Harlem Youth Shines In TADA! Youth Theater’s Performances Of Wide-Awake Jake

The Drama Desk award-winning TADA! Youth Theater presents Wide-awake Jake, a family musical, with performances from March 6, 2022, through March 19, 2022, at TADA! Youth Theater.

The TADA! Youth Theater is located at 15 West 28th Street, 2nd floor, between Broadway and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Wide-awake Jake features the story of a little boy who simply can’t fall asleep and the adventures he encounters on his quest for slumber.

Join Jake and his friends as they meet a lion, a dragon, and a giant, and discover how fun and easy Yawn Power can be.

Hakiem Porter, a 15-year-old from Harlem, is featured as a Guard in Wide-awake Jake.

Hakiem is playing the same role that was performed by Jordan Peele who was a member of the Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA! and is currently a Board member.

Hakiem said, “I have been with TADA! for six years. I dedicate myself to growing in my craft. It’s very exciting to be back in person and great to interact and form friendships with my castmates. I play a Guard who is sarcastic but chill. I can relate to my character because I use my own personality to bring him to life on stage.”

Other cast members from Manhattan appearing in Wide-awake Jake include Taylor Moy, 12, as Mary/Flower; Malika Demessinova, 13, as Starfire/Scallywag; Shaniece Hart, 13, as Thing 1/Scallywag; Caleb Vaughn, 16, as Lion/Giant’s Voice and Gabrielys Rosa-Lozada, 14 as Dragon.

Performances of Wide-awake Jake run Fridays on March 11, 2022, and March 18, 2022, at 7 PM; Saturdays March 12, 2022, and March 19, 2022, at 2 PM and 4:30 PM; Sundays March 6, 2022, and March 13, 2022, at 2 PM & 4:30 PM.

• Please visit TADATHEATER.COM for more information and to purchase your tickets!
• TADA! is committed to making our productions accessible to all and offers Pay What You Can Tickets starting at $1.00.

As a performing arts center, TADA! is required to comply with the NYC vaccine mandate regulations outlined in the “Key to NYC Pass”.

All audience members age 5+ must be symptom-free and fully vaccinated to enter.

At the door, we’ll ask you to show proof of 2 shots (Moderna or Pfizer) or 1 shot (Johnson & Johnson) along with your photo ID (ages 5-18 do not need to include a photo ID).

All audience members age 2+ are required to wear a mask at all times that fits over their mouth and nose.

Please note: A negative test result will not be accepted in place of vaccination. Before purchasing your tickets, please read through our COVID policies and procedures HERE!

Wide-awake Jake Music by: Robby Merkin; Lyrics by: Faye Greenberg; Book by: Alice Elliott; Based on the book of the same title by Helen Young; Director: Kubbi; Choreographer: Javier Cardenas; Music Director: Gia Gan; Lighting Designer: Anthony Raddi; Costume Designer; Terrell Jenkins; Scenic Designer: Joel Sherry; Production Stage Manager: Ashley Knowles; Assistant Stage Manager: Caileigh Potter.

Since 1984, TADA!’s mission is to inspire young people from different backgrounds to be creative, learn, and think differently through high-quality musical theater productions and educational programs.

A unique Drama Desk award-winning nonprofit youth theater, TADA! offers a free, year-round, pre-professional training and a positive youth development program for its Resident Youth Ensemble (ages 8-18); musical theater classes/camps for the public; as well as musical theater residencies in NYC schools and community centers.

Through high-quality work, young people develop advanced skills in leadership, communication, responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving – skills that help with growing up and are essential to their success both in school and in life.

Photo caption: 1) Hakiem Porter. Photo of Hakiem Porter courtesy of TADA! Youth Theater. 2) Jordan Peele.