Shakespeare’s classic gets an “Afrofuturistic” makeover with free performances at Marcus Garvey Park
New York, NY, [May 2, 2022] – The Classical Theatre of Harlem, (Producing Artistic Director, Ty Jones) a professional theater company that has brought audiences Black artistic excellence for over two decades, announced today it will present Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Marcus Garvey Park in East Harlem July 5-29. The play will be free to the public and reservations can be made starting today.
Continuing CTH’s mission to place diversity at the forefront of their performances, this interpretation of Twelfth Night will engage with the global conversation around equity and inclusion. It features a majority-Black creative team including director Carl Cofield, CTH’s Associate Artistic Director.
“With its Afrofuturistic aesthetic and diverse team of artists, our production of Twelfth Night will tackle the global conversation around equity, diversity, and inclusion,” said Cofield. “I look forward to showing audiences what the magical world of Illyria can teach us here and now.”
Other members of the Twelfth Night creative team include:
- Tiffany Rae-Fisher: Choreographer
- Rick Sordelet: Fight Director
- Christian Kelly-Sordelet: Fight Director
- Riw Rakkulchon: Scenic Designer
- Mika Eubanks: Costume Designer
- Alan C. Edwards: Lighting Designer
- Frederick Kennedy: Composer & Sound Designer
- Brittany Bland: Projection Designer
- Samantha Shoffner: Properties Designer
- Earon Nealey: Hair & Makeup Designer
- Jessica Forella: Production Stage Manager
Twelfth Night will mark the 10th year CTH has brought free theater to Marcus Garvey Park, continuing its mission to create a vibrant community hub for theater and the arts in the heart of Harlem.
“While BIPOC productions are popular at this moment, The Classical Theatre of Harlem has been at the forefront of changing the face of American theater for years,” said Ty Jones. “We have been persistent in challenging classical texts to make them more vibrant and relevant for the communities that have been sidelined for much of the history of American theater. Twelfth Night will not only continue the conversation but spark new opportunities with and for the communities we serve.”
For interview requests and more information, please contact Emily Cooper at ecooper@momentum-cg.com or 212-671-2086.
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About The Classical Theatre Of Harlem
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is an American theater company that tells stories through the lens of the African diaspora. CTH combines original adaptations, music, and dance to present great classics of world literature and contemporary works that will stand the test of time. Since its founding in 1999, CTH has presented works ranging from traditional classical playwrights (Anton Chekhov, Euripides and William Shakespeare) to established 20th-century playwrights (August Wilson, Langston Hughes and Jean Genet) to new plays by emerging playwrights. CTH also proudly provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and their families through its arts education program, Project Classics. The organization incorporates other theater-related programming including Future Classics, Playwrights’ Playground, and Revisited Classics to engage new audiences, invest in artistic development and give exposure to emerging creators.
The company serves over 18,000 live audience members (pre-pandemic). Its new online offerings have drawn over 500,000 viewers. To learn more, visit https://www.cthnyc.org/.
