The Ensemble Accepts an Invitation to Perform at the National Black Theatre Festival

The Ensemble Theatre has accepted an invitation to participate in the National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) held in Winston-Salem, NC August 1-6, 2011.

Eileen J. Morris, The Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director, will be honored at the NBTF Black Tie Gala with the Larry Leon Hamlin Producers Award for her body of work as an artist and producing artistic director spanning more than 25 years. The gala will be held August 1, 2011, 5:30PM at the Benton Convention Center 301 West 5th Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC.

"I consider it to be one of the highest honors and a blessing to be recognized amongst my peers who share my passion for live theatre and the arts," says Morris.

The late Larry Leon Hamlin founded the National Black Theatre Festival in 1989 to unite Black theatre companies in America and ensure their survival into the next millennium. With the support of Dr. Maya Angelou (who served as the Festival's first Chairperson) the National Black
Theatre Festival was born. The '89 Festival offered 30 performances by 17 of America's best professional black theatre companies. It attracted national and international media coverage. According to The New York Times, "The 1989 National Black Theatre Festival was one of the most
historic and culturally significant events in the history of black theatre and American theatre in general." Over 10,000 people attended. It lived up to its theme: "An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit."

"Although the current economy has been a challenge for many artistic institutions, we all continue to seek innovative ways to impact people's lives through our craft," says Morris. "We are excited about this being our third opportunity to perform, share ideas, and to commune with our Brothers and Sisters in the arts."

The Ensemble Theatre will participate in the festival with a performance from its 2010-2011 Season: 'The Waiting Room' by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Morris. The play will be performed by The Ensemble's original cast from the 2010-2011 Season: Tisha Conswella
Dorn, Rachel Hemphill Dickson, Jaime Geiger, Byron Jacquet, Broderick "Brod J" Jones, John Stevens, Detria Ward, and Bebe Wilson. Performances are August 5th and 6th at 3pm and 8pm at the Arts Council Theatre, 610 Coliseum Dr. Winston-Salem, NC.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the host organization: North Carolina Black Repertory 610 Coliseum Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27106 (336) 723-2266 www.ncblackrep.org or www.NBTF.org

The National Black Theatre Festival is the largest platform for bringing black theatre companies together across the country to participate in presenting plays, readings, workshops, and seminars to ensure the survival of the genre. Held biennially, the festival attracts more than 65,000 people during the six-day event.

"Leon Larry Hamlin was a pioneer who had a dream, much like our founder, George Hawkins ... he pursued every avenue possible to make that dream come true with his vision to create a festival that celebrates the art of African Americans in which celebrities, theatre founders, technicians, actors, directors playwrights, filmmakers, and educators come together through performing, networking, and engaging in a dynamic way," says Morris. "Larry Leon Hamlin left a legacy of
engaging the arts that would forever change and impact the nation's perspective of our culture."

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. The theatre is known as the only professional theatre in its region dedicated to the production of
works portraying the African-American experience. In addition to being the oldest and largest professional African-American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African-American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team. 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 produces a main stage season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre's Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops,
Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre. Through its varied programs, The Ensemble Theatre benefits an audience and artistic constituency of approximately 65,000 people annually.

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