New York TIMES CRITIC’S PICK

by Euripides /  A New Version by Bryan Doerries / directed by Carl Cofield

choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher

Archival stream aired 2020

SYNOPSIS

Freedom, Ecstasy, Anarchy vs Law, Order, and Control…who wins? Rather, who survives. 

The Bacchae. Photo by Richard Termine.
NYT logo

CRITIC’S PICK


“A totally exhilarating new adaptation that will leave you wanting to join the chorus”

Photos by Richard Termine

CAST

Jason C. Brown (Dionysus)

Jason C. Brown

Jason C. Brown (Dionysus) has worked at St. Ann’s Warehouse, Pioneer Theatre Co., NYTW, ART, Red Bull, Princeton Rep, ClassicsInColor, Metropolitan P’hse, HiArts, The Public, New Ohio, National Shakespeare Co, SATC and more. He was last seen as the Ghost of Xmas Present in the CTH production of A Harlem Xmas Carol (dir. Steve Broadnax). He’s been featured on The Good Wife and the films Don’t Think Twice (dir. Mike Birbiglia) and The Hungry Ghosts (dir. Michael Imperioli).

Training: IATT at Harvard/MXAT.

Jason says “From the FULLNESS of my heart, I thank Carl, Ty, Shawn Rene, CTH and this entire talented cast for their belief and support.
Follow @jcbiglove www.jasoncbrown.net

R.J. Foster (Pentheus)

R.J. Foster (Pentheus)

A Small Oak Tree Runs Red (Billie Holiday Theatre), Three Musketeers (Classical Theatre of Harlem)*AUDELCO nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Exchange), All The Way (TheatreSquared) Richard III (The Gallery Players) *AUDELCO nomination for Best Lead Actor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Shakespeare Forum); Deep Are The Roots (Metropolitan Playhouse), Hamlet, Cave Dwellers, Toys in the Attic (Pearl Theatre Company) Regional credits include Nell Gwynn (Folger Theatre), Richard III, Comedy of Errors (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Television credits include The Village, The Code, Power, Person of Interest, Homeland, The Blacklist, Made in Jersey, Blue Bloods, Damages, Choice, Guiding Light, Fringe, 12:01. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Fordham University at Lincoln Center

 

CB Murray (Cadmus)

CB Murray (Cadmus)

Charles Bernard Murray. CB has a BA with a Concentration in Social Justice from SUNY Empire State College. He’s worked with the A.M.A.S. Repertory Company under Rosette LeNoire, Michael Bennett in the Workshop and original production of Dreamgirls. He’s performed twice on Broadway, numerous times Off-Broadway, and on stages around the world. He’s currently writing, directing, composing and producing original works. His musical PEARL, while still in development, has received five ADULCO nominations. CB has received awards from SMPS (Society of Marketing Professionals Services) and the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Union City, New Jersey, Artist of the Year Award in 2015.

Brian D. Coats (Tiresias)

Brian D. Coats (Tiresias)

Broadway: Jitney. Off-Broadway includes: The Brothers Paranormal (Pan Asian Repertory Theatre), Travisville (Ensemble Studio Theatre), (Working Theater), The First Noel (Classical Theatre of Harlem /The Apollo), On the Levee (LCT3/ Lincoln Center), (Public/ NYSF). Regional includes: (Cleveland Play House), (Denver Center Theatre), (Huntington Theater), (Studio Theatre DC), King Hedley II, Seven Guitars, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Two River Theater), Fences, A Raisin in the Sun (Geva Theater), (People’s Light), (PlayMakers Rep) TV includes: “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “JAG,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Sopranos,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Luke Cage,” and “The Blacklist.”

Andrea Patterson (Agave)

Andrea Patterson (Agave)

Andrea L. Patterson is a Detroit native and SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory grad. TV: Blue Bloods (CBS), Manifest (NBC), and a Netflix Original Series (releasing fall 2019). Select stage credits include: The King Lear Project (Theatre of War Prod.) Hookin’ or Daughters of Jerusalem (Dixon Place), Macbeth (2016- CTH), and Follow Me to Nellie’sAndrea would like to thank her Village for their love and unrelenting support!

 

Brian Demar Jones (Messenger)

Brian Demar Jones (Messenger)

BRIAN DEMAR JONES (The Messenger) This is Brian’s first show with the Classical Theatre of Harlem, and he is extremely humbled and grateful to be working with such a talented company. NYC: Leap And The Net Will Appear (New Georges), King Lear, All’s Well That Ends Well, Tempest, The Escape, Lippa’s The Wild Party. Regional: Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice (KCRep), Henry 4, Part 2 and Love’s Labours Lost (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Brother/Sister Plays (Portland Playhouse), Hello Dolly! (5th Avenue), Anything Goes, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage Aux Folles and Spamalot (CDA Summer Theatre), 1940s Radio Hour (Enlightened Theatrics), Education: MFA in Acting, University of Washington. Brian is also an acting coach and director. He would love to thank his loving partner and their tiny family for their encouragement and teamwork.
Bdemarjones.com

Lori Vega (Chorus Leader)

Lori Vega (Chorus Leader)

Lori Vega* (Chorus Leader) CTH debut!  NYC credits include: Pay No Attention to the Girl (Target Margin), If On A Winter’s Night (The Tank), The Protest (Cherry Lane), Quartemaine’s Terms (TACT), Mail Order Bride (The Beckett Theatre), La Tempestad (The Ohio). Regional: Nonsense and Beauty (The Rep Theatre of St. Louis), Halftime with Don (NJ Rep), As You Like It (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare and Idaho Shakespeare), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare), Romeo and Juliet (Saratoga Shakespeare), and Peter Pan (Dorset Theatre Festival).  www.lorivega.net

Andrew Farella (Guard/Ensemble)

Andrew Farella (Guard/Ensemble)

Andrew Farella is so honored to return to the Classical Theatre of Harlem, after joining last year for Antigone. Favorite credits include NYU Tisch Drama’s, In the Heights, The Mollyhouse, Swing!, and the title role in Salvador, a collaboration between The New Studio on Broadway and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Andrew is a Native New Yorker as well as an avid Ballroom & Latin social dancer. Thank you Carl, Friends, and Family for all of the love and support. Peace and Love. Web: www.andrewfarella.com

Malik Reed (Guard/Ensemble)

Malik Reed (Guard/Ensemble)

Malik Reed hails from the east side of Detroit,MI. Previous credits includes Messiah(LaMama), Blacktop Sky(SUNY Purchase), Law&Order:SVU(NBC). He thanks God for the light, the way, and the gift. The marathon continues. Education: SUNY Purchase BFA Acting Conservatory Instagram:@_maleek___

www.malikreed.com

 

 

Gabrielle Djenné (Chorus)

Gabrielle Djenné (Chorus)

Gabrielle Djenné is an actress, singer, dancer and comedian from Chantilly, Virginia. One of the youngest students accepted into the Professional Division of The Ailey School, Gabrielle began her performing career as a dancer. After moving to New York to study at Columbia University, she discovered her passion for theatre. Gabrielle has written and performed stand-up comedy at Caroline’s on Broadway as well as The PIT. As a singer, Gabrielle has provided background vocals for Tony Winner, Stephanie J. Block. She is thrilled to join the Classical Theatre of Harlem family! Off-Broadway: The Snowy Day (Amy), Convention (Sidney Hillman). Film: Hamlet (Ophelia), The Endangered (Vanessa). IG @gabrielledjenne

Rebecca Ana Pena (Chorus)

Rebecca Ana Pena (Chorus)

Rebecca Peña is a Cuban American artist who believes in creating work that is empathetic, inclusive, and thought-provoking. She has helped create new Latin theater, such as And The Trees Fall Down (Isa – The Center at West Park) and [app]arition (Christie – Plaxall Gallery). She’s a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Other credits include Times Square: The Musical (Margot) conceived by The Civilians Theatre Company, HAIR (Crissy), and The Mollyhouse (Lady of London) directed by Kent Gash. Endless gratitude to Carl, the company, and the CTH family – thank you for your artistic leadership and integrity. 

 

 

www.rebeccaanapena.com

Alicyn Yaffee (Musician)

Alicyn Yaffee (Musician)

Alicyn Yaffee is a New York City-based guitarist, vocalist and bassist, by way of Kelseyville, California.  An artist of wide range and depth, she earned her BM in Jazz Studies, with a Double Major of Guitar and Vocals, at Cal State University in Sacramento.  In the few years since the move to New York, she has toured the U.S. and Europe under her own name, as well as with Becca Stevens, Grammy-nominee JC Hopkins’ Biggish Band, and bassist Benny Rietveld (Santana ); released her first solo album, “Someone Else”, featuring Cindy Blackman Santana, Ronnie Foster, Jeff Cressman; and played numerous venues with her own groups and with a diverse range of jazz and rock artists, including jazz trumpeter Bria Skonberg, an all-female Guns and Roses tribute band known as “The Rocket Queens”, and Indian progressive rock composer Anupam Shobhakar.  She has opened for artists David Lindley and Masta Ace , been a tour assistant to David Crosby, a music transcriptionist for blue note recording artists , and teaches guitar, piano and voice. She is currently working on her second solo album. 

Daniela Funicello (Dancer)

Daniela Funicello (Dancer)

Daniela Funicello, a New Jersey native, is a professional dancer based in New York City. She holds a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. Daniela is currently a company dancer with Elisa Monte Dance under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher. During her three seasons with the company she has performed at numerous venues including the Apollo Theater, Joe’s Pub, New York City Center, Baby’s Alright with singer Janelle Kroll, The National Gallery of Art in D.C., and The Red Bull Arena. She is currently on faculty with The Lake Placid School of Dance and the Police Athletic League of New York. Daniela is thrilled to be working in her third production with the Classical Theater of Harlem! Previous shows include in “Antigone” (Ensemble/Singing Chorus) and “A Christmas Carol in Harlem” (Ensemble/Mrs.Fezz).

Ashley LaRosa (Dancer)

Ashley LaRosa (Dancer)

Ashley LaRosa is from Albany, CA. Prior to graduating high school, she trained at City Ballet School of San Francisco under the direction of Galina Alexandrova. Ashley graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2015 receiving a BFA in Dance Performance. In addition, Ashley trained with San Francisco Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Ashley began apprenticing with Elisa Monte Dance in 2016 and was promoted to a company dancer in 2018. This is her third production with Classical Theater of Harlem and is so excited to be apart of this incredible cast!

Brynlie Helmich (Dancer)

Brynlie Helmich (Dancer)

Brynlie Helmich grew up and began dancing in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon finding a love for both commercial and concert dance, she pursued training in Los Angeles in an effort to further diversify her training. With training from the New York City Dance Alliance that consisted of time with choreographers such as Joe Lanteri and Suzi Taylor, Brynlie was awarded a scholarship to the Summer Study: Contemporary Intensive at Steps on Broadway. Her time dancing in the city through the program has lead her to Elisa Monte Dance. Before turning 18, amongst Phoenix and Los Angeles, she trained and performed in cities such as San Diego (TwitchCon), Anaheim, Dallas, Portland, Kansas City, and more. Under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Brynlie has performed in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Lake Placid, and at venues such as the National Gallery of Art, The Flea Theater, and New York Fashion Week with designer Paola Hernandez. As a dancer and singer in The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Antigone last summer, Brynlie is thankful to pursue her second collaboration with the company in The Bacchae.

Sai Rodboon (Dancer)

Sai Rodboon (Dancer)

Sai (Napat) Rodboon is originally from Bangkok, Thailand. She began her dance training at Aree School of Dance Arts and has a BA, major in Dramatic Arts from ChulalongkornUniversity. She recently graduated from the scholarship program at The Ailey School. Sai has performed works by Matthew Powell, Danielle Polanco, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Patrice Leroy, including Alvin Ailey’s “Memoria” with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 2017. She recently performed with Classical Theatre of Harlem’s revival of Antigone. Sai is now a company member of Elisa Monte Dance and is starting her first year with the company.

Hannah Gross (Dancer)

Hannah Gross (Dancer)

Hannah Gross is from Cedar Rapids Iowa. She graduated with a BFA in Dance and BA in Health and Human Physiology from the University of Iowa. Her professional experience includes performing with New Territory Dance Company, the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, and the Working Group Theater. Hannah has had the privilege of performing at Alvin Ailey’s Citigroup Theater in the American Dance Guild Festival and Martha Graham’s Helios at the Joyce Theatre. She recently began her apprenticeship with Elisa Monte Dance under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher. She is excited to be in her first performance with Classical Theater of Harlem!

Madelyn LaLonde (Dancer)

Madelyn LaLonde (Dancer)

Madelyn LaLonde is originally from Houston, Texas where she trained in classical dance techniques at Allegro West Academy of Dance. Madelyn also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she graduated with the Highest of Honors in Dance.  After graduating HSVPA, she made the move to New York to attend the State University of New York at Purchase College. Madelyn graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase, with a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Arts Management. Madelyn is currently an apprenticeship for Elisa Monte Dance Company.

Harmony Jackson (Dancer)

Harmony Jackson (Dancer)

Harmony Jackson started her dance training at Conchita Espinosa Academy for the Arts in Miami, Florida at the age of five. She attended New World School of the Arts high school, where was able to perform works by Sidra Bell, Peter London,  Rebecca Cannon, and Dale Andree. In 2018, she graduated from Goucher College with a BA in Dance Performance. During her time there, Harmony has worked with many resident choreographers including Matthew Neenan, Meredith Rainey, Christian Von Howard, Helen Simoneau, Sidra Bell, Gwen Welliver, and Gabrielle Lamb and received additional training at Hubbard Street Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Sidra Bell’s Module and the American College Dance Association.

Kat Files (Dancer)

Kat Files (Dancer)

Kat Files began training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance, where she was a 4 year Glorya Kaufman Foundation Dance Scholar. As an Ailey/Fordham student, Kat had the privilege of performing Alvin Ailey’s “Memoria” twice during AAADT New York Season. Kat has performed with Germaul Barnes, Matheta Dance, Felice Lesser Dance Theater, Troy Powell, Ronald K. Brown and other renowned choreographers. Ms. Files, a SAG-AFTRA and Equity member, is the Founder of The F.I.L.E.S. (Future Inspired Leaders Exemplifying Success) Arts Project, a non-profit arts organization.

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