This fall, the Getty Villa Museum and the Classical Theatre of Harlem will present the world premiere of Memnon for the 18th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production. Memnon is directed by Carl Cofield, associate artistic director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem, and is written by Will Power. The Memnon cast includes Eric Berryman in the title role of Memnon, Jennifer Mogbock as Helen, and Daniel Molina as Polydamas/Antilochus (additional casting will be announced at a later date).
For tickets ($45-$55, on sale on July 1), call (310) 440-7300 or visit The Getty. Thursday-Saturday September 5–28 at 8 pm. ASL interpreted performances September 19 and 26. Student and senior discounts are available for Thursday night performances only. Ticket prices for the previews August 29–31, 2024 are $30.
With bold, vivid language and gripping dramatic conflict, Memnon tells the tale of an Ethiopian king who journeys to the city of Troy to fight alongside the Trojans in their darkest hour. This epic story, from the ancient Greek legend of the fall of Troy, has been overlooked for over a millennium, until now.
“For far too long, the story of Memnon has gone unnoticed,” says Carl Cofield, associate artistic director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem. “I’m delighted to partner again with Will Power to bring this remarkable story to the forefront of our mythology. This is exactly the type of work that inspires me. Stories that force us to ask big questions and interrogate inherited folklore.”
The play will feature choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, executive artistic director of EMERGE125, set design by Riw Rakkulchon, costumes by Celeste Jennings, lighting design by Brandon Baruch, original composition and sound design by David R. Molina, and projection design by Yee Eun Nam.
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, visitcthnyc.
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.
