On August 29, the Public Theater held its opening night for Pericles at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, performed by community members from across New York City. This exciting and powerful concert experience celebrated love, life, and transformation.  

This year, Brunilda, also known as Bruni to the Fortune community, joined the ensemble cast.    

Bruni’s journey with Public Works, a civic artistic program of the Public Theater, began in 2014. She learned about a casting call for the Shakespeare in the Park performance of The Odyssey with Public Works. Initially, she admitted feeling nervous, but encouragement from her peers at Fortune helped her choose to audition.  

To her surprise, Bruni was cast in the ensemble.  

Bruni described performing in The Odyssey as a rush, like sky diving or bungee jumping. 

“Being in the show was, just, wow,” Bruni explained. “You see all these people in the audience and they’re applauding you; it’s the most beautiful feeling.” 

Art, specifically music and theater, have always played important roles in Bruni’s life. Throughout her life, she recalls performing from the comfort of her home, and she often turned to the music of performers she admired for comfort.  

“Music takes me to a different world,” Bruni explained. “I could be having the worst day ever and just turn on my music, my stereo and I’m able to let go and escape.” 

Bruni admitted that, even after her first performance, she still felt quite shy about being on stage. She stepped out of the spotlight to focus on her family and finding employment, though, she remained an active member of both Fortune’s Creative Arts program and Public Works. She still regularly attends Creative Arts virtual workshops, and she recently participated in an oral storytelling workshop led by a teaching artist from Public Works.  

Over the years, Bruni has surrounded herself with a supportive community of other artists, and she is grateful for their continued encouragement of her creative expression. Bruni described some of the people she met through Fortune and Public Works as her sisters and brothers.  

“There are some people I met who I felt like I already knew them in my spirit,” Bruni explained. “So, I have gotten to connect with people in different ways, and from so many backgrounds, and that’s who I am. I like to build these friendships.”  

She was encouraged by her peers to audition this year for Pericles, but she was unsure that she would receive a call back after her audition this time.  

Bruni was cast in the ensemble. Despite her nerves, she was determined to take advantage of the opportunity to be back on stage.  

“In rehearsals, I felt a bit of pressure because I was in the front and I wanted to make sure I was keeping up with the choreography,” Bruni shared. “But I was so excited to perform for the public. By the end [of rehearsals], I was feeling confident and was just so happy to be a part of it.” 

Pericles’ performances took place from August 29 to September 2, captivating audiences with its powerful sense of community and heartfelt performances. We look forward to future performances with Public Works and our talented Fortune artists and actors.