Playwright Will Power, CTH stage ‘Memnon’ in Harlem

If there’s one factor that I look ahead to every summer season, it’s regardless of the Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is doing within the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater (Marcus Garvey Park at 122nd Avenue). This summer season, Ty Jones, CTH’s producing inventive director, is bringing one other unimaginable play to the middle stage in its 2025 Uptown Shakespeare within the Park manufacturing. Throughout its twenty fifth anniversary, CTH is presenting “Memnon,” which tells the story of the legendary Ethiopian warrior-king, a long-overlooked hero of the Trojan Warfare. The manufacturing, which is free, runs by means of July 27.

We lately spoke with Will Energy, “Memnon”’s playwright, concerning the manufacturing:

AmNews: Why write about “Memnon”?

Will Energy: Greek tradition is taken into account by the Western world to be in some ways the top of civic, inventive, and political sophistication — the birthplace of civilization and the muse from which all European tradition comes from. It’s typically exhibited as an completely European, and even white possession. When in actuality, Historic Greece constructed a lot, and a few say most, of its cultural ideas off of Historic Africa, significantly the civilizations of Egypt and Ethiopia. This additionally extends to historic Greek mythology, the place one can discover nice African figures that have been revered, characters that performed key roles in Greek mythology, and specifically, the Trojan Warfare. The truth that Memnon, a biracial king from Africa, could be such an essential character in Greek mythology, but one which has been forgotten and in any other case erased, is what drew me to this story. Who was Memnon and why did he come to assist the quickly to be defeated historic metropolis of Troy? What did he battle with, and what was his purpose? Although we all know the unique abstract of this delusion, the small print and the precise meat of the narrative is misplaced to time. This then was an thrilling proposition for me as a playwright: to analysis and unpack what little we all know, and use my very own creativeness and inventive inclinations to determine the remaining. Writing “Memnon” proved to be a fantastic inventive problem that I couldn’t resist.

AmNews: Why is his historical past part of the Trojan Warfare not talked about?

WP: Racism. How troublesome wouldn’t it be to uphold white supremacy in all issues, when a personality as heroic, robust, divine and noble as Memnon was recognized to non-European peoples? Although I’ve no proof of this, I really feel that that is the explanation. In Historic Greek and even Roman tradition, Memnon as a personality was revered. These societies, whereas problematic in their very own proper, didn’t have racism, or at the very least not the type that we possess immediately. When racism based mostly on white supremacy started to emerge post-Roman Empire, you don’t hear about Memnon. Thus, my speculation. Although it may’ve been that the entire earlier works about Memnon have been misplaced by probability.

AmNews: What was it wish to be a co-conceiver on this manufacturing with Carl Cofield, the director?

WP: Wonderful. Working with Carl and the Classical Theater of Harlem has been one of many nice experiences of my life, I really feel, in CTH and [in] Carl I’ve discovered [a] kindred spirit that absolutely will get what I’m trying to attain on an virtually intuitive stage. Carl is actually gifted as a director, particularly in the case of the classics. It was a pleasure to collaborate with him on “Memnon.”

AmNews: What would you like audiences to return away with?

WP: I’d love for this play to spark full of life conversations all through Harlem and past about mythology, “otherness,” and the complexities of citizenship – i.e. what makes a citizen? And what society is or isn’t value preventing for?

AmNews: Why ought to folks see this present?

WP: As a result of it solely runs for a couple of extra performances, and it’s free! I’m so honored and happy, which isn’t all the time the case, with this manufacturing of “Memnon.” I encourage everybody to return out and see it.

The forged options Eric Berryman as Memnon, Andrea Patterson as Helen, Jesse J. Perez as Priam and Nestor, David Darrow as Polydamas and Antilochus, and Jesse Corbin as Achilles.

Invoice Moore images

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams talking at opening of CTH’s “Memnon.” Credit score: Invoice Moore picture

Scenes from Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) staging of “Memnon,” now on at Marcus Garvey Park.

The technical crew contains Riw Rakkulchon, scenic design; Celeste Jennings, costume design; Alan C. Edwards, lighting design; Emmanuel Brown, struggle director; Frederick Kennedy, sound design; and Yee Eun Nam and Hannah Tran, music and co-video designers.

The present is introduced Tuesdays by means of Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free; you may RSVP at cthnyc.org, and walk-ins are additionally welcome — however I have to warn you: Whether or not you RSVP or simply stroll in, plan to get there early as a result of seats fill in a short time.

CTH is all the time ensuring to current our tales and shine a inventive and thrilling highlight on Black creativity and excellence. Hope to see you there!