(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- As a company, Progressive Theater aims to tell culturally enriched stories that empower the most represented; people of color and women and captivate all audiences with the focus on being the change that is needed in the theater community. They believe in the significance of what is put on stage and screen, and what people are perceiving which is why telling these stories becomes absolutely integral. 

In these trying times, the management of Progressive Theater realized that a number of people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. As a result, director Gregory Omar Osborne played a crucial role in hiring over 50 artists, musicians, actors, singers and dancers to adapt the 1988 Broadway Musical,  The Gospel At Colonus, in order to film it.  The musical is conceived and adapted by Lee Breuer while the music is by Bob Telson.

The Gospel At Colonus is based on an adaptation of Sophocles’ Oedipus At Colonus in the version by Robert Fitzgerald and incorporating passages from both Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone in the versions by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, which are published as The Oedipus Cycle of Sophocles, a Harvest/HBJ Book, Harcourt Brace Jovanich, Inc.

The trailed was filmed by @r.bjazz and directed by @goo_inc with musical direction by @darnellwhitemusic⠀⠀

The Gospel At Colonus will star Daryl Stewart (Preacher Oedipus), Manny Milfort (Singer Oedipus), Kimberly Milan (Evangelist Antigone), Shari Gill (Singer Ismene), Sterling Spralls (Pastor Theseus), Alcides Costa (Testifier Polyneices), Arnold Harper II (Choragos), Elvie Ellis (Balladeer), Kirk Jasen Lambert (Deacon Creon), David Lamarr (Friend) Angela Birchett (Soloist). Rounding out the cast are Jada Meusa, Jordan Owens, Damien Smith, Justin Paul Daniels, Dana P Hawkins, Pamoja Days, Ibn Days, Brandon Webber, and Zenni Corbin.  

Progressive Theater allows the sharing of theater magic with many people in neighbouring communities that don’t have access to theater or live entertainment by urging audience members to purchase extra tickets that are then donated to students from low income families. Through this Progressive Theater is increasing accessibility to the stage, films and theaters that involve misrepresented people and important issues that need to be talked about.

The ability to perform or direct culturally and emotionally sensitive theater and films is a very crucial job, because it has the power to garner the emotions and perceptions of the audiences. Through this Progressive Theater can be a catalyst for change in the way people behave in the future and how communities thrive with each other in terms of sensitive topics such as genders, race, and religion. Progressive Theater aims to achieve all of the above with their enlightening work.

PHOTO: Manny Milfort as Singer Oedipus (Photo Credit @IZDIGO)