new heaven new earth - Philadelphia Fringe Festival

new heaven new earth

Upstream Performance Collaborative and Shakespeare in Clark Park

Spoken Word & Storytelling, Theater

On the edge of empire, Cleopatra battles a soothsaying Crocodile in this revisionist, Afrocentric adaptation of Shakespeare's “Antony and Cleopatra”. Written by Rayne, directed by Shamus, with live music by Karen Smith, "new heaven new earth” is an allegory that blends ancient history with poetic futurism. When peace demands war, what will you become, and for whom?

After an over-sold, one-night showing at Philly Theatre Week, "new heaven new earth" continues its development through Philadelphia Theatre Company's Text and Dramaturgy Cohort at Cannonball.

Join us for two, developmental staged-readings of this new play commissioned and produced by Shakespeare in Clark Park with Upstream Performance Collaborative and Cannonball.

With over 100 offerings from rebellious circus, delicious dance, fearless theatre and activist art to workshops, parties, and more Cannonball pushes the boundaries of live performance at four different venues this Fringe. Come as you are and stay past bedtime at cannonballfestival.org.

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Details

Run Time: 120 mins

Ticket Price: $25

PWYC Options $5+

Venue: The Proscenium at The Drake

Dates: September 1, 2025 - September 16, 2025

Buy Tickets

September 1, 2025 6.00pm

302 S. Hicks St

General Admission: $25

PWYC Options

September 16, 2025 8.00pm

302 S. Hicks St

General Admission: $25

PWYC Options

About the Artist

Rayne (Angela Bey) is a multidisciplinary artist from Southwest Philadelphia. They tell stories of transformation that center Black folx. Named one of "18 young Philadelphians shaping the future of the city’s creative class" by PhillyVoice, Rayne’s plays have been developed through numerous theaters and arts organizations nationally, including support by Leeway Foundation, Independence Foundation, the NEA, and Pew. Rayne is founder of Upstream Performance Collaborative. They are a member of New Pages at Azuka Theatre and the Foundry at PlayPenn. @tallblackcreative tallblackcreative.com

Karen Smith is the proud recipient of a 2023 Pew Fellowship. A New York Native/Philadelphia Transplant, Karen is a percussionist, playwright, director, producer, and poet. She is also the founder and leader of two musical collectives: The Karen Smith Experience, and Sistahs Laying Down Hands (SLDH). For more than 10 years Karen Smith has been taking her drums on the road with her movement, Have Drums Will Travel Immediately. She has provided rhythms for projects in the Delaware Valley Tri-state area, and also in Alabama, Houston, Atlanta, and Jamaica, West Indies. Karen captures "the rhythm of a place and the cadences of people.” karensmithdrums.com

Shamus is a Queer creator and dog dad. He currently serves as Producing Artistic Director for Philadelphia's Shakespeare in Clark Park and on faculty at Rutgers-Camden. Recent credits: Shakespeare in Clark Park (Comedy of Errors: Real Housewives of Ephesus, Two Gentlemen of Verona the musical), Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis (J.C. Pankratz’s Little Kingdom), Boston Playwright’s Theatre (Jay Eddy’s Alligator-A-Phobia in 3D! and Pankratz’s Eat Your Young), PlayPenn (Kevin Esmond’s Vintage Illustrations of the Devil), Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Festival (Eddy’s Big Red Button) and the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. He earned his MFA in Directing at Boston University. justshamus.com<

Rayne Playwright theangelabey@gmail.com
Shamus Director Shamus@shakespeareinclarkpark.org
Karen Smith Percussionisthavedrumswilltravelimmediately@gmail.com
Kishia Nixon*CleopatraKishianixon15@gmail.com
Ross Beschler*Marc Antonyrbeschler@gmail.com
STARFIRECharmian & Crocodilesequoiastarre@gmail.com
Adam Howard Octavius et aladamdouglashoward@gmail.com
Jo Vito Ramírez* Enobarbus et aljovramirez@gmail.com
Katherine PerryOctavia et alkatherineperryiscreative@gmail.com
*Artist appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for ages 13+

Violent Content

Adult Language

Covid-19 Safety policy

Masks are required during this event