Classical Theatre of Harlem
Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director & Carl Cofield, Associate Artistic Director
CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM (CTH) COMBINES ORIGINAL ADAPTATIONS, MUSIC, AND DANCE TO PRESENT GREAT CLASSICS OF WORLD LITERATURE AS WELL AS CONTEMPORARY WORKS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
Tiffany Rea-Fisher and CTH have been in collaboration for 7 years, producing high-quality summer productions for the Harlem community.
In the fall of 2015, Tiffany was invited to choreograph the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Macbeth (2016). Working in theatre was a first for Tiffany. As part of this collaboration, Tiffany was able to bring in six Company Dancers under her contract to participate in the production. This opportunity expands and allows new audiences to experience EMERGE125. In addition, it is a great opportunity for our dancers, who perform 6 shows a week for 4 weeks every summer.
In 2018 and 2019, Tiffany began to create the magic that is A Christmas Carol in Harlem. This holiday treasure, set in present-day Harlem was directed by Carl Cofield and took place at Aaron Davis Hall in Harlem, NY.
Celebrating a 7-year partnership, Tiffany’s work with CTH spans across several summer and winter productions including Macbeth, Three Musketeers, A Christmas Carol in Harlem, Antigone, Bacchae, Seize the King, and Twelfth Night.
Tiffany Rea-Fisher was nominated for the AUDELCO Choreography Award for every production with CTH and praised in The New York Times for her work.
“In this production, though, the rest is lively, witty, fresh — and peppered with crowd-pleasing songs performed by Olivia’s scooter-riding jester, Feste (Israel Erron Ford) — in one instance, with Toby and Andrew as backup dancers. (The original music is by Frederick Kennedy, who also did the sound design; choreography is by company regular Tiffany Rea-Fisher.)”
“Seize the King was The New York Times Critics Pick saying “Dance, a regular feature of Classical Theater of Harlem productions, is used here to extraordinary effect. Choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher with her customary grace, it is woven more deeply than usual into the storytelling — as when we watch the death of the old king, Edward IV, enacted wordlessly — and into the mood of the performance.””
“The Bacchae was The New York Times Critics Pick saying “A completely free and totally exhilarating new adaptation of “The Bacchae” that will leave you wanting to join the chorus...””
“When they’re not center stage, the 12 women in the ensemble often surround the men trying to subjugate them. One tableau, which has them occupying three levels of the stage, is so breathtaking that you expect them to burst into “Cell Block Tango,” from “Chicago,” and regale us with their personal stories.”
“Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III at Aaron Davis Hall, it has a curiously unfestive air despite some lovely interspersed a cappella carols (the music director is Kahlil X Daniel) and dance (choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher) that’s eye-catching from the opening scene, a balletic snow frolic.”
“...the ritual of the whole — with the music of a crooning chorus (Ryan Alvarado, Denzel D. Fields and Nedra Snipes) and the movement of a flock of five dancers (choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher) — does bring catharsis.”
“Choreographic flourishes are incorporated, and four musicians provide a well-deployed, drum-heavy accompaniment.”
HARLEM’S COMMITMENT TO HARLEM
The 2022 performance of Twelfth Night marked 8 productions choreographed by E125 Executive Artistic Director, Tiffany Rea-Fisher in collaboration with Classical Theatre of Harlem. The summer’s production had over 17,000 audience members in attendance and The New York Times Critics Pick said "This is one of those productions that make you feel lucky to be in New York.”
“And even if Cofield evinces too heavy a hand for comedy at times, his Twelfth Night at least vibrates with a playful spirit that keeps it fresh and entertaining, exemplified by choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher’s exuberant interstitial dance sequences...”
PAST PRODUCTIONS:
Twelfth Night
Seize the king
The Bacchae
Antigone
The 3 Musketeers
Macbeth
Go Behind the Curtain with Tiffany Rea-Fisher, interviewed by Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Ty Jones
"The Bacchae" - New York Times Review Highlights
