THE ISLAND
By Authol Fugard, John Kani, & Winston Ntshona
Directed by Sarah May
CLEVELAND Premiere.
October 27 - November 12, 2023
John and Winston are black political prisoners in South Africa, spending their days at hard labor and their evenings rehearsing Sophocles' ‘Antigone’. Though the two men are deeply bonded to one another, their friendship is tested when John discovers that his most recent appeal was successful, while Winston is still looking at years of brutal incarceration ahead. A profile on the depth of human resilience in the face of unspeakable injustice and racism.
"While “The Island” may have been fueled by the highly specific iniquities of a now-dismantled political system, the play speaks to any place, any culture, where liberties are at risk."
-Variety.com
MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN
By Bertolt Brecht. Translated by Tony Kushner
Directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz
February 9-25, 2024
The play received its American Premiere at the Cleveland Play House in 1958.
Mother Courage was first performed in Zurich in 1941 and is usually seen as Brecht's greatest work. Remaining a powerful indictment of war and social injustice, it is an epic drama set in the seventeenth century during the Thirty Years' War. The plot follows the resilient Mother Courage who survives by running a commissary business that profits from all sides. As the war claims all of her children in turn, the play poignantly demonstrates that no one can profit from the war without being subject to its terrible cost also.
“The translation, by American playwright Tony Kushner, is fast-moving, articulate, and reaches the heart of Brecht's reasonings” –Daily Express
THE PROSPECT OF EQUALITY
By Rachel Zake
Directed by Celeste Cosentino
World Premiere NEW PLAY commissioned by Ensemble Theatre!
May 24th-June 9th, 2024
A young girl loses her mother as she stands on the precipice of adulthood. A visitor arrives who brings hope and, all at once, an event that should shatter her stands to make her stronger. Young Ruth takes advice from an older version of herself helping to guide her as she changes the world. The Prospect of Equality presents Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s story as we would often wish to see our own, with advice from our older selves, assuring us that the fight ahead will truly one day be worth the struggle.
Be a part of the new play process!!
Stay tuned for more information on two staged readings of this new work in the early fall and early in the new year prior to the premiere!
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RETURN OF THESE PROGRAMS!!
-The return of Ensemble's COLOMBI NEW PLAY FESTIVAL in MARCH OF 2024!
-The FOURTH EPISODE of Ensemble's Co-Production of our IN OUR OUR WORDS: OUR STORIES :OUR VOICES series with SumMedia Productions!
-STAGED READINGS of new works throughout the season and throughout Cuyahoga County by our STAGEWRIGHTS UNIT composed of local writers!
Ensemble Theatre is excited to announce we have switched to a full service ticketing system with SimpleTix!
SINGLE TICKETS are $15-$35 (On Sale by the Early August!)
SEASON MEMBERSHIPS are $70-$135. (On Sale Now)
Ensemble Season Memberships are FLEX TICKET PACKAGES that can be used in any combination for any production!
Visit our website for more information on memberships, single tickets and our new ticketing system!
Senior, Student, and Group Discounts available.