Photo Flash: Encores! Off-Center's RUNAWAYS Hosts Closing Night Party

New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series kicked off the 2016 season with Runaways, beginning July 6th. With Book, Lyrics, and Music by Elizabeth Swados, choreography by Ani Taj, music direction by Chris Fenwick and directed by Sam Pinkleton, Runaways played its final performance on July 9th. BroadwayWorld has photos from the closing night festivities below!

RUNAWAYS is set in 1977 when Liz Swados spent several months observing and interviewing child Runaways before shaping their stories, fears, and fantasies into a musical. A deeply unconventional work in its day, Runaways feels like the funkiest, most heartbreaking mixtape ever to come out of a 1970s boom box, packed with reggae anthems, hip-hop, soul-food lullabies, and spoken-word poetry. The Encores! Off-Center production honors a theater visionary who was ferocious, inspiring, and left us far too soon.

The production featured Frenie Acoba, Sumaya Bouhbal, Kenneth Cabral, Maxwell Cabral, Taylor Caldwell, Sophia Anne Caruso, Xavier Casimir, Joshua DeJesus,Adleesa Edwards, Aidan Gemme, Reyna Guerra, Matthew Gumley, Christina Jimenez, Kylie McNeill, Cele Pahucki, Sam Poon, Siena Rafter, Claudia Ramirez, Ren, MJ Rodriguez, Deandre Sevon, Jeremy Shinder, Ripley Sobo, Chris Sumpter, and Maxwell Vice.

Photo Credit: Luiz Ribeiro

Roz Lichter and Jeanine Tesori

Cast members Sophia Anne Caruso and Deandre Sevon

Choreographer Ani Taj and Director Sam Pinkleton

Director Sam Pinkleton (in yellow) and cast members

Cast members of the original production of RUNAWAYS

Cast members Maxwell Vice, Chris Sumpter, Aidan Gemme, Deandre Sevon, and MJ Rodriguez

Choreographer Ani Taj with cast members Joshua DeJesus and Matthew Gumley

Cast members Christina Jimenez, Xavier Casimir, Kenneth Cabral, Siena Rafter, and MJ Rodriguez