Little Island's reimagining of Lee Breuer and Bob Telson’s The Gospel at Colonus plays The Amph July 8-26.
Directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury, the cast is led by American opera singer Davóne Tines and American gospel singer and songwriter Kim Burrell with R&B singer serpentwithfeet, Stephanie Berry, Kevin Bond, Little Charles, Samantha Howard, Ayana George Jackson, Brandon Michael Nase, Jon-Michael Reese, and Frank Senior.
Members from James Hall’s Worship & Praise, based in Flatbush, collectively represent the traditional Greek chorus, including Jaqwanna Crawford, Schanel Crawford, JacQuetta Fayton, Angie Goshea, Robyn McLeod, TJ Riddick, Vischon Robinson, Lenny VanCooten, Eugene Marcus Walker, and Darlene Nikki Washington.
Co-music directors Dionne McClain-Freeney and James Hall lead the band and choir, alongside original The Gospel at Colonus
organist Butch Hayward, and musicians Bobby Bryan, Jackie
Coleman, Clayton Craddock, Isaiah Johnson, Booker King, Taja
Graves-Parker, Jason Marshall, and Kelvin Walters.
In The Gospel at Colonus, the epic myth of Oedipus, press notes state, is "reborn as a Pentecostal ritual that remakes prophecy as testimony and brokenness as transcendence."
The Gospel at Colonus debuted
at the BAM Harvey Theater as part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's
inaugural Next Wave Festival in 1983. The musical features a book,
original lyrics, and direction by Breuer, and original music, adapted
lyrics, and music direction by Telson. A Broadway production played the
Lunt-Fontanne March 24-May 15, 1988. Breuer received a Tony nomination
for Best Book of a Musical.
Reflecting on his collaboration with Breuer, composer Telson said in an earlier statement, "For more than 35 years, Lee and I presented our version of The Gospel at Colonus all around the world, with many of the same cast members. With Lee’s passing in 2021 and a dwindling cast in their 70’s and 80’s, it’s thrilling to pass the baton to a younger generation who will passionately update the powerful message we created then.”
The production also has associate direction by Sam Morreale, scenic design by David Zinn, costume design by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting design by Stacey Derosier, sound design by Garth MacAleavey, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, and Kirk Cambridge-del Peche as makeup consultant.
For tickets visit LittleIsland.org.
