Classical Theatre of Harlem Will Bring “Othello” to Marcus Garvey Park July 2–26
https://www.cthnyc.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
The Classical Theatre of Harlem will return to Marcus Garvey Park this summer with William Shakespeare’s “Othello,” continuing its free Uptown Shakespeare in the Park series with a tragedy that the company says speaks directly to the present.
The outdoor production will run July 2 through July 26, 2026, with previews beginning July 2 and opening night set for July 5. Carl Cofield, CTH’s associate artistic director, will direct.
The company has announced a cast led by Princess Grace Award-winning actor James Udom as Othello, Drama Desk Award recipient Nick Westrate as Iago, Isabel Arraiza as Desdemona, Orlando Grant as Cassio, and Keren Lugo as Emilia.
The full cast also includes Hiram Delgado as Roderigo, Gilbert Cruz as Brabantio and Gratiano, Rebecca Pena as Bianca, Collin McConnell as the Duke of Venice and Lodovico, and Christopher Then as Montano, governor of Cyprus. Understudies include Brynlie Hemlich for Bianca, Men Ca for Othello, Jo Rich for the Brabantio and Duke tracks, and Brady Moldrup for Cassio.
A tragedy of jealousy, manipulation, race, and power, “Othello” has long occupied a difficult place in the Shakespeare canon. For CTH, which tells stories through the lens of the African diaspora, the play offers an opportunity to revisit those tensions in Harlem, before a public audience, in one of the neighborhood’s most important parks.
“For Uptown Shakespeare in the Park, we seek plays that speak directly to our audiences today,” said Ty Jones, CTH’s producing artistic director. “‘Othello’s’ unraveling is not just personal; it is societal. It asks audiences to see how racism, militarization, and psychological trauma intertwine to destroy both the body and the soul. His tragedy is not jealousy alone, but the crushing aftermath of being asked to serve, to excel, to assimilate — and yet never to belong. Presenting this work outdoors, free and accessible to all, as always, is central to our mission.”
Cofield said the production will look closely at the psychological cost of isolation and otherness.
“At its core, ‘Othello’ is about what happens when a person is isolated from their own humanity,” Cofield said. “This production explores the emotional and psychological cost of being othered, while also celebrating the beauty, intimacy and vulnerability that make these characters so deeply human. Harlem audiences understand these tensions instinctively, and that makes Marcus Garvey Park the perfect home for this story.”
Uptown Shakespeare in the Park has become a summer tradition for CTH, drawing thousands of attendees each year to free outdoor productions that place classical theater in direct conversation with Harlem audiences. The 2026 production of “Othello” will continue the company’s emphasis on inclusive casting, community engagement and large-scale classical work made available without a ticket price.
Additional details, including the full creative team and partner organizations, will be announced later.
Founded in 1999, The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents classical and contemporary works through the lens of the African diaspora. Its productions have ranged from Sophocles, Euripides, and Shakespeare to August Wilson, Langston Hughes, Jean Genet, and emerging playwrights. The company also provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and families through Project Classics, along with programs including Future Classics, Playwrights’ Playground and Revisited Classics.
CTH’s board of directors includes artists and cultural leaders across theater, film, television and the arts, including Ethan Hawke, Kara Young, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Kandi Burruss and Delroy Lindo. Young made Broadway history as the first African American performer to win back-to-back Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a play, for “Purlie Victorious” in 2024 and “Purpose” in 2025.
The company serves more than 35,000 live audience members each year, and its online programming has drawn more than 500,000 viewers. WNYC is a media partner of The Classical Theatre of Harlem.
For more information about “Othello” and other upcoming events, visit cthnyc.org.
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