The Public Theater celebrated the 40th anniversary of the late Elizabeth Swados' musical Runaways with a June 11 gala performance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The special performance featured alumni from the 2016 Encores! staging as well as surprise guest appearances from students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Watch highlights from The Public's Runaways, which had an additional performance open to the public June 12, in the video above.
Runaways was directed by Sam Pinkleton with choreography by Ani Taj and creative advisement by Jeanine Tesori—the same creative team behind the 2016 Encores! revival.
Much of the young cast who performed in the Encores! staging reunited for The Public's production, including Frenie Acoba, Sumaya Bouhbal, Kenneth Cabral, Maxwell Cabral, Taylor Caldwell, Xavier Casmir, Adleesa Edwards, Aidan Gemme, Reyna Guerra, Christina Jimenez, Kylie McNeill, Cele Pahucki, Sam Poon, Siena Rafter, Claudia Ramirez, Ren, Deandre Sevon, Jeremy Shinder, Ripley Sobo, Chris Sumpter, and Maxwell Vice.
They were joined by new cast members Jaiya Chetram, Dwany Guzman, Noelle Hogan, Jari Jones, Esco Jouléy, and Luka Kain.
Runaways debuted at the Public in February 1978 before transferring to Broadway the same year, earning five Tony nominations. The musical depicts the experiences of runaway children in New York City and features an eclectic score that weaves reggae, hip-hop, soul, and spoken-word poetry.
