Seonjae Kim’s Riot Antigone Musical

Photo by Walls Trimble

Seonjae Kim’s Riot Antigone, a new take on Greek tragedy by Sophocles told from the perspective of a Chorus Leader and her all-grrrl punk band, will be released as an album on April 8, 2022.

Reminiscent of the ‘90s Riot Grrrl movement iconized by bands like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and Bratmobile, Riot Antigone is an original punk rock musical about the power of an individual who dares to carry a revolution upon herself. It’s a ritualistic and passionate rock album as well as an intimate coming of age story told through explosive live music, percussive movement and primal poetry, and a punk chorus.

Originally carried out as an off-off-Broadway musical turned live rock concert, Riot Antigone infiltrated the NYC music scene, headlining venues including Sunnyvale, Arlene's Grocery, Pianos and the Knitting Factory. The live shows were frenetic, well-attended, and empowering for the diverse crowd that they attracted.

The production had a sold-out premiere at the legendary Tony Award-winning downtown institution La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in 2017 and sold out a 120-person house six times, with a seventh show added to accommodate demand. The show had another production at Ars Nova (celebrated Off-Broadway theatre and birthplace to hit musicals like Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1871 and KPOP)'s ANT Fest in 2017, and was featured at Prelude Festival. Riot Antigone has been taught in theatre classes around the world, including at Bryn Mawr College, where there was an educational production featuring students. The book and lyrics are published in the Routledge anthology, Reclaiming Greek Drama for Diverse Audiences: An Anthology of Adaptations and Interviews, edited by Melina Powers and also featuring work by Luis Alfaro and Split Britches.

Today, fans can listen to "GIRL RIOT" the rebellious and energetic lead single and show-stopping number from Riot Antigone. The track features lead vocalists Kasey Huizinga and Angel Lin, and was recently used in a Marc Jacobs campaign, which you can see at this link.

“Ever since I read Sophocles' Antigone as a high school student, I was obsessed with its titular heroine, but disappointed that the play ultimately focused on the moral arc of Creon, the male character,” explains creator and songwriter Seonjae Kim. “Around the same time, my angst-ridden teenage self found solace in ‘90s riot grrrl music that seemed to speak to my anger about everything in my life and the world that was fucked up. Riot Antigone was my way of expressing myself through the union of my two great loves: theater and rock n' roll.”

In the nearly five years since its conception as a punk rock musical, Riot Antigone has grown into a vibrant multi-headed project: a band, an educational vehicle, and now, a full-length album. Producer and songwriter Mori Einsidler reflects on embodying the ethos of the riot grrrl.