HOUSTON, Sept. 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensemble Theatre is pleased to begin its exciting new 2007-2008 Season, "Ignite the Passion: Experience The Ensemble Theatre" with "Blue" written by multi-talented producer and director, Charles Randolph-Wright.
This moving production is the story of a young man's coming of age instilled with the gifts of possibility, hope and the spirit that allows him to understand and accept his past so that he may move on to the future in a healthy way and succeed in life. The play is immersed in passionate music that captures the backdrop of the story, filled with humor and honesty that expresses shared similarities.
Randolph-Wright summarizes the story by observing, "we all spend so much time being angry about the cards we've been dealt and blaming our families for what they've done to us, we forget to honor the gifts we've been given. I hope 'Blue' reminds theatergoers of those gifts and the courage to appreciate them."
Randolph-Wright is a native of South Carolina and an honor graduate of Duke University where he was an A.B. Duke Scholar and pre-med student. He studied acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and dance with the Alvin Ailey School in New York City. He has built a dynamic and diversified career in directing, writing and producing for theatre, television and film. He is currently writing and directing the film "Mama I Want to Sing," based on the legendary stage musical that has played both nationally and internationally. His directorial film debut, "Preaching to the Choir" swept the feature film prizes at the 9th Annual American Black Film Festival. Some of his screenplay credits include "The Emmett Till Story" for Showtime; "Shades of Grey" for HBO; and "Fool's Hill" for Walt Disney Pictures. For the theatre, he directed the smash hit revival of "Guys and Dolls" and "Love/Life" at Lincoln Center. And as a performer, his credits include Broadway's original cast of "Dreamgirls" and appearances in television hits Hill Street Blues and Melrose Place.
This regional premiere production is directed by The Ensemble's own Artistic Director, Eileen J. Morris, who says "the play reminds me of cherished memories, family softball games, riding hogs as horses, building our country home, talent shows in the living room, sleepovers with my girlfriends and brothers who disrupted those fun-filled evenings with pillow fights, and just a lot of love. It brings out the humanness and the heart of every person . . ."
Nona Hendryx, former member of the groundbreaking group LaBelle with Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash, provides the music and lyrics for this premiere. Hendryx has worked with Randolph-Wright on previous productions and has also scored and wrote eight new songs for the film "One on One".
Featured actors in this season opener include: Kendrick Brown, Norman Davis, Byron Jacquet, Jordyn Lorenz, LaDarrin J. Johnson-Taite, Jonathan Thibeaux, Detria M. Ward and Shirley Marks Whitmore.
Preview dates are Saturday, Sept. 22nd @ 8:00 pm; Sunday, Sept. 23rd @ 3:00 pm, and Wednesday, Sept. 26th at 7:30 pm. Opening Night is Thursday, Sept. 27th at 7:30 pm with a Reception at 6:30 pm followed by the performance at The Ensemble Theatre located at 3535 Main St. "Blue" is generously supported by Chevron USA and through a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and contains strong adult language and content.
(Note: A free costuming workshop will also be held on Saturday, September 22nd from 1:30-3:30 pm at The Ensemble Theatre hosted by the Costumer Designer for "Blue", June Seale.)
"BLUE"
Written by Charles Randolph-Wright
September 27-October 21, 2007
Performance Times
Previews: Saturday, Sept. 22nd 8:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 23rd 3:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 26th 7:30 pm
Production Run: Thursdays 7:30 pm
Fridays 8:00 pm
Saturdays 2:00 pm Matinee & 8:00 pm
Sundays 3:00 pm Matinee
For ticket information and groups sales, call the Box Office at (713) 520-0055.
The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. Thirty years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins' car to become one of Houston's finest historical cultural institutions. The Ensemble is one of the only professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience, the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, and holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. The Ensemble Theatre has fulfilled and surpassed the vision of its founder and continues to expand and create innovative programs to bring African American theatre to a myriad of audiences.
The programs and operations of The Ensemble Theatre benefit a multi-cultural audience that is diverse in age, income, ethnicity and culture and its core audience is African American (70%). The Ensemble produces a Mainstage Season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The Ensemble's Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the Theatre; and the Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 7 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts. Through its varied programs, The Ensemble projects to benefit an audience and artistic constituency that may potentially exceed 150,000 people annually.
The Ensemble Theatre * 3535 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002 * Phone: 713.520.0055. * Fax: 713.520.1269 * www.ensemblehouston.com