The Ensemble Theatre's Act One Young Professionals Present Drama-try: A Dramatic Night of Poetry at The Ensemble Theatre

HOUSTON, April 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensemble Theatre's Act One young professionals celebrate National Poetry Month with Drama-try: A Dramatic Night of Poetry, Saturday, April 21, 2012, 7:00 p.m.

Act One will extend its outreach to introduce younger patrons to The Ensemble Theatre through its inaugural poetry showcase.

"Houston's performance poetry scene continues to thrive in clubs and coffee houses around the city," says Carl McGowan, Act One Chair. "What better place to showcase the merge between poetry and drama than at The Ensemble Theatre."

Drama-try MC for the evening is Joseph "Joe P" Palmore, a local poet and actor gaining recognition for his talent, creativity, and community involvement. He is a four year veteran actor with The Ensemble Theatre where he recently held the title role as Emmett Till in The Ballad of Emmett Till, and currently performing in the barbershop comedy Cuttin Up. Joe P is one of the founding members of Act One, The Ensemble Theatre's new community of young professionals and has formed his own Black Box Theatre Company. He can also be found hosting poetry nights at Bambou with Se7en the poet in Rice Village.

Featured poets for the evening include: Authentic Deception (Tammy Fleming), known for her detail and range of scandalous sultry pieces to touching tributes; Khalid Khaliq, a 2010 poetry slam champ and Author; Marie Brown, the first female to serve on Houston's Inaugural National Poetry Slam team in 2002 and ranked among the top 10 in the nation; Miss Pinky (Ebony Bennet), a poet, actress, and singer who debuted as Etta James in the 2011 Miller Outdoor Theatre Motown Revue, and has opened for several noted artists including comedian Sinbad, R&B group Bel Biv Devo, and more; Nyne (Ahmad Hygh), who has been a member of the Prairie View Productive Poet Slam Team and the Houston Slam Team; O.N.E. The Poet (Dwayne Davis), a Houston transplant from Nacogdoches who has been performing in Houston for over three years; Red Sun (Kristie Murphy), a New Orleans native now living in Houston and gaining notoriety from her performances at popular poetry spots such as the Poetry Lounge, Bambou Poetry & Comedy Nights, and Poetry & Comedy Night at The Horn; and Seek The Poet (Ernie Ball), a writer, narrator, and performance artist who has performed on several stages including Heart & Soul, the Back Beat Cafe, Queerly Speaking, and the T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truth Through Healing) where he premiered an independent film in which he wrote and starred entitled "The Ending."

Act One was created as a way to unite The Ensemble Theatre's growing community of young artists and professionals with an increasing interest in how they can contribute to sustaining the institution. Act One members are recognized as the theatre's next generation of leaders who will support the theatre's annual membership campaign and ultimately develop into volunteer and fundraising support.

The Ensemble Theatre's 2011-2012 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and CenterPoint Energy. United Airlines is the exclusive airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. Thirty-five years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins' car to being one of Houston's finest historical cultural institutions.

The Ensemble is one of a few professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. The oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble's $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997. The Ensemble Theatre has fulfilled and surpassed the vision of its founder and continues to expand and create innovative programs to bring African American theatre to a myriad of audiences.