40 local community members of all ages participate in Lewis Center's musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale

Forty local community members of all ages joined Princeton students, staff, and alumni to perform in the Lewis Center for the Arts’ sold-out musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale on November 10, 11 and 12 at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center.

Photo Gallery

A large group of performers in colorful costumes dance and sing with enthusiasm on stage

Photo by Larry Levanti

A group of young performers dance on stage

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor in the foreground breakdances in front of a group of other performers on stage

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor holds an looks a flower while walking on stage

Photo by Larry Levanti

A group of actors dressed in bright robes and dresses sit and casually converse and sing

An actor wearing a crown embraces another actor in colorful robes kneeling on the stage

An actor dressed as a queen and appears pregnant holds her hand out to another actor who is on one knee

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor holds a baby and appears to be singing as another actor sings in the background

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor dressed in a white gown walks defiantly through groups of actors flanking both sides of the stage

Photo by Larry Levanti

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor dressed in black intensely hold a knife in front of her face

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor who looks fearful is surrounded by a group of threatening figures dressed in white

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor holding a prop baby looks frightened

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor fights with another actor in a tiger costume on stage.

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor in the center of the stage addresses others who are sitting and standing in back

Photo by Larry Levanti

An actor dressed in bright robes sings while holding a prop baby

A large group of actors in colorful costumes pass a prop that appears to be a bundled baby through the crowd

Photo by Larry Levanti

Photo by Larry Levanti

The cast and crew of Winter's Tale gather on stage all dressed in colorful costumes

Photo by Larry Levanti

This original Public Works adaptation of The Winter’s Tale, with music and new lyrics by Todd Almond, was originally conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet based on the play by Shakespeare. Public Works is a program of The Public Theater in New York City and part of The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park season that presents classical works in Central Park during the summer. Public Works draws community members from throughout the city’s five boroughs to join professional actors for the annual production. The Princeton production followed that same model.

Lecturer in Theater Shariffa Ali. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Directed at Princeton by professional director and faculty member Shariffa Ali, this production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is set in dystopian Sicilia and utopian Bohemia and inspired by Afrofuturism. It centers community participation through a story of love, betrayal and redemption.

Following an overwhelming response to casting sessions held in August and early September, the community ensemble began rehearsals in mid-September, learning the music, choreography and staging as a range of characters who inhabit the world of The Winter’s Tale: townspeople of Bohemia, Sicilian guards, supporting characters, Perdita’s squad, a winter dance ensemble, and a shepherd. The ensemble rehearsed twice a week alongside Princeton students in the leading roles of the play and were joined by a number of Princeton faculty, alumni and staff in cameo roles, as well as a range of Princeton student performing arts groups including the Princeton Playhouse Choir, Sympoh Urban Arts Crew, Raqs: Princeton Belly Dance Company, DoroBucci African Dance Company, and HUA Chinese Dance group. The full cast, including the musical’s band, total 109. A busy week of technical rehearsals in early November led to opening night on November 10.

The diverse community ensemble are residents of the greater Mercer County region including Princeton, Trenton, Hamilton, Hopewell, Lawrenceville, Plainsboro, Freehold, and Somerset, with a few from as far away as Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Brooklyn. Participants range in age from elementary school children to seniors in their 70s, creating a multigenerational community of players. There are also a number of family groups including two sisters, an aunt and niece, and a parent with their two children, among others.

In addition to the director, the community members had the opportunity to work with an all-professional production team including community direction and co-production by Director of the Program in Theater and Music Theater Jane Cox, music direction by Playhouse Ensembles leader and faculty member Solon Snider Sway, performance direction by faculty member Chesney Snow, and choreography by alumna Rachel Schwartz. The set and costumes were designed by faculty member Sarita Fellows with lighting design by faculty member Tess James and sound design by staff member Kay Richardson. The production is led by the stage management team of staff members Carmelita Becnel and Milan Eldridge.