Getty and Latino Theater Company Present “Antigone: In the Language of Kings”

The Getty Villa Museum and Latino Theater Company announced today that they will present “Antigone: In the Language of Kings” for the 20th annual Outdoor Classical Theater production this fall. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 3, at 8 p.m., with previews on Sept. 3-5, at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale July 1.

The ancient story, originally set in fifth-century B.C. Greece, of Antigone confronts themes of loyalty, familial duty and the clash between divine law and state edict. Latino Theater Company’s presentation will set the story in pre-conquest Tenochtitlan, Mexico, weaving in pre-Hispanic music and poetry and bringing Aztec mythology into Sophocles’ timeless story. The result is a rich historical tapestry that resonates across cultures, pitting love and defiance against tyranny.

“For over 40 years, Latino Theater Company has reflected the vibrant mosaic of Los Angeles, honoring tradition while serving as a source for bold, contemporary stories that explore the U.S. Latino experience,” said Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the Getty Museum. “We look forward to seeing how the company brings their creative storytelling to the Villa’s outdoor stage for the first time with what promises to be an innovative rendition of Sophocles’ classic tale.”

“Antigone: In the Language of Kings” is directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, artistic director of Latino Theater Company, and adapted by Evelina Fernández, associate artistic director of Latino Theater Company.

Latino Theater Company has previously participated in the Getty Villa’s Villa Theater Lab program with workshop productions including “Letters from the Black Sea” in 2022, “La Olla—Plautus's The Pot of Gold” in 2015 and “Liz Estrada in the City of Angels,” an adaptation of Lysistrata by Aristophanes, in 2006.

“Antigone is a timeless story of resistance, conscience and the struggle for justice,” said Jose Luis Valenzuela, artistic director of Latino Theater Company. “Set in pre-conquest Mesoamerica, Evelina’s adaptation draws upon the rich Nahuatl language and mythology to explore universal themes of faith, power and moral duty. We are honored to bring this powerful reimagining to the Getty Villa’s Outdoor Theater stage.”

“We want to share the beauty of ancient Aztec literature, culture and rituals that most modern audiences are not familiar with,” added Evelina Fernández, associate artistic director of Latino Theater Company. “These traditions carry a profound poetry and wisdom that still speak to the human experience across centuries.”

The play will feature costume design by Maria Catarina, set design by François-Pierre Couture, lighting design by Xinyuan Li, sound design by John Zalewski, music by Christopher Garcia, and projection design by Yee Eun Nam. “Antigone: In the Language of Kings” is produced by Latino Theater Company.

An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performance will take place on Thursday, September 24.

Prior to the performance, guests will be able to purchase a variety of food and drink options, including a specialty cocktail and a sit-down prix fixe dinner (space limited; Fridays during the run and Saturdays only), inspired by and featuring ingredients from the pre-conquest period.

Thursday night performances are $45 ($40 for students and seniors), Friday night performances are $50, and Saturday night performances are $60. Student and senior discounts are available for Thursday night performances only. Ticket prices for the previews are $30.

Tickets will be available online or by calling (310) 440-7300.

“Antigone: In the Language of Kings” is not recommended for persons under the age of 13.

About Latino Theater Company: Now celebrating its 41st season as a company and its 20th anniversary operating The Los Angeles Theatre Center, the Latino Theater Company was named a 2025 “Nonprofit of the Year” by California State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. Dedicated to providing a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; and a place where the convergence of people, cultures and ideas contribute to the future, the company has operated The LATC, a City-owned facility housed in a former bank building in Downtown L.A.’s historic core, since 2006, producing hundreds of plays, creating over 4000 jobs and helping hundreds of nonprofit organizations by providing space and resources. Recognizing the Latino Theater Company for its “effective first-class theater center operations,” the City recently extended the company’s initial 20-year lease for an additional 30 years, through 2056. Latino Theater Company was named to the Los Angeles Times “Best of Latino L.A.” and was awarded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle’s prestigious Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theater. Artistic director Jose Luis Valenzuela is the recipient of multiple awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from theater review site Stage Raw and the Gordon Davidson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation.