Classical Theatre of Harlem's THE TEMPEST, Starring Ron Cephas Jones, to Open This Sunday

William Shakespeare's classic THE TEMPEST, part of Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH)'s 15th anniversary season, will open this Sunday, July 5.

The free, summer, uptown production is presented in partnership with City Parks Foundation's SummerStage festival. Directed by Carl Cofield and starring New York theater and Broadway veteran Ron Cephas Jones, the production will transform the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park into an enchanted Caribbean island where the magic takes flight-with elaborate aerial design elements a part of the show.

The third annual CTH Under the Stars presentation runs through July 26. The Richard Rodgers Amphitheater is located at Marcus Garvey Park (enter at 124th Street and Fifth Avenue and walk south to the venue).

An opening night afterparty will be held at Chéri Restaurant, including the cast: Ron Cephas Jones (Prospero, pictured left), Kimberly Chatterjee (Miranda), Reynaldo Piniella (Ferdinand). Fedna Jacquet (Ariel), Carl Hendrick Louis (Caliban, Tanya Everett (Antonia), Ryan Alvarado (Sebastian), Richard Busser (Alonzo), Brandon Carter (Gonzalo). Emmanuel Brown (Stephano), Anthony Vaughn Merchant (Trinculo), Dante Jeanfelix (Master, Adrian, ensemble), Anthony Lalor (Boatswain, Francisco). Shayshahn MacPherson, Rachel Small and Djaka Souare (ensemble); director Carl Cofield; other CTH actors Sheldon Best and Zainab Jah; CTH Producing Artistic Director Ty Jones and Managing Director David Roberts.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director; David Roberts, Managing Director) is an American theatre company that tells stories as seen through the lens of the African diaspora and does work that honors the cultural legacy of the neighborhood in which it was founded. CTH combines original adaptations, music and dance to present great classics of world literature as well as contemporary works that will stand the test of time, while being truly reflective of the diversity of ideas and racial tapestry that is America. 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 engages new audiences, provides artistic development of new work and gives exposure to emerging playwrights with its three free reading series: Future Classics, Playwrights' Playground and Revisited Classics.

Visit www.cthnyc.org and follow CTH on Twitter (@classicalharlem), Instagram (@classicalharlem), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/theclassicaltheatreofharlem).