[NEohioPAL] Ensemble Theatre Presents "The Content of Character".

Tue Jan 12 17:13:15 PST 2016

*Press Release:  For Immediate Release*
*1/12/16*

*Ensemble Theatre Presents Panorama of African American Theatre 5:  "The
Contect of Character"*

To celebrate Black History Month, Ensemble Theatre will produce *Slow Dance
on the Killing Ground* by

Emmy Award winning writer William Hanley, and
 present the World Premiere of 
*Golde**n Leaf Rag Time Blues* by Ohio University Distinguished Professor

and award winning playwright Charles Smith. These productions will serve as
the 5th installment of our award winning *Panorama of African American
Theatre Series*, titled *"The Content of Character"*. The two

shows will run concurrently during the month of February. Talk-backs,
writing workshops, and playwriting

masterclasses will surround both productions, exploring themes prevalent in
both scripts
.  
Through these performances (and surrounding activities) we will create a
community

discussion about how these themes relate to today's issues regarding
prejudice, self

identification,

discrimination, and police brutality. What are the lasting effects of
prejudice on a community? How do we

learn to better relate to one another without them?

*SLOW DANCE ON THE KILLING GROUND. *
By *William Hanley*
Directed by *Greg White. *
*Starring *: *Joseph Milan*, *Nathan Tolliver,* and *Leah Smith.  *
*Main Stage Theater. *

The curtain rises on a poor, dusty shop with its dirty window obscuring the
dark hostile night. A storekeeper is taking inventory. The door is flung
open, letting in a lithe young black man. In this dance for two, the
characters make hesitant approaches, circle, feint, threaten each other
with gun & ice pick but scarcely make contact. The young man is a hunted
man. The storekeeper a refugee from Nazi Germany, is close-mouthed,
suspicious, anxious to avoid self-involvement. The third dancer is Rosie,
an 18-year old from Riverdale who has wandered into the shop, after losing
her way, with no illusions about her homeliness or about the encounter that
has led to her troubles. The two men react to her with a sensitivity and
concern that seem to diminish the furies within them. But not for long. The
German is driven to revealing the truth about himself as the young man,
faces his inexorable fate out there

on the killing ground.

*GOLDEN LEAF RAG TIME BLUES. W**orld Premiere *
By* Charles Smith*
Directed by *Ian Wolfgang Hinz*
Starring*: Paul Slimak**, *Allen Branstein*, *Brycen Hunt*, and *Mary Alice
Beck*.
*(*Member of Actors' Equity Association).*
*Playground Theatre.*

Developed by American Blues Theatre Company in Chicago in 1987,

and included as part of the HBO New Writers Workshop in 1994,
 **
*Golden Leaf Rag Time Blues* is the story of a teenage African American
ward of the state and a lonely Jewish octogenarian vaudevillian man thrown
together because of circumstances beyond their control. The two form an
unusual friendship when they discover through stories and music that they
have more in common than anyone would ever believe. *Golden Leaf Rag Time
Blues* illustrates how our basic needs and human emotions transcend the
barriers of race, religion, and age.

Both shows run *concurrently February 5th-February 28th.*
Performances are *Fridays & Saturday*s @*8pm.*  *Sundays* @*2pm.*
Tickets are *$12-24.*  There are *Senior, Student, *&* Group* *discounts*
 available!

*For tickets:*
P: *216-321-2930 <216-321-2930>*
E: *tickets at ensemble-theatre.org <tickets at ensemble-theatre.org>*
W: *www.ensembletheatreCLE.org <http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/>*

*There will be an Opening Night Reception for both shows on February 5th. *

*Please note *that tickets for both shows on* February 21st* must
be purchased through* the Ohio University alumni group, The Ebony Bobcat
Network. *Ensemble Theatre is honored to host their*Annual
Theatre Scholarship** Fundraiser.  Tickets are $35 and include a pre-show
reception.* Proceeds benefit the* Ebony Bobcat Network *and their*
Urban Scholars
Scholarship.  Please contact Gary Nickerson *for more information and a
link to purchase tickets*. **E: *ganickers at aol.com*.  *

*Schedule of Surrounding Activities: *(*more to added as they are confirmed*).

*Faye Sholiton - Playwright, Artistic Director Interplay Jewish Theatre*
*Feb. 6th: Masterclass, 3pm.* (Main Stage)
*Feb. 6th: Post Show Talkback*, *Slow Dance on the Killing Ground*. *(*
MainStage)

*Tony Sias, CEO Karamu House *
*Feb. 7th: Post Show Talkback*, *Slow Dance on The Killing Ground (*Main
Stage)

*Charles Smith, Playwright, Head of Ohio University MFA Playwrighting
Program.*
*Feb. 20th.* *Masterclass** 3pm. * (MainStage)
*Feb. 21st. **Pre-Show Talk/Post Show Talkback.  **Golden Leaf Ragtime
Blues.* (Playground)

*Subodh Chandra, Civil Rights Attorney, Legal Representation for the family
of Tamir Rice.  *
*Talkback.  Date TBA. *

*Rajiv Joseph, Playwright, Screenwriter.  *
*Masterclass.  Date TBA.  *

*Additional Talkbacks, Masterclasses, and surrounding activities will be
added!   *
Please check our website (*www.enesmbletheatreCLE.org
<http://www.enesmbletheatrecle.org/>*) for and updated schedule!

*FREE PLAY READINGS* will be presented *THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY
AND MARCH*.
All Masterclasses are *FREE* and open to the public.

*“The Content of Character”* is supported in part by the residents of
Cuyahoga County through a public grant from* Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.  We
look forward to seeing you in our audience!  *

-- 
*Information*
info at ensemble-theatre.org
2843 Washington Blvd.  Cleveland Hts., OH 441118
216-321-2930/216-202-0938
*www.ensembletheatrecle.org <http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org>*
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