ENSEMBLE THEATRE CONTINUES ITS 2017-2018 MAINSTAGE SEASON *WE THE PEOPLE* *JELLY BELLY* By *Charles Smith* Directed by *Ian Wolfgang Hinz* A powerful story of a convict returning from a brief prison stay to resume his position as the neighborhood kingpin. Mike is at a crossroads in his life and when Jelly Belly returns, decisions need to be made that will effect these characters for a long time. The Chicago Defender wrote “Employing gritty poetry of the streets, Smith introduces us to Jelly Belly, who attempts to regain the service of Kenny, a former drug runner who has gone straight. Kenny is torn between the hope of prosperity through hard work shared with his friend Mike, or the opportunistic life of a drug pusher Jelly Belly offers.” Jelly Belly don’t mess with nobody. *“Its unblinking, almost matter-of-fact depiction of a world whose values have turned upside down is credible and at moments, even funny in a ghastly way.” *– Stephen Holden, New York Times *“Smith’s dramas are persuasive without being didactic, and without suggesting simple conclusions. They are eloquent and poignant, but with a punch.”* – ForeWord Reviews This is the 5th collaboration between Smith and Ensemble including the plays Knock Me a Kiss, A Free Man of Color, The Gospel According to James, and Golden Leaf Rag Time Blues. Charles Smith’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway and from coast to coast by theaters such as Indiana Repertory Theatre, Goodman Theatre, New Federal Theatre, The Acting Company, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Penumbra, Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland, Crossroads Theatre Company, Penguin Repertory Theatre, Ujima Theatre Company, The Colony Theatre, St. Louis Black Rep, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Jubilee Theatre, Ensemble Theatre in Houston, and Berkeley Repertory Theater. As alumnus playwright of New Dramatists, graduate of the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop, and one of the founding members of the Playwrights Ensemble at the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, he has taught playwriting at Northwestern University, for the Prague Summer Program in Creative Writing in the Czech Republic, and for the Center for Dramatic Art in Groznjan, Croatia. He currently head of the Professional Playwriting Program at Ohio University, Distinguished Professor of Playwriting, and Ohio University Presidential Research Scholar in the Arts and Humanities. *FEBRUARY 9 – FEBRUARY 25* *Fridays & Saturdays* @8pm. *Sundays *@2pm. *Mainstage*Theatre. *Sunday February 11th performance is SOLD OUT!* With a great CAST of* CLEVELAND ACTORS:* *LaShawn Little* as Mike *Greg White* as Jelly Belly *Jabri Little* as Kenny *Mary Francis Miller* as Barbara *Robert Hunter* as Bruce Tickets $12-$25. Senior, Student, & Group discounts. -Special BOGO for opening weekend. (Except for 2/11) -Pay What YOU Can performance Saturday February 10th! WHERE 2843 W. Washington Blvd Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 PARKING Parking can be found in the Coventry School parking lot to the south of the theatre, also along Washington Blvd and surrounding streets. *216.321.2930 | tickets@ensemble-theatre.org <tickets@ensemble-theatre.org>* *www.ensembletheatrecle.org <http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org>* to purchase tickets online! *Please Note: *This production does contain STRONG LANGUAGE and THEMES and may not be suitable for younger audiences. Executive Artistic Director: *Celeste Cosentino* Associate Artistic Director: *Tyler Whidden* Director: I*an Wolfgang Hinz* General Manager/Production Stage Manager: *Becca Moseley* Set Design: *Walter Boswell* Technical Director: *August Scarpelli* Costumes: *Kayla Davis* Box Office: *Amy J. Strumbly & Kayla Davis. * *We look forward to seeing you in our audience!* -- *Information* info@ensemble-theatre.org 2843 Washington Blvd. Cleveland Hts., OH 441118 216-321-2930/216-202-0938 *www.ensembletheatrecle.org <http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org>*