American Repertory Theater at Harvard University announces today that it will join Company One Theatre to present a reimagined digital version of C1's critically acclaimed, Elliot Norton Award-winning production of Hype Man: a break beat play by Idris Goodwin. The story of friendship, hip-hop, and protest will be filmed this winter by The Loop Lab.
The production will stream as part of A.R.T.'s Virtually OBERON series in Spring 2021. Tickets will go on sale in February at AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/HypeMan.
The new intimate and cinematic version of the world-premiere production directed by Shawn LaCount will be film-directed by John ADEkoje (2006 Roxbury Film Festival Award for Emerging local Filmmaker) and incorporate animation by Barrington S. Edwards.
Original cast members Kadahj Bennett, Rachel Cognata, and Michael Knowlton will reprise their roles.
Returning original creative team members include Kadahj Bennet (Music Direction), Lawrence E. Moten III (Scenic Design), Lee Schuna (Sound Design), and Cassandra Cacoq (Costume Design). Sean Pieroth (Lighting Design) joins the team. Misha Shields was choreographer and Jessie Baxter was the dramaturg for the 2018 production, respectively.