New Musical ZAREPHATH Brings Free Summer Fun to NYC

Written, directed, and composed by Ayvaunn Penn, the gospel and jazz infused musical Zarephath is a dance-filled ensemble piece created under the tutelage of Pulitzer Prize Winner Lynn Nottage & Tony Award Winner David Henry Hwang. It is based on the Bible story of the widow woman who - in the midst of drought - shares her last meal with the prophet Elijah. Enthralling to listen to and exciting to watch, this ball of summer fun will have shows at Columbia University Schapiro Theatre August 11, 2017 at 7PM and August 12, 2017 at 12PM. Other performances will take place in various public spaces in NYC. Additional locations, dates, and times to be announced on www.ThePennSpeaks.Wordpress.com. All shows are free of charge.

The creative team features the talent of Paloma Estevez as producer, Christina Beck as assistant director, Jerome Brooks, Jr. as music director, Imani Lia as costume designer, and Eric Norbury as lighting designer. Cast announcement coming soon.

Penn most recently served as assistant director to Tony Award winning actor and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Jitney) on Their Eyes Were Watching God which launched the re-opening of Brooklyn's historic Billie Holiday Theatre. This past March, her play King David: The Original Musicless Musical - also written and directed by Penn - debuted at Columbia University Schapiro Theatre where it received praise from theatre legends Lynn Nottage, David Henry Hwang, and Charles L. Mee. She is the Columbia University School of the Arts Dean's Fellowship recipient for the playwriting class of 2018.

Columbia University Schapiro Theatre is located at 605 W. 115th Street. For directions visit http://columbiastages.org/directions.html.