The Ensemble Theatre

The Ensemble Theatre, located in the heart of midtown[1] at 3535 Main Street in Houston, Texas, is the largest African-American professional theatre company in the United States that produces plays in-house and owns its own facility.[2]

For other uses, see Ensemble Theatre (disambiguation).
The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Texas

History

The Ensemble Theatre is a non-profit organization founded by George Hawkins in 1976 as a touring company that rehearsed in a church basement.[2]

In 2003, the company was awarded $250,000 from the Houston Endowment Inc., with which it retired its original capital campaign debt and made some improvements to the facility. Since 1991, Houston Endowment Inc. has granted a total of $1,220,500 to the Ensemble, including an annual operating grant.[3]

In August 2006, the Ensemble Theatre celebrated its 30-year anniversary, as it launched its 2006/2007 production season. This celebration included the presentation of an award to American actor and director Danny Glover, as the 2006 "Lifetime Achievement" honoree.[4]

The theatre building
The Ensemble Theatre building

The Ensemble building, with its glass-enclosed lobby, hosts three stages located in the heart of Midtown, where a METRORail stop bears its name, Ensemble/HCC station, an honor shared with the nearby Houston Community College ("HCC").[2] The facility includes a main stage auditorium with seating for 200, an arena stage that seats 125, and a grand performance hall that accommodates 500 people.[3]

The company

Each year the theatre presents a repertoire of critically acclaimed dramas, comedies and musicals that demonstrates the artistic ability of more than 250 professional local, regional and national artists and support staff. A non-profit organization, the Ensemble Theatre also has an educational touring program and a summer young performers training program.[5]

The Ensemble's mission is to preserve African-American artistic expression. To do so, it collaborates with and presents works by artists such as Joseph A. Walker, Pearl Cleage, Cheryl L. West and Shay Youngblood.[6]

Though the Ensemble is an African-American run troupe, it is colorblind when it comes to welcoming directors, designers, performers, playwrights and audiences. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson has visited the Ensemble, and influential dramatist Ntozake Shange has directed the troupe. Performers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee have also offered their support to the company.[7]

In August 2006, the Ensemble announced its selection of Eileen J. Morris as its new artistic director. As the artistic airector, Morris will manage the Ensemble's repertoire of six main stage productions, an aggressive tour education program, a young performers program and other projects to advance the artistic mission of the theatre.[8]

See also

References
  1. There are separate boundaries for the Midtown Super Neighborhood and the Midtown Management District. See City of Houston maps: Midtown Super Neighborhood and Management district map. Retrieved on June 4, 2019. Also see: 2006 Midtown Management District Land Use Map and "Service and Improvement Plan and Assessment Plan for Fiscal Years 2015–2024." Midtown Houston Management District. Retrieved on April 4, 2009. Map on page 25/25 of the PDF.
  2. "History/Founder". About the Ensemble Theatre, The Ensemble Theatre. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  3. "Ensemble Theatre Retires Capital Campaign Debt". News Room, The Ensemble Theatre (Dec. 23, 2003). Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  4. "The Ensemble Theatre Announces Film Star Danny Glover as Lifetime Achievement Honoree for the 30th Anniversary Celebration". News Room, The Ensemble Theatre (Aug. 15, 2006). Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  5. "Performing Arts – The Ensemble Theatre". Houston – What to do (Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1996-2007). Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  6. Peter Szatmary. "Editorial Review for Ensemble Theatre". Performing Arts Locations, Houston, CitySearch.com. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  7. "Ensemble Theatre – Insider tips". Performing Arts Locations, Houston, CitySearch.com. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  8. "The Ensemble Selects Eileen J. Morris As Artistic Director". News Room, The Ensemble Theatre (Aug. 10, 2006). Retrieved 2007-05-17.
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