The Classical Theatre of Harlem

ain't supposed to die a natural death

by melvin van peebles
directed by Alfred preisser

Musical Director: William Patterson
Choreographer: Tracy Jack
Set Design: Troy Hourie
Costume Design: Kimberly Glennon
Lighting Design: Aaron Black
Stage Manager: Alexander Casasnovas

Cast Jordan Brown, Mo Brown, Neil Dawson, Tracy Jack, J Kyle Manzay, April McCants, Kimberlee Monroe, John Andrew Morrison, Taharaq Patterson, Charles Rueben, Chudney Sykes, Willie Teacher, James Tolbert, Glenn Turner, Althea Vyfius & Robyn Landiss Walker

October 1 - November 21, 2004 | The HSA Theatre

Winner 7 2005 AUDELCO AWARDS
Best Direction
Best Chorography
Best Musical Direction
Best Costumes
Best Sound Design
Best Supporting Actress
Musical Production of the Year

2005 DRAMA DESK AWARD
Nomination for Outstanding Musical Revival

A totally unique fiction form, Ain't Supposed To Die A Natural Death is a gutsy, lusty narrative of Black street life that explores every aspect of ghetto life. Peopled by junkies, whores, pimps, lesbians, drag queens, sweatshop workers, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers and dreamers, Van Peebles's play is considered a tradition-shattering, trendsetting work that spawned the choreopoem, spoken word and rap music. Ain't Supposed To Die was a huge hit on Broadway, running for 325 performances and garnering seven Tony nominations, including Best Musical.

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

“The series of vignettes explodes like a round of mini-riots … a genre-bending milestone musical.” The New York Times

“Van Peebles [is a] cultural icon…A tradition-busting spoken-word musical…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.” Martin Denton, The New York Theatre Experience

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