<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:13px"><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:georgia,serif">Press Release: For Immediate Release</b><br></div><div style="font-size:13px"><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:georgia,serif">1/12/16</b></div><div style="font-size:13px"><b><div class="gmail_default" style="display:inline"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div></b></div><div style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div class="gmail_default" style="display:inline">Ensemble Theatre Presents </div>Panorama of African American Theatre 5: "The Contect of Character"</b><br><br><font color="#000000">To celebrate Black History Month, Ensemble Theatre will produce </font><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><i>Slow Dance on the Killing Ground</i></b><font color="#000000"> by</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">Emmy Award winning writer William Hanley, and</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> present the World Premiere of </div><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><i>Golde</i></b><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><i>n Leaf Rag Time Blues</i></b><font color="#000000"> by </font><font color="#000000">Ohio University</font><font color="#000000"> Distinguished Professor</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">and award winning playwright Charles Smith. These productions will serve as the 5th installment of our award winning <b>Panorama of African American Theatre Series</b>, titled </font><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><i>"The Content of Character"</i></b><font color="#000000">. The two</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">shows will run concurrently during the month of February. Talk-backs, writing workshops, and playwriting</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">masterclasses will surround both productions, exploring themes prevalent in both scripts</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline">. </div><font color="#000000">Through these performances (and surrounding activities) we will create a community</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">discussion about how these themes relate to today's issues regarding prejudice, self</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">identification,</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">discrimination, and police brutality. What are the lasting effects of prejudice on a community? How do we</font><div class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"> </div><font color="#000000">learn to better relate to one another without them?</font></font></div><div style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif" color="#4c1130"><b><font size="4">SLOW DANCE ON THE KILLING GROUND. </font></b> </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">By <b>William Hanley</b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Directed by <b>Greg White. </b> </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b><font color="#4c1130">Starring </font></b>: <b>Joseph Milan</b>, <b>Nathan Tolliver,</b> and <b>Leah Smith. </b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Main Stage</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Theater. </span></b></div><font face="georgia, serif" style="font-size:13px"><div><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div>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<div class="gmail_default" style="display:inline"> </div>on the killing ground.</font><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:16px;text-align:right"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><font face="georgia, serif"><font><b><font color="#4c1130" size="4">GOLDEN LEAF RAG TIME BLUES</font>. W</b></font><b style="font-size:13px">orld Premiere </b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">By<b> Charles Smith</b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Directed by <b>Ian Wolfgang Hinz</b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Starring<b>: Paul Slimak*</b>, <b>Allen Branstein</b>, </font><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Brycen Hunt</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">, and</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Mary Alice Beck</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">. </span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><i style="font-family:georgia,serif"><font size="1">(*Member of Actors' Equity Association).</font></i><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </b></div><font face="georgia, serif" style="font-size:13px"><div><b>Playground Theatre.</b><i><font size="1"> </font></i><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div>Developed by American Blues Theatre Company in Chicago in 1987,<div class="gmail_default" style="display:inline"> </div>and included as part of the HBO New Writers Workshop in 1994,<div class="gmail_default" style="display:inline"> <b><i></i></b></div><b><i>Golden Leaf Rag Time Blues</i></b> 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. <i><b>Golden Leaf Rag Time Blues</b></i> illustrates how our basic needs and human emotions transcend the barriers of race, religion, and age.</font></div><div style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Both shows run <b><i>concurrently</i><font size="4"> February 5th-February 28th.</font></b> </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Performances are <b>Fridays & Saturday</b>s @<b>8pm.</b> <b>Sundays</b> @<b>2pm.</b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">Tickets are <b>$12-24.</b> There are <b>Senior, Student, </b>&<b> Group</b> <b>discounts</b> available! </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><b>For tickets:</b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">P: <b><a href="tel:216-321-2930" value="+12163212930" target="_blank">216-321-2930</a></b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">E: <b><a href="mailto:tickets@ensemble-theatre.org" target="_blank">tickets@ensemble-theatre.org</a></b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif">W: <b><font color="#4c1130"><a href="http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org/" target="_blank">www.ensembletheatreCLE.org</a></font></b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif" color="#741b47">There will be an <i>Opening Night Reception</i> for both shows on February 5th. </font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Please note </b>that tickets for both shows on<b> February 21st</b> must be purchased through<b> the Ohio University alumni group, The Ebony Bobcat Network. </b></font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Ensemble Theatre is honored to host their</span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Annual Theatre Scholarship</b><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Fundraiser. Tickets are $35 and include a pre-show reception.</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Proceeds benefit the</span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Ebony Bobcat Network </b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">and their</span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Urban Scholars Scholarship. Please contact Gary Nickerson </b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">for more information and a link to purchase tickets</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><i>.<b> </b></i><b>E: </b><a href="mailto:ganickers@aol.com" target="_blank" style="font-weight:bold">ganickers@aol.com</a><b>. </b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Schedule of Surrounding Activities: </b>(<i>more to added as they are confirmed</i>). </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif">Faye Sholiton - Playwright, Artistic Director Interplay Jewish Theatre</font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Feb. 6th: <font color="#741b47">Masterclass, 3pm.</font></b> (Main Stage) <br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Feb. 6th: <font color="#741b47">Post Show Talkback</font></b><font color="#741b47">, </font><b><i>Slow Dance on the Killing Ground</i></b>. <b>(</b>MainStage)</font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif">Tony Sias, CEO Karamu House </font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Feb. 7th:<font color="#741b47"> Post Show Talkback</font></b>, <b><i>Slow Dance on The Killing Ground (</i></b>Main Stage)</font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif">Charles Smith, Playwright, Head of Ohio University MFA Playwrighting Program.</font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Feb. 20th.</b> <b><font color="#741b47">Masterclass</font></b><font color="#741b47"><b> 3pm. </b></font> (MainStage)</font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Feb. 21st. </b><font color="#741b47"><b>Pre-Show Talk/Post Show Talkback. </b></font><i><b>Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues.</b></i> (Playground) </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font face="georgia, serif">Subodh Chandra, Civil Rights Attorney, Legal Representation for the family of Tamir Rice. </font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font color="#741b47" face="georgia, serif"><b><i>Talkback. Date TBA. </i></b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><b><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif">Rajiv Joseph, Playwright, Screenwriter. </font></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><font color="#741b47" face="georgia, serif"><b><i>Masterclass. Date TBA. </i></b></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b>Additional Talkbacks, Masterclasses, and surrounding activities will be added! </b></span><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Please check our website (</span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="http://www.enesmbletheatrecle.org/" target="_blank">www.enesmbletheatreCLE.org</a></b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">) for and updated schedule! </span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b>FREE PLAY READINGS</b> will be presented <b>THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH</b>. </span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">All Masterclasses are <b>FREE</b> and open to the public. </span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:13px"><br></div><font face="georgia, serif" color="#741b47"><b>“The Content of Character”</b> is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from<b> Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. We look forward to seeing you in our audience! </b></font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" color="#741b47"><b><br></b></font></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Information</font></b></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><a href="mailto:info@ensemble-theatre.org" target="_blank">info@ensemble-theatre.org</a><br></font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">2843 Washington Blvd. Cleveland Hts., OH 441118</font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">216-321-2930/216-202-0938</font></div><div><font size="2" face="georgia, serif"><b><a href="http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org" target="_blank">www.ensembletheatrecle.org</a></b></font></div><div><font size="2" face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:small;font-family:arial"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B9bUhMTODY_jUDZQZVRXT0puNVk&revid=0B9bUhMTODY_jMWZhOHJ1dzZOTmJza3E2c3BkU1AxdGQ5UTBZPQ" width="420" height="210"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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