Cast set for 'Oh Happy Day!' off Broadway

Written by and starring Ain't No Mo' Tony Award nominee Jordan E. Cooper, the new play at The Public Theater reimagines the biblical story of Noah's ark.

The Public Theater has set casting for its fall production of Oh Happy Day! off Broadway, running from October 3 to November 2. Opening night is October 15.

Written by and starring Jordan E. Cooper as Keyshawn, Oh Happy Day! is a raucuous riff on the biblical story of Noah's ark. At a birthday barbecue in Laurel, Mississippi, a flood is the least of the problems for the Johnson family. Patriarch Lewis's estranged son Keyshawn makes a surprise appearance, absurdity ensues, and their lives change.

Alongside the previously announced Cooper are Tamika Lawrence as Niecy, Tiffany Mann as Holy Divine, Sheléa Melody McDonald as Mighty Divine, Latrice Pace as Glory Divine, and Keith Randolph Smith as Lewis. Jayna Elise, Brian D. Coats, and Cole Taylor are understudies.

Additional casting has yet to be announced.

Under the direction of Stevie Walker-Webb, who previously staged Cooper's Tony Award-nominated Ain't No Mo' on and off Broadway, Oh Happy Day! also features scenic design by Luciana Stecconi, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Adam Honoré, sound design by Taylor J. Williams, prop management by Samantha Llanes Gordon, choreography by Eboni Nichols, dramaturgy by Jack Phillips Moore, and original songs by Grammy Award-winning Donald Lawrence.

“It feels so good to be back home at The Public for the first time after premiering Ain’t No Mo’,” Cooper said in a statement. “There’s no other roof I’d rather be under to build this story. This world and its characters have been living with me for a long time and I’m excited to share them with New York audiences. It’s an honor to be working with Stevie, Donald Lawrence, and this insane cast of storytellers. I’ll be surprised if that roof remains intact once they get done.”

“I'm excited to be coming back to The Public; it feels like a homecoming,” Walker-Webb said in a statement. “It's a theatre that has championed ambitious, brave work, and where I was able to establish myself as an artist. Audiences can expect the same profound, raucous electricity that happens whenever Jordan and I collaborate!”

Learn more about The Public Theater's full 2025-26 season.

Check back for information on Oh Happy Day! tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Jordan E. Cooper, Tamika Lawrence, Sheléa Melody McDonald as Niecy, Latrice Pace, Keith Randolph Smith, and Tiffany Mann. (Photos courtesy of production)