The Public Theater sets complete cast for 'The Harder They Come' off Broadway

Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks co-wrote the new musical.

Gillian Russo
Gillian Russo

Here they come! The complete Off-Broadway cast for the new musical The Harder They Come has been set. The Public Theater hosts the world-premiere production, which runs from February 16 to March 26, opening on March 15.

Natey Jones will play the lead role of Ivan in his American stage debut alongside Tony Award nominee Jeannette Bayardelle as Daisy, J. Bernard Calloway as Preacher, Andrew Clarke as Lyle, Dominique Johnson as Jose, Dudney Joseph Jr. as Ray, Meecah as Elsa, Jacob Ming-Trent as Pedro, and Ken Robinson as Hilton.

The ensemble includes Shawn Bowers, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Dana Marie Ingraham, Chelsea-Ann Jones, Morgan McGhee, Alysha Morgan, Housso Semon, Sir Brock Warren, and Christopher Henry Young. Tyla Collier, Tiffany Francès, Garfield Hammonds, Dwight Xaveir Leslie, Denver Andre Taylor, and Carla Woods serve as understudies.

On the creative side, Tony Taccone and Sergio Trujillo co-direct; Edgar Godineaux choreographs; and Kenny Seymour provides music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements.

The Harder They Come also features scenic design by Clint Ramos and Diggle; costume design by Emilio Sosa; sound design by Walter Trarbach; projection design by Hana S. Kim; hair, wig, and makeup design by Earon Chew Nealey; and music direction by John Bronston.

The Harder They Come is based on the same-named Jamaican film produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone. The main character, Ivan, is an aspiring musician who sees the dark side of the industry after achieving success, and it threatens to bring down the Jamaican music business.

The show features songs by Jimmy Cliff and a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, whose Topdog/Underdog is currently on Broadway.

Check back for information on The Harder They Come tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Originally published on

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