Goddess is currently making its Off-Broadway premiere at The Public Theater's Newman Theater, with opening night set for May 20 and an extended run continuing through June 8. Get a first look at the new production in the gallery below. 2025 Tony nominee Saheem Ali is at the helm.
The original musical, inspired by the myth of Marimba, centers on a mysterious singer who arrives in a Kenyan Afro-jazz club and casts her spell on everyone, including a young man visiting home from studying in America who suddenly questions his life plans. Featuring music and lyrics by Thurber and a book by Ali with additional book material by James Ijames (Fat Ham), the work received its world premiere in 2022 at Berkeley Rep.
READ: Goddess Is an Original Musical About Kenya 18 Years in the Making
Austin Scott and Amber Iman in Goddess at the Public Theater
The cast of Goddess at the Public Theater
The cast of Goddess at the Public Theater
Nick Rashad Burroughs and the cast of Goddess at the Public Theater
Austin Scott and Destinee Rea in Goddess at the Public Theater
Amber Iman and the cast of Goddess at the Public Theater
Teshomech Olenja, Reggie D. White, Awa Sal Secka, and Melessie Clark in Goddess at the Public Theater
Arica Jackson in Goddess at the Public Theater
Amber Iman in Goddess at the Public Theater
Austin Scott and Ayana George Jackson in Goddess at the Public Theater
The cast of Goddess at the Public Theater
Austin Scott and Amber Iman in Goddess at the Public Theater
Austin Scott and Nick Rashad Burroughs in Goddess at the Public Theater
This bow features much of the cast from the Berkeley Rep premiere, with Tony nominee Amber Iman leading the cast as Nadira alongside Austin Scott as Omari, Melessie Clark as Mosi, Teshomech Olenja as Tisa, Destinee Rea as Cheche, Awa Sal Secka as Zawadi, and Reggie White as Balozi. Returning to the musical's ensemble are Isio-Maya Nuwere, Quiantae Thomas, and Wade Watson. New to the company are Nick Rashad Burroughs as Ahmed, Arica Jackson as Rashida, J Paul Nicholas as Hassan, and Scott as Omari. The project's original casting is by Whitley Theatrical, and Taylor Williams is handling The Public's staging.
Ali, who conceived the work, also directed the 2022 world premiere, and has reassembled that creative team for the Off-Broadway bow, including choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, scenic designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Bradley King, and sound designer Nevin Steinberg. Victoria Navarro serves as production stage manager.
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