HOUSTON, Dec. 28, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensemble Theatre and the Houston Museum of African American Culture present The Ballad of Emmett Till by Ifa Bayeza with Opening Night and Media reception, Thursday, February 2, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
"This production at The Ensemble Theatre marks two milestones," says Bayeza. "Not only will this be the premier production of The Ballad of Emmett Till in the South, it will be the first production by an African American theatre company."
The opportunity to bring the production to Houston was made possible by collaboration between The Ensemble Theatre and the Houston Museum of African American Culture. Part of the collaboration includes a workshop at Gregory Lincoln Middle School, and dialogue exchange sessions that provide a forum between the audience and cast members.
"There is no better example of working together to bring forth artistic fruit than this collaboration," says John Guess, Jr., CEO the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
Emmett is described as a confident young man. He stutters and makes no hesitation or apologies for his stammering speech. His knack for mimicking and playful spirit is considered indicative of his young age, yet he also carries a presence of wisdom beyond his years.
Winner of the 2009 Edgar Award, presented by Mystery Writers of America, The Ballad of Emmett Till is told through contemporary prose with the infusion of jazz. A month after his fourteenth birthday, this confident youth from Chicago, a boy on the threshold of manhood, embarks on a summer trip to Mississippi. His pursuit of happiness and liberty are pierced with the poignancy of life. The 1955 lynching of Emmett Till fell on the cusp of a saga that changed the course of the nation.
New York based director, actress, and producer Elizabeth Van Dyke is making her return to Houston for this production. Her past directing credits at The Ensemble Theatre include: Waiting to be Invited, A Raisin in the Sun, and Gee's Bend.
Featured cast members include: Kendrick "Kay" Brown, Rachel H. Dickson, Broderick Jones, Joseph "Joe P" Palmore, and Lee Waddell.
Previews: January 28, 29, and February 1 Show Runs: February 2 – February 26, 2012
Performance Days and Times: Thursdays: 7:30 p.m; Fridays: 8:00 p.m; Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m; and Sundays: 3:00 p.m.
Tickets Available Online: www.EnsembleHouston.com For Information Call: 713-520-0055
The Ensemble Theatre's 2011-2012 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and Texas Commission on the Arts. United Airlines is the exclusive airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre. This production is in collaboration with the Houston Museum of African American Culture, and generously sponsored by CenterPoint Energy.
The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. Thirty-five years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins' car to being one of Houston's finest historical cultural institutions. The Ensemble is one of a few 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, it holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble's $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997. 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.