Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre to Present August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre will present The American Century Cycle: Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson February 23-March 11.

Most recently, Wilson has been notable in the media for being the playwright of Fences, the 2016-2017 Oscar award nominated film. MzxET's production is directed by Karen Paisley, featuring Sheri Roulette-Mosley, Shawna Peña-Downing, Priest Hughes, Jerron O'Neal, Lewis J. Morrow, Granvile O'Neal, and George Forbes.

Set in 1904, August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean begins on the eve of Aunt Esther's 287th birthday. When Citizen Barlow comes to her Pittsburgh's Hill District home seeking asylum, she sets him off on a spiritual journey to find a city in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Gem of the Ocean is the ninth work in Wilson's ten-play cycle that has recorded the American Black experience and helped to define generations. Other plays in the American Century Cycle that have been produced by MET include Fences, Jitney, and Piano Lesson.

Performances run in previews February 23rd and February 24th, with press night on February 25th and a regular run through March 11. Schedule: Evenings: Monday-Saturday 7:30pm; Matinees: Sunday 2:00pm. All shows play the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, 3614 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

Single Tickets, Season Tickets, Group Rate Tickets are on sale: by phone at 816-569-3226; in person at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Box Office, 3614 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111; or online at metkc.org.

Ticket Prices: Adult Tickets- $39.00; Senior Tickets-$36.00; Young Professional Tickets- $29.00; Student Tickets-$15.00; Artist Tickets-$20.00; Director's Seat Tickets- $49; Group Tickets- $24 per ticket for groups of 10 or more, these tickets can be purchased over the phone or online at www.metkc.org. All seating by general admission.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

March 2nd-Audience post-show discussion with the actors and artistic staff

March 8th- Ladies Night

March 9th- Scholarly pre-show discussion about August Wilson

March 10th- Happy Hour from 6:30-7:30 before the show

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre was created in 2005 after two years of planning and visioning with multiple stakeholders. In the twelve years since, MET has evolved from a start-up enterprise to a respected professional theatre that offers more than 100 performances each season and serves over 10,000 members of the community through outstanding theatre productions, education, and our community outreach programs. At its heart MET is committed to the art of story and sharing access to great masterworks and contemporary classics that delight, thrill, illumine and inspire. When the lights of the theatre go up, the walls between people fall down. We believe that great plays bring us together in exciting ways. They are the birthright of all people and remind us of what it is to be truly human.

MET serves through three signature programs:

Our Flagship Masterworks Series offers dynamic performances of great masterworks in an intimate setting. MET is the home of great classic works and numerous premieres. Audiences revel in challenging works presented with terrific artistry just a breath away --all presented with talented local professionals in a warm casual setting for affordable prices.

The MET Lighthouse Education and Community Initiative brings high quality theatre outreach experiences to K-12 youth in schools and customizes programming for educators and community groups. These grass roots engagement projects are designed to bring participants in touch with great plays and to inspire thinking, creativity, encourage individual expression, build community and foster a culture of inclusion. MET serves on both side of the state line taking programs offsite and through our excellent Student Matinee Masterworks Series. Community partners served include Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas School Districts, The Kansas City Interfaith Coalition, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Reaching Out from Within as well as the Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Missouri Public Libraries. Designed to be fun and educational these programs are a delight for all ages.

The MET also is the home of the Magellan New Plays and New Artists Project where local playwrights share workshops of their new plays. The program has created many opportunities for participants such as getting their plays into the Kennedy Center and O'Neill Playwriting Center. Throughout this program, the playwrights get a chance to hone their skills and ultimately lead them to success of producing their plays in larger markets. To date more than 60 playwrights have participated in this project.

MET actively mentors emerging professional artists and is known for giving great talent a welcoming home to flourish in Kansas City and creating a home for some of Kansas City's most talented professional artists. Several of our most noted young artists have found their first home at MET.

MET offers more than 100 performances annually and creates 150-180 artistic employment opportunities each year through their main stage and outreach performances as well as their artistic partnership performances (i.e. Central Standard Theatre, KC Fringe, Relevance Productions, and KC Playwrights Group). We welcome you to a performance soon!

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