Photo Flash: First Look at South African Drama THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE in U.S. Premiere at the cell

the cell presents the US Premiere of South African drama YEAR OF THE BICYCLE by Joanna Evans. Directed by Shariffa Aliby, it is presented as the centerpiece of the 2nd annual C.M.O.R.E. Festival dedicated to Creating More Opportunity for Racial Equity among playwrights, directors, and actors. Performances run now through May 2 at the cell (338 W 23rd St, between 8th & 9th Avenues). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

YEAR OF THE BICYCLE chronicles the unlikely bond between two children in apartheid South Africa as they navigate their friendship and the tumultuous political landscape that separates them. The production stars Kambi Gathesha (Our Lady of Kibeho, The Rivals) and Elaine Ivy Harris with lighting by Chris Steckel and set by You-Shin Chen.

Shariffa Ali is a graduate of the University of Cape Town. Born in Nairobi, Shariffa is half Kenyan, half Ethiopian and after having spent the majority of her formative years in Mbabane Swaziland and Pretoria South Africa, Shariffa proudly considers herself as an Afropolitan -- a citizen of the entire African continent. She was a producer on The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, three days of workshops for actors, writers, directors and producers 25 and under. For the Alchemical Theater Laboratory she directed, choreographed and co-produced STILL, and currently serves as the Community Impact Coordinator at The Public. She recently directed we are proud to present...by Jackie Sibblies Drury for Yale Dramat and served as assistant director to Cynthia Nixon on Motherstruck!, Rasheeda Speaking, and Steve.

Joanna Evans is a theatre maker, performer and playwright from Cape Town, specializing in devised and physical theatre. She has created a number of original productions, including The Year of the Bicycle, King Kong What What and Four Small Gods. She also founded South Africa's first theatre to create performances for children under four. Her plays have toured nationally as well as to festivals in Italy, Germany, Iran and Réunion, and she has been a performer in residence for the African Talent Network in Cameroon.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the incubation and presentation of new works by emerging artists. Started in 2006 by Founding Artistic Director Nancy Manocherian and Artistic Director Kira Simring, the cell has produced over a dozen critically-acclaimed world premiere productions of new plays and musicals over the past 10 years including the recent off Broadway transfer of Crackskull Row. the cell also features the jazz at the cell series and has served as a home base for a large community of resident artists and organizations such as Blackboard Reading Series, Artists Without Walls (AWOW), Irish American Writers and Artists (IAW), Sybarite5 and Tribeca New Music.

Photo Credit: Michael Bonasio

Kambi Gathesha and Elaine Ivy Harris in THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE.
Kambi Gathesha and Elaine Ivy Harris in THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE.
Kambi Gathesha and Elaine Ivy Harris in THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE.
Elaine Ivy Harris and Kambi Gathesha in THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE.
Kambi Gathesha and Elaine Ivy Harris in THE YEAR OF THE BICYCLE.