The world premiere of The Secret Life of Bees, which celebrated its official opening at Atlantic Theater Company June 13, has extended Off-Broadway an additional week. The adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, set against the backdrop of 1960s South Carolina, features a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, music by Duncan Sheik, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
Previously extended through July 14, The Secret Life of Bees will now continue through July 21.
Sam Gold directs a cast led by Tony nominee Saycon Sengbloh (Eclipsed, Hair) as Rosaleen, and Elizabeth Teeter (The Audience, The Crucible), as Lily. When the two escape on an adventure to uncover the mystery of Lily’s mother’s death, they are taken in by a trio of Black beekeeping sisters.
LaChanze (a Tony winner for The Color Purple) plays beekeeper August Boatwright, with Eisa Davis (Kings) as June, Tony nominee Manoel Felciano (Sweeney Todd) as T-Ray, Brett Gray (On My Block) as Zach, and Anastacia McCleskey (Waitress) as May.
Rounding out the cast are Jai’Len Christine Li Josey, Romelda Teron Benjamin, Joe Cassidy, Vita E. Cleveland, Matt DeAngelis, and Nathaniel Stampley.
The Secret Life of Bees features choreography by Chris Walker, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, puppets by AchesonWalsh Studios, musical direction by Jason Hart, music contraction by Antoine Silverman, orchestrations by Sheik and John Clancy, incidental music orchestrations by Sheik, hair and makeup design by Cookie Jordan, fight direction by UnkleDave’s Fight House, dialects by Dawn-Elin Fraser, and casting by Telsey + Company, Patrick Goodwin, CSA.
A workshop production of The Secret Life of Bees was presented by New York Stage and Film & Vassar in 2017.
