“A striking new work. An electric cast. Covenant is an auspicious New York debut for a playwright who clearly has a gift."

Name: Covenant
Start: 2023-10-05 00:00:00
End: 2023-12-17 23:59:00
Location: Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre

JUAN A. RAMÍREZ, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Blackout-and-blood-curdling-scream deliciousness.”

SARA HOLDREN, NEW YORK MAGAZINE

“Undeniably spooky. Absolutely enjoyable. You'll be frightened in the best way possible.”

CHRISTIAN LEWIS, THEATERMANIA

KYLE TURNER, NEW YORK THEATRE GUIDE

When a struggling guitarist returns to his small Georgia town a blues star, rumors begin swirling that he may have made a deal with the devil to attain his musical genius. Before long, however, it becomes clear he's not the only one with a secret. A mythic and suspenseful new play that delivers one devilish twist after another, York Walker's Covenant explores the power of belief and the thin line between rumor and truth. Tiffany Nichole Greene directs.

Running time: Ninety-five minutes. No intermission.

Please be advised: This production contains gunshot effects, strobe effects, and loud noises.

Late seating policy: There is no late seating for this production and the show begins promptly. If you arrive after the designated performance time you will not be admitted.

Mama: Crystal Dickinson
Johnny ‘Honeycomb’ James: Chaundre Hall-Broomfield
Violet: Ashley N. Hildreth
Avery: Jade Payton
Ruthie: Lark White

Playwright: York Walker
Director: Tiffany Nichole Greene
Movement Coordinator: Stephen Buescher
Illusions: Steve Cuiffo
Scenic Designer: Lawrence Moten
Lighting Designer: Cha See
Costume Design: Ari Fulton
Original Music & Sound Design: Justin Ellington
Production Stage Manager: Garrett Kerr

Three dark skinned women standing in a dark lit kitchen. One woman in a white dress is walking in a door that is lit with bright red light. — Lark White (Ruthie), Ashley N. Hildreth (Violet), and Jade Payton (Avery).
Joan Marcus

A man sits with an acoustic guitar on a church bench looking at a woman kneeling in a blue dress and looking at him. — Chaundre Hall-Broomfield (Johnny) and Jade Payton (Avery)
Joan Marcus

A dark skinned woman dressed in clothes from the 30s holding a rope and a letter looking off stage. She is lit in dark dramatic lighting. A girl stands in the distance behind her. — Crystal Dickinson (Mama)
Joan Marcus

Three women at a table with a large brass bucket on it. Two of them are facing a wall with a cross and praying while the other gril to the right is face the audience. — The company of Covenant
Joan Marcus

Four dark skinned woman dressed in clothing froms the 30s sitting at a table eating dinner. — Jade Payton, Crystal Dickinson, Ashley N. Hildreth, and Lark White.
Joan Marcus

Three young Black women and one older African American woman sit around a dinner table in the rehearsal studio and appear to be in a dramatic conversation. — Jade Payton, Crystal Dickinson, Ashley N. Hildreth, and Lark White.
Marcus Middelton

A young black woman sits on a bench in rehearsal while a young black man leans against the bench on the ground, his guitar in the background. — Jade Payton and Chaundre Hall-Broomfield.
Marcus Middleton

Director Tiffany Nichole Greene and playwright York Walker sit behind a white table with scripts and laptops while watching rehearsal. — Tiffany Nichole Greene and York Walker.
Marcus Middelton

Two young black women in rehearsal doing a pinky promise with each other. — Jade Payton and Ashley N. Hildreth
Marcus Middleton

Playwright York Walker taking notes at a table in the rehearsal studio. — York Walker.
Marcus Middelton

THEATRE TALK

Learn more about the history of the production and its creators through a lively discussion with Roundabout Teaching Artists.

CHECK OUT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS AND FEATURES

Discover the artists and history behind Covenant in the Upstage Playgoer’s Guide.

READ THE UPSTAGE GUIDE

Alec Baldwin
James Costa and John Archibald
Linda L. D’Onofrio
Peggy and Mark Ellis
Joele Frank and Larry Klurfeld
Carson Gleberman
Sylvia Golden
Jeanne Hagerty
Angelina Lippert
Iva Mills
K. Myers
Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater
Mary Solomon
Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

About Roundabout Underground

Roundabout Underground productions are produced in Roundabout's Black Box Theatre located within the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. It is an initiative designed to foster new works by emerging theatre artists. Roundabout Underground allows Roundabout to take artistic risks that are not viable on its larger stages, whether giving a debut production to an emerging writer or allowing an experienced director to go back to his or her creative roots.

In addition to receiving an opportunity to debut their works as full-scale productions, up-and-coming playwrights receive the significant artistic and financial support of the country's largest not-for-profit theatre and a nurturing environment in which to debut their work.