HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensemble Theatre continues the celebration of its 35th Anniversary Season with its Heart of the Theatre community appreciation event, March 3, 2012, 3:00 p.m. in The Ensemble Performance Centre.
"What an honor to be celebrating this amazing achievement," says The Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris. "We are celebrating this milestone as a reunion for all our past and present artists and supporters."
The celebration will begin with an African drum ceremony and walk from 1010 Tuam, the theatre's original residence, to its current home at 3535 Main St. A celebration of stories and artistic expressions that highlight the theatre's 35-year journey will ensue. The finale will be a family reunion mixer.
Heart of the Theatre is an annual celebration hosted by The Ensemble Theatre board of directors and staff in which the theatre pays homage to its subscribers and general community of supporters. This event offers a special performance outside of the regular mainstage season as a way of saying thank you for their support of the organization. Acclaimed celebrity artists including T.C. Carson, Charles "Roc" Dutton, and Ella Joyce have participated in the celebration with exclusive performances drawing thousands of guests.
Ceremonial Opening and Artistic Expressions: Saturday, March 3, 2012, 3:00p.m. – 4p.m.
Free Admission to 2011-2012 Season Ticket Holders
Reunion Celebration: 5:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
For tickets and seating availability call: 713-520-0055 or visit: www.EnsembleHouston.com
The Ensemble Theatre's 2011-2012 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, 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. The theatre is known as the only professional theatre in its region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. In addition to being the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team. 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 produces a main stage season of contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre's Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre. Through its varied programs, The Ensemble Theatre benefits an audience and artistic constituency of approximately 65,000 people annually.