Shakespeare in the Park – 2026
Much Ado About Nothing
Directed by Drew Davidson
Show Sponsorships & VIP Packages available now!
Auditions June 4 & June 5th at Antagonist Productions from 6:00pm – 9:00pm
This is an open audition so you don’t need to prepare anything, just show up. If you have a Shakespearean monologue in your aresenal, bring it! Shakespeare in the Park will open on Friday July 10th and run the 11th & 12th and then re-open on Thursday July 16th and run through Sunday July 19th. All performances are at 8:00pm with live music and pre-show festivities beginning at 7:00pm.
PORCHLIGHT
Antagonist Productions Launch First-Ever PORCHLIGHT Community Arts Concert
LEXINGTON, KY — Antagonist Productions is bringing Central Kentucky the first-ever PORCHLIGHT, a free outdoor community arts concert and fundraiser designed to celebrate local artists, activate Gatton Park, and kick off the summer season with live performance and community connection.
As a brand-new event for Lexington, PORCHLIGHT will feature a rotating lineup of live music, dance, and musical performances.. The evening is designed to feel part concert, part community gathering, and part grassroots fundraiser. Creating a space where audiences can directly support local artists and arts programming in Central Kentucky.
The event will include bands, solo musicians, dance groups, and youth musical theatre performances presented in alternating sets throughout the evening. Audience members will be encouraged to donate in real time to support performers and local arts initiatives, with proceeds benefiting theatre and music programs in the region.
The inaugural event will feature:
- Live performances from local bands and solo artists
- Dance and youth musical theatre performances
- Interactive audience-driven fundraising
- Food and alcohol vendors and community booths
- Family-friendly outdoor entertainment
- Community sponsorship opportunities
PORCHLIGHT is designed as a zero-barrier, high-energy event that prioritizes accessibility, artistic collaboration, and community engagement while creating new opportunities for local performers and arts organizations.
The Trail to Oregon!
Trail to Oregon! is a wildly funny, fast-paced musical inspired by the classic video game The Oregon Trail. Each night, the audience helps shape the journey—choosing character names and even deciding who lives… and who doesn’t. Packed with outrageous humor, catchy songs, and unexpected twists, no two performances are ever the same!
Rated R
June 19-21st
June 26-28th
Space is limited and performances will fill up fast—grab your tickets today before they’re gone!
Rocky Wake
Antagonist Productions & SmokeyDog Entertainment
Feature film by Dylan Anglin set for release in 2027
In Partnership with SmokeyDog Entertainment
Antagonist Productions is proud to announce our official expansion into the world of film through a dynamic collaboration with SmokeyDog Entertainment—a creative team whose talent, drive, and values align seamlessly with our mission. This partnership marks a thrilling new era for our organization as we continue pushing boundaries and bringing urgent, character-driven stories to life—this time on screen.
Under Dylan’s direction, Rocky Wake is set to become a striking debut—grounded in place, bringing you closer and closer to the edge of your seat well before you figure out which direction he is taking you. Taking you to a time where you thought your neighborhood was safe and nobody was a stranger.
We’ve built a legacy on stage. Now, with Rocky Wake and Dylan Anglin’s powerful vision at the forefront, we’re ready to make our mark on the screen. Putting Central Kentuckians at the helm from start to finish. Over 95% of our cast and crew will be from right here in the bluegrass.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams
Directed by Jack McIntyre
Show Sponsorships & Playbill Ad Space Available
Dates Coming Soon – 2026
A Space to Create In…
The shop is our brand-new creative hub for all Central Kentucky artists and side hustle experts!
We offer over 4200 square feet of creative space including a black box theater, fully equipped scene shop, dance studio, and more!
Call today to book your class or event!
I Come From
I Come From gives those who have lost their freedom a chance to inspire by fighting recidivism the best way we know how to: the arts!
Taking plays written by incarcerated individuals and taking them all the way to a fully funded production in Lexington, KY, called I Come From.
Stemming from our roots with The Voices Inside, we will continue to grow our creative writing programs all throughout the prison systems in Kentucky, hoping to drastically reduce the recidivism rate by enriching and humanizing the lives of those behind bars through the arts.
Shakespeare in the Park!
Every year we are lucky enough to partner with Lexington Parks & Rec to bring the age old tradition of Shakespeare in the Park to Lexington!
This event brings thousands of patrons to Woodland Park every July to enjoy a free rendition of one of Shakespeare’s classic tales. We bring in local food vendors, West 6th Brewing, and a lineup of local bands with us every year to create a community festival atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
Former titles include the following: Taming of the Shrew, Othello, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, & Romeo & Juliet.
Antagonist Productions’ Classes & Workshops
We offer weekly classes that are ideal for students looking for consistent, structured learning. These classes cover a variety of topics from dance and theater to scenic painting and prop design in our Scene Shop.
Enroll for weekly progress and build your skills over time in a supportive environment. For those who need more flexibility, monthly classes offer a comprehensive dive into specific subjects, like stage production or videography, allowing students to learn intensively without a weekly commitment. Monthly classes are perfect for beginners looking to try something new or experienced creatives wanting to refine their expertise.
Script Drive
We collect scripts written by playwrights from right here in Central Kentucky and, with a group of judicators, pick one to go into a fully funded production by Antagonist Productions.
Former titles include the following: Love Lust & The Middle Ground, Don’t Tell Me Who Done It, Little Bites, Last Call: The Musical, Shame Bomb, The Reset
WHO ARE WE?
Antgonist Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit theatre company that performs, promotes, and pays for the work of local actors, directors, and playwrights in Central Kentucky. The programming we offer is dependent on collaboration and cooperation with local artists and local businesses. Antagonist Productions is seeking support to produce local art and change lives with arts outreach programs. These productions and programs include the following:
I Come From
Creative Writing Program
Classes for all ages
Creative Space for Central Kentucky Artists
Shakespeare in the Park
The Script Drive