Photo Flash: First Look - UNIVERSES' PARTY PEOPLE Takes Politics to a New Level at The Public Theater

PARTY PEOPLE, by UNIVERSES (Steven Sapp, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja), and developed and directed by Liesl Tommy, began performances on November 1 at The Public Theater and runs through Sunday, December 11, with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 15. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

UNIVERSES, the award-winning ensemble known for their fusion of theater, poetry, jazz, hip-hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish boleros, makes their Public Theater premiere with an explosive new work about the complicated legacies of the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords Org/Party. Directed and developed by Tony Award nominee Liesl Tommy, UNIVERSES created PARTY PEOPLE based on dozens of interviews with members of these groundbreaking, society-changing groups. PARTY PEOPLE imagines a present-day reunion at an art opening curated by two young counter culturalists; but the curators themselves have complex relationships with the Party members, who fought injustice and provided free food and medical care for their communities-often at the expense of the people who loved them most. Old wounds and generational divides collide in this astonishing, multi-media theatrical event about the price of being a revolutionary, and what it means for those who come after. Breaking the bounds of the expected, the members of UNIVERSES (Steven Sapp, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp and William Ruiz aka Ninja) and Liesl Tommy -invite audiences of every age, color and creed to join them as they continue to revolutionize American theater and explore the fight to bring power to the people, and the people to power.

The complete cast of PARTY PEOPLE features Oberon K.A. Adjepong (Blue); Michael Elich (Marcus, FBI Agent); Gizel Jiménez (Clara); Ramona Keller (Amira); Christopher Livingston (Malik); Jesse J. Perez (Tito); Sophia Ramos (Maruca); Robynn Rodriguez (Donna, Fina); Horace V. Rogers (Solias); William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja (Jimmy "Primo"); Mildred Ruiz-Sapp (Helita); and Steven Sapp (Omar).

PARTY PEOPLE features scenic and lighting design by Marcus Doshi, costume design by Meg Neville, sound design and vocal direction by Broken Chord, music composition UNIVERSES and Broken Chord, projection design by Sven Ortel, and hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Christopher Livingston and William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja (center) and the company of Party People

Christopher Livingston and William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja (center) and the company of Party People

William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja and the company of Party People

Mildred Ruiz (center) and the company of Party People

The company of Party People

The company of Party People

Steven Sapp (foreground) and the company of Party People

William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja

Sophia Ramos, William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja, and Christopher Livingston (foreground)

The company of Party People

The company of Party People

Christopher Livingston and William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja