FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
Classical Theater of Harlem Presents
October 25, 2004
The
OBIE and Drama Desk Award-winning Classical Theater of Harlem (CTH) is pleased
to announce the extension of their latest production, the musical AIN’T
SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH.
Performances at the HSA Theater (645 St. Nicholas Avenue) will continue
through Sunday, November 21st.
A
totally unique fiction form, AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH is a
gutsy, lusty narrative of Black street life that explores every aspect of
ghetto agony. Peopled by junkies, whores, pimps, lesbians, drag queens,
sweating workers, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers, and dreamers, Van Peebles'
play is considered a tradition shattering and trend setting work which spawned
the choreopoem, spoken word, and rap music. AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE was a
huge hit on Broadway in its original inception, where it was nominated for
seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The score has been re-visited by Mr. Van Peebles and William “Spaceman”
Patterson, who has worked with Mr. Van Peebles many times in the past and will
serve as music director.
Reviewing
the show for the The Village Voice, David Finkle wrote that CTH’s revival of AIN’T
SUPPOSED TO DIE showed that the piece was “still vital…explosively directed
[by] Alfred Preisser” and praised the “Outstanding cast.” Time Out New York has included the show in
their “Don’t Miss” column for the past two weeks; reviewer David Cote wrote
that “the work as a whole remains startlingly fresh,” and that “CTH reconfirms
itself as one of the gutsiest and physically fearless groups around.”
The
cast for AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH includes a number of CTH regulars as well as
notable newcomers. Carmen Barika,
Shamika Cotton, Neil Dawson, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Tracy Jack (Trojan Women),
Ty Jones (Macbeth, OBIE-winner for The Blacks), J. Kyle Manzay
(OBIE-winner for The Blacks), Yusef Miller, Simone Moore, Nyambi Nyambi,
Ron Simons (The Blacks, Trojan Women), Glenn Turner, Althea Vyfhius,
Kendra Ware, and Robyn Landiss Walker.
The
Classical Theatre of Harlem is a dynamic and unique theatre company dedicated
to producing the classics for a new, young, and culturally diverse
audience. Since 1999, CTH has presented
numerous classic plays, garnered 5 AUDELCO Awards (41 nominations) for
Excellence in Black Theatre, and won five OBIE Awards, off-Broadway’s most
prestigious honor. This year the
company won a Special Drama Desk Award for their work.
AIN’T
SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH began performances on
Wednesday, September 29th, and will now continue through Sunday,
November 21st. Performances
will now be Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets will be $25 and may be purchased by
calling Smarttix at (212) 868-4444, or online at www.smarttix.com. Photos are available for download at www.brettsinger.com/clients/cth2004.html.
Ain’t
Supposed To Die A Natural Death
Book, Music and Lyrics by
Melvin Van Peebles
Directed by Alfred Preisser
HSA Theatre, 645 St.
Nicholas Ave. (near 141st Street)
NEW SCHEDULE: Wednesdays
through Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
EXTENDED! Now through
Sunday, November 21st
TICKETS: $25; Call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com
311 West 43rd Street, Suite #1107 phone: (212) 307-7181
New York, NY 10036 Fax: (212)
307-7178