Photo Flash: Sneak Peek - PARTY PEOPLE Begins Tonight at The Public Theater

PARTY PEOPLE, the new show by UNIVERSES, is developed and directed by Liesl Tommy, with music by UNIVERSES and Broken Chord, and choreography by Millicent Johnnie. The show begins previews tonight, November 1, at The Public Theater and has been extended through Sunday, December 11, with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 15. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

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).

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. Developed and directed 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.

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

Photo Credit: Tammy Shell

Mildred Ruiz-Sapp and Gizel Jimenez

Gizel Jimenez, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, and William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja

RaMona King, Sophia Ramos, and Christopher Livingston

Steven Sapp

Gizel Jimenez, William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja, and Christopher Livingston

Gizel Jimenez

Christopher Livingston and William Ruiz

RaMona King, Christopher Livingston, Oberon K.A. Abjepong, and William Ruiz a.k.a. Ninja

The company of Party People in rehearsal

Liesl Tommy