King David: The Original Musicless Musical (Free Admission)

Columbia University Schapiro Theatre
March 10, 2017 – 8PM
March 11, 2017 – 2PM, 8PM
March 12, 2017 – 2PM, 7PM

What’s a musicless musical? This “classroom project” developed under Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is open to Columbia students, faculty, and invited guests. You are invited! Reserve FREE seats at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/king-david-tickets-32425930832?aff=form

King David, lauded by theatre legends Anne Bogart and David Henry Hwang (Tony Award Winner) during classroom development at Columbia University, has taken on exciting transformations in form and content since the original October 2016 production. Now known as King David: The Original Musicless Musical, it is a dance-filled dramatic work wherein people are the instruments, poetry is the music, and the human body serves as the building blocks of the set. Indubitably a treat for the eyes and ears alike.

This biblical adaptation of II Samuel chapters 11-13 is written and directed by Ayvaunn Penn. Her play explores the tragedy that befalls King David’s family in a way he never expects when his son, Amnon, rapes his beloved young daughter, Tamar. Will David have the strength to tell his daughter that his past actions are the cause of her pain? Through contemporary free verse poetry and dance we dive into David’s mind revisiting the mental battle fields of his past where the fate of his daughter is determined.

Penn most recently served as assistant director to Golden Globe winner Regina Taylor on her show STOP. RESET. at Goodman Theatre. She is currently earning her Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting at Columbia University where she is School of the Arts Dean’s Fellowship recipient for the playwriting class of 2018. It is with this play that Penn plans to launch her theatre company Bible & Penn.