The Classical Theatre of Harlem

Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death

By Melvin Van Peebles

Presented in partnership with

The Classical Theatre of Harlem will kick-off its season in partnership with the City Parks Foundation to presentFREE performances of its award-winning production of Melvin Van Peebles's musical Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death.

A totally unique fiction form, Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death is a gutsy, lusty politically-outspoken narrative of African American street life that explores inner-city agony. Peopled by junkies, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers and dreamers, Van Peebles' play is considered a tradition-shattering and trend-setting work which spawned the choreo-poem, spoken word and rap music.

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death was a huge hit when it premiered on Broadway and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Until CTH's 2004 production, the show had not been seen in New York for over thirty years. One of our most successful productions (receiving seven AUDELCO Awards and a Drama Desk nomination) CTH is proud to remount Ain‘t Supposed to Die a Natural Death and offer FREE performances in New York City Parks.

The Amphitheater at Von King Park, Brooklyn

Friday, July 25, 2008 at 8pm
Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 8pm
Get directions

The Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8pm
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 8pm
Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 8pm
Get directions

The Amphitheater at East River Park, Manhattan

Friday, August 8, 2008 at 8pm
Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 8pm
Get directions

The Amphitheater at St. Mary's Park, Bronx

Friday, August 15, 2008 at 8pm
Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 8pm
2 or 5 Train to 3rd Ave. 149th St Station walk East on 149th St to St. Mary’s Park
6 Train to 143rd St St. Mary’s Station walk West on St. Mary’s Ave to park

All performances are Free and open to the public.
No reservations or tickets required. Seating is provided.

That giant-killer of a company, the Classical Theater of Harlem is a troupe that makes a habit of locating the most challenging works in the canon and knocking them off as if with a slingshot. - The New York Times

The Classical Theatre of Harlem, a company that has the youngest, most diverse audiences in town, takes nontraditional casting to a new level, and is putting on rarely performed but remarkably powerful work. - New York Magazine

Startlingly fresh … CTH reconfirms itself as one of the gutsiest and physically fearless groups around - David Cote, Time Out NY

Van Peebles [is a] cultural icon…A tradition-busting spoken-word musical&elip;an innovative precursor to rap and slam poetry….Refreshingly raw…[a] sprawling collage of black street life…arresting [and] urgent…chilling, potent [and] bracing. - David Rooney, Variety

Still vital….Explosively directed [by] Alfred Preisser…Outstanding cast…If ‘renaissance’ means ‘rebirth,’ then the Ain’t Supposed revival represents a slice of present-day Harlem Renaissance. - David Finkle, The Village Voice

Van Peebles’ “tunes from blackness” erupt from anywhere and everywhere, surprising us, catching us off guard, keeping us riveted and engaged…[a] challenging, ambitious, complicated work of genre-defying and barrier-breaking theatre…an authentic landmark of theatrical, cultural, and social history…explodes before our eyes like a spontaneous fireworks display…a show unlike any other.