The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH), a non-profit, professional theater company that provides educational and literary programs to underserved communities in Harlem and has brought audiences Black artistic excellence for over two decades, in association with Yale Repertory Theatre, will present Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Marcus Garvey Park in East Harlem July 5-29. The play will be free to the public.

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.”

Artistic team:

• Carl Cofield: Director
• Tiffany Rae-Fisher: Choreographer
• Rick Sordelet: Fight Director
• Christian Kelly-Sordelet: Fight Director
• Jessica Forella*: Production Stage Manager
• Chris Steckel*: Stage Manager

Desig team:

• 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

Cast:

• Antonio — Denzel Fields*
• Fabian — Donathan Walters
• Feste — Israel Erron Ford*
• First Officer — Jaylen Eashmond
• Malvolio — Allen Gilmore*
• Maria — Cassandra Lopez*
• Olivia — Christina Sajous*
• Orsino — William DeMeritt*
• Viola — Kara Young*
• Sebastian — J’Laney Allen
• Sea Captain — Jaylen Eashmond
• Sir Andrew Aguecheek — Carson Elrod*
• Sir Toby — Chivas Michael*
• Valentine — Othello Pratt, Jr. *

Ensemble:

• Kat Files+
• Denzzyl Green+
• Alisa Gregory+
• Maddy LaLonde+
• Anthony Lalor*
• Collin McConnell
• Donathan Walters

Understudies:

• Sir Toby — Jaylen Eashmond
• Viola & Olivia — Alexandria King*
• Valentine, Sea Captain, Fabian, Antonio — Anthony Lalor*
• Sir Andrew Aguecheek — Collin McConnell
• Feste — Othello Pratt, Jr. *

* denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association + denotes member of Emerge125

Twelfth Night will mark the 10th consecutive 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, Producing Artistic Director at CTH. “We have been persistent in challenging classical texts to make them more vibrant and relevant for the communities that have been unjustly 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.”

Registration

Time: 8:30 PM — 10:00 PM EDT

Free!