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Press Room: Spunk

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Press Release

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE OPENS 2025-26 SEASON WITH FIRST FULL STAGING OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON’S SPUNK, A PLAY WITH TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND NEW SONGS, ARRANGEMENTS, AND MUSIC SUPERVISION BY NEHEMIAH LUCKETT; AND CHOREOGRAPHY BY NICHI DOUGLAS; DIRECTED BY TAMILLA WOODARD.

Production Photos

J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and Mikey Corey Hassel in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale
J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and Mikey Corey Hassel in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and Mikey Corey Hassel in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and John Bronston in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Jeannette Bayardelle (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and John Bronston in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds, Alaman Diadhiou, and John Bronston in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle and Alaman Diadhiou in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Jeannette Bayardelle and Alaman Diadhiou in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle and Alaman Diadhiou in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson (center) with members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson (center) with members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson (center) with members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

J. Quinton Johnson, Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Alaman Diadhiou, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
J. Quinton Johnson, Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Alaman Diadhiou, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

J. Quinton Johnson, Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Alaman Diadhiou, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Kimberly Marable, and J. Quinton Johnson (foreground) with Alaman Diadhiou, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Jeannette Bayardelle in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Kimberly Marable, and J. Quinton Johnson (foreground) with Alaman Diadhiou, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Jeannette Bayardelle in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Kimberly Marable, and J. Quinton Johnson (foreground) with Alaman Diadhiou, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Jeannette Bayardelle in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Members of the company in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds and Kimberly Marable in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds and Kimberly Marable in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

J. Quinton Johnson and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (foreground) with Isaiah Reynolds and Kimberly Marable in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Kimberly Marable, Jeannette Bayardelle, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Kimberly Marable, Jeannette Bayardelle, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Shawn Bowers, Correy West, Kimberly Marable, Jeannette Bayardelle, Amahri Edwards-Jones, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk. New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimberly Marable and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Kimberly Marable and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimberly Marable and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl and J. Quinton Johnson in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle, Correy West, Janiah-Camile François, Tyler Clarke, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Jeannette Bayardelle, Correy West, Janiah-Camile François, Tyler Clarke, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Jeannette Bayardelle, Correy West, Janiah-Camile François, Tyler Clarke, and Matthew Elijah Webb in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Charlie Hudson III, Kimberly Marable, Shawn Bowers, Jeannette Bayardelle, and Correy West in in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.
Charlie Hudson III, Kimberly Marable, Shawn Bowers, Jeannette Bayardelle, and Correy West in in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston's SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.

Charlie Hudson III, Kimberly Marable, Shawn Bowers, Jeannette Bayardelle, and Correy West in in a scene from Zora Neale Hurston’s SPUNK, New Songs, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Nehemiah Luckett; Choreography by nicHi douglas; directed by Tamilla Woodard. Yale Repertory Theatre, October 3-25, 2025. Photo © Joan Marcus.