The Classical Theater of Harlem has announced that its 2026 Uptown Shakespeare in the Park production will be Othello—one of Shakespeare's most emotionally-charged tragedies, exploring power, rage, and racism—directed by Carl Cofield '14 with assistant direction from Kanika Asavari Vaish '22.
"For Uptown Shakespeare in the Park, we seek plays that speak directly to our audiences today," said Ty Jones, Artistic Director of The Classical Theatre of Harlem. "Othello’s unraveling is not just personal; it is societal. It asks audiences to see how racism, militarization, and psychological trauma intertwine to destroy both the body and the soul. His tragedy is not jealousy alone, but the crushing aftermath of being asked to serve, to excel, to assimilate—and yet never to belong. Presenting this work outdoors, free and accessible to all, as always, is central to our mission."
Cofield, a New York-based director and actor, is currently the Associate Artistic Director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem. He directed the award-winning world premiere of One Night In Miami for Rogue Machine Theater and the Denver Center Theatre, for which he received the Los Angeles N.A.A.C.P award for Best Director. He has directed many Shakespeare productions, including Twelfth Night for Yale Rep, Henry IV Part 2 for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Tempest and Macbeth for Classical Theatre of Harlem, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for NYU. As an actor, his work has been seen at The Manhattan Theater Club, Berkeley Rep, Alliance, Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theater, and many others.
Born in New York and raised in Mumbai, Asavari Vaish is a New York-based writer, director, producer, and performer. She is the co-founder of Fresh Lime Soda Productions, a South Asian theater ensemble and incubator that seeks to dismantle traditional barriers to access in theater and foster a global community of South Asian artists and theater-lovers. Her play 2nd Murder, in which a struggling actor begins to blend reality with fantasy, ran October–November, 2025 at the SoHo Shakespeare Company.
Founded in 2013, Uptown Shakespeare in the Park has made The Classical Theatre of Harlem's free outdoor productions a cultural touchstone in New York City. In 2024, their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was met with 30,000 live audience members. Catch Cofield's Othello—and an authentic New York experience—July 2–26, 2026 at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. RSVP here.
