By Classical Theatre of Harlem
Photos: Classical Theatre of Harlem
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is excited to announce its upcoming production, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and invites audiences to immerse themselves in this enchanting classic, set against the backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance. Directed by Carl Cofield, this free outdoor production promises to captivate audiences of all ages. Comedian Russell Peters will portray Nick Bottom. Having sold-out arenas around the world, including MSG and Barclays Center, this performance will mark Peters’ stage and Shakespearean debut. The full cast announcement will be shared later this Spring. This production was made possible by the generous support of Wendell Pierce.
Event Details:
- Dates: Tuesday through Sunday, July 6th – 28th
- Time: 8:30 PM
- Location: Richard Rodgers Amphitheatre in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem, NY
This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream transports audiences to the height of the Harlem Renaissance, where four young lovers, a troupe of rude mechanicals, and mischievous fairies find themselves entangled in a web of romantic chaos within a mystical forest.
In addition to the performance, attendees can enjoy vendor pop-ups featuring local artisans, cooks, and community-based organizations before select shows on Thursday through Sunday.
CTH is dedicating their entire 25th Anniversary Season to longtime trustee Andre Braugher. The 2024-25 season will also continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, and will open with this FREE Harlem Renaissance-themed Uptown Shakespeare in the Park production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the world premiere of Memnon by Will Power, directed by Carl Cofield at the Getty Villa in California in September.
For more information about the show, please visit cthnyc.org and reservations can be made directly here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-midsummer-nights-dream-uptown-shakespeare-in-the-park-tickets-912045040267?aff=oddtdtcreator
New York Public Radio is a media partner of the Classical Theatre of Harlem.
The 2024 CTH season will also include the following performances:
- June 24, 2024: Person Place Thing Interview with Randy Cohen and Ty Jones at the Harlem School for the Arts at 7:00 PM.
- July 6 – 28, 2024: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (free) at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem.
- September 2024: The Getty Villa and Classical Theatre of Harlem present the World Premiere of Memnon, written by Will Power, directed by Carl Cofield and choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, bringing the story of Ethiopia’s powerful king to life as he answers the call to defend Troy. This Homeric episode, once a staple of the ancient Greek and Roman epic tradition, had been forgotten—until now.
About The Classical Theatre Of Harlem
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is an American theatre 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 20,000 live audience members per year. Its online offerings have drawn over 500,000 viewers. To learn more, visit https://www.cthnyc.org/.
About Director Carl Cofield:
Carl Cofield has directed several plays for CTH, including critically acclaimed productions of “Twelfth Night,” “The Bacchae,” “Antigone,” “Macbeth,” “The Tempest,” and “Dutchman.” He joined CTH as a staff member in 2018 and holds an MFA from Columbia University. Mr. Cofield is also on faculty at NYU and Columbia University.
