The Public Theater's musical adaptation of Pericles is currently in rehearsal. Directed by Carl Cofield and featuring music and lyrics by Troy Anthony, Pericles will run August 29-September 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. See photos of the cast, which includes Denée Benton (The Gilded Age), Amina Faye (Six the Musical), Ato Blankson-Wood (Cabaret), and more in the photos below.
As part of the theatre's Public Works series, the performances will feature a cast of Broadway actors joining with a community ensemble of 100 New Yorkers from all five boroughs. The pro cast will include Benton as Thaisa, Blankson-Wood as Pericles, Lori Brown-Niang as Bawd, Kenneth Collins as Simonides, Faye as Marina, Joel Frost as Cleon, Debra Harewood as Helicanus, Crystal Lucas-Perry as Gower, Erika Myers as Dionyza, and Tony winner Alex Newell as Diana. Understudies Allyson Kaye Daniel and Stephen Scott Wormley will round out the company.
Company of Pericles
Troy Anthony
Company of Pericles
Ato Blankson-Wood
Crystal Lucas-Perry
Carl Cofield
Ato Blankson-Wood and Crystal Lucas-Perry
Company of Pericles
Company of Pericles
Vivian Jett Brown and Brunilda Rivera
Ervin “Easy” Hunt and Gayle Mattocks
Uwimana Liverpool
Denée Benton and Amina Faye
Tiffany Rea-Fisher
The Public Works series is typically offered as part of The Public's Free Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. That venue has been off the market while undergoing a massive renovation (the Delacorte is currently hosting Twelfth Night starring Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong'o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sandra Oh, but it's the only show playing there this summer).
The theatre has taken on The Fire Ensemble as a show-specific partner for Pericles, in addition to their long-term community partners across the city. Led by Anthony, the community-centered group creates new work rooted in music, ritual, and revelation with community choirs aimed at fostering collective liberation and intergenerational healing. The group predominantly works in Black musical styles, including gospel, R&B, and musical theatre.
Returning community partner organizations, each of which will provide community performers, include Brownsville Recreation Center in Brooklyn, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in Bronx, Center for Family Life in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, Children's Aid in all boroughs, DreamYard in Bronx, Domestic Workers United in all boroughs, The Fortune Society in Queens, and Military Resilience Foundation in all boroughs.
The production will feature design by Riw Rakkulchon, lighting design by Melissa Mizell, co-sound design by Justin Stasiw and Walter Trarbach, dramaturgy by Jesse Cameron Alick, music supervision by Troy Anthony, music coordination by Kristy Norter, and music direction by Sam Appiah. Michael Domue will serve as production stage manager, and Aisling Galvin and Adalhia Hart will be stage managers.
"We are so lucky that Troy comes from an incredible community practice and has cultivated a choir that centers BIPOC and Queer New Yorkers,” says the Public's Director of Civic Artistic Programs Pablo Hernandez Basulto in a statement. “Given the missions of The Fire Ensemble and Public Works align so well, we're excited to have a show-specific partnership for the first time and welcome members of The Fire Ensemble to be a part of this special concert experience. Although Public Works typically performs at The Delacorte Theater, we’re thrilled to perform Pericles at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine while The Delacorte reopens with Twelfth Night. Creating theatre in non-traditional venues is something The Public's Mobile Unit has been exploring for years, and we’re excited to join in on the fun with the Public Works community. The Cathedral is a beautiful and fitting location for this story that deals with the loss of faith in the face of insurmountable grief, and this new adaptation that is deeply inspired by gospel music—with the special flavor of Public Works!”
“I’m honored to be collaborating with the brilliant Troy Anthony on this bold, contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s Pericles," adds Cofield. "This play, with its sweeping journey through loss, resilience, and renewal, resonates deeply with me, especially its central message: to hold fast to hope in the face of adversity. That enduring call to ‘keep the faith’ is what draws me to Shakespeare’s thornier works, and it’s what makes Pericles feel so timely and urgent today. To bring this story to life alongside such a passionate, visionary community of artists is both a privilege and a profound reminder of why I remain committed to this powerful art form. This is the type of work that I have the honor to grapple with at the Classical Theatre of Harlem. I am deeply grateful to The Public, Troy, and this wonderful community."
Tickets, all free, will be distributed onsite on a first come-first served basis. For a performance schedule, visit PublicTheater.org.
