*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@ensemble-theatre.org <tickets@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@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*. *Please NOTE: 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@ensemble-theatre.org 2843 Washington Blvd. Cleveland Hts., OH 441118 216-321-2930/216-202-0938 *www.ensembletheatrecle.org <http://www.ensembletheatrecle.org>*