Photo Flash: First Look at RUTHERFORD'S TRAVELS World Premiere at Pegasus Theatre
Pegasus Theatre Chicago presents the world premiere of Rutherford's Travels, the adaptation of CharLes Johnson's beloved National Book Award-winning novel, "Middle Passage," now through December 4 at Pegasus's resident home Chicago Dramatists, 773 N. Aberdeen. Rutherford's Travels is co-adapted and directed by Pegasus Theatre Producing Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and co-adapted by David Barr, III, music directed and composed by Shawn Wallace and choreographed by Nicole Clarke-Springer. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
For more than ten years, Duncan and Barr have been working with MacArthur Fellow and acclaimed author CharLes Johnson to bring his seminal work to the stage. From workshops to staged readings to public discussions and the author's own input, a world premiere production was created. Combining movement, music and Johnson's story, Rutherford's Travels is a tale told through Rutherford Calhoun's 1830s journal log entries. Calhoun, a newly freed Illinois slave and exceptionally learned scoundrel travels to New Orleans where he escapes his debtors and a forced marriage by stowing away on an outbound rigger named The Republic. But The Republic isn't just any ship, it is a slave ship and it's headed to Africa.
The cast of Rutherford's Travels includes Breon Arzell, "Rutherford Calhoun;" Osiris Khepera, "Santos/Diamelo/Riley;" Gary Houston, "Captain Falcon;" Darren Jones, "Papa Zerinque;" Andrew Malone, "Jackson/Ngonyama;" Ron Quade, "Josiah Squibb;" Nelson Rodriguez, "Cringle/Rev. Chandler;" Tiffany Renee Johnson, "Baleka/Almuseri God;" Naima Hebrail Kidjo, "Isadora/African Mother;" Heather Chrisler, "Tom/Meadows" and David Fehr, "McGaffin/Quakenbush."
Rutherford's Travels production team is Elyse Balogh, scenic design; Josh Wroblewski, lighting design; Melissa Perkins, costume design; Sarah Putts, sound design; Alec Long, props design; R&D Choreography, violence design and Liam Fitzgerald, production manager.
The performance schedule includes previews Wednesday, Nov. 2 - Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. with opening night Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30, seniors are $25 and students are $18. Tickets and more information are available at PegasusTheatreChicago.org.
Photo Credit: joe mazza - brave lux
Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun)
Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun), Osiris Khepera (Santos/Diamelo/Riley) and Darren Jones (Papa Zerinque)
Tiffany Renee Johnson (Baleka) and Nelson Rodriguez (Cringle)
Ron Quade (Josiah Squibb) and David Fehr (McGaffin/Quakenbush)
Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun) and Naima Hebrail Kidjo (Isadora/African Mother)
(center) Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun) and the ensemble of Rutherford’s Travels
Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun) and Naima Hebrail Kidjo (Isadora/African Mother)
Breon Arzell (Rutherford Calhoun), Osiris Khepera (Santos/Diamelo/Riley) and Darren Jones (Papa Zerinque)
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