmin ShimermanThe Glass Menagerie by Tennessee WilliamsCarolyn RatterayCymbeline by William ShakespeareNike Doukas2025/26All My Sons by Arthur MillerOánh NguyễnAntigone by Sophokles, newly translated and adapted by Kenneth CavanderAndy Wolk

Audio Plays at Antaeus +The Zip Code Plays - Season OneTitleWritten ByDirected By90011: South Central - Los AngelesKhari WyattBernadette Speakes90272: Pacific Palisades - Annexing the PalisadesAlex GoldbergAnn Noble90403: Santa Monica - PluckerNayna AgrawalJonathan Muñoz-Proulx90024: Westwood - All Information Herein Is ClassifiedDeb HiettCarolyn Ratteray91352: Sun Valley - SalvageSteve SerpasJulia Fletcher90012: DTLA - Clara and Serra and The Talking BearAngela J. DavisSteven Robman +The Zip Code Plays - Season TwoTitleWritten ByDirected By90069: West Hollywood - Brunch, InterruptedSean AbleyMichael A. Shepperd90026: Echo Park - $10 and a TambourineMildred Inez LewisGigi Bermingham90303: Inglewood - The VigPaula CizmarBernadette Speakes91331: Pacoima - Gold & ShineKhari WyattSaundra McClain91601: North Hollywood - End of the LinePeppur ChambersGregg T. Daniel91754: Monterey Park - Bingo BitchesElizabeth WongJennifer Chang +The Zip Code Plays - Season ThreeTitleWritten ByDirected By91201: Glendale - The Six Pianos of MiraderoAlex GoldbergLisa Sanaye Dring91505: Burbank - True SoundSteve ApostolinaGregg T. Daniel90262: Lynwood - Blue Like YouAnn NobleJonathan Muñoz-Proulx90027: Griffith Park - The Fire In-BetweenPeppur ChambersRondrell McCormick90039: Frogtown - Anaxyrus BoreasDaniel HirschSara Lyons90028: Hollywood - Marie Dressler: Good GalDiana BurbanoCameron Watson

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