Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park To Host Free Met Event Monday

HARLEM, NY — A free premiere of the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night, Terence Blanchard’s "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," will be streamed live in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park this Monday.

The performance is the the first work by a Black composer to be presented at the Met, event organizers said.

The free event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and shown via satellite to a large HD video screen in the park.

Based on Charles M. Blow’s memoir of the same name, "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" is s co-directed by James Robinson and Camille A. Brown. Brown, who is also the production’s choreographer, becomes the first Black director to create a mainstage Met production.

Both Brown and Blanchard are SummerStage alums, having performed during the festival in previous years. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the cast starring Will Liverman as Charles, Angel Blue as Destiny/Loneliness/Greta and Latonia Moore as Billie. Fire Shut Up in My Bones tells a young man’s journey to overcome a lifetime of trauma and hardship. The opera follows Charles through his adolescence and ultimately leads to a fateful moment: when he must decide whether to break free from his trauma and begin to rebuild his life.

Guests who attend the free live stream of the performance at Marcus Garvey Park will be required to show either proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours in order to enter.

Children under the age of 12 may accompany their parent or guardian who provides proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test. SummerStage will accept proof of final Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna or WHO-approved vaccination using the CLEAR app, the NYS Excelsior Pass, NYC Covid Safe app, a physical/photo of CDC vaccination card, or EU digital pass, accompanied by a government-issued photo identification.

Masks are required upon entry and strongly encouraged for all guests for the duration of the performance, as is physical distance. Learn more about acceptable documentation, mask guidelines, and other safety protocols here. For more information about the event, visit this link.