Houston Premiere of MARCUS: OR THE SECRET OF SWEET Set Opens Tonight at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University presents the Houston (and possibly Texas) premiere of Marcus: or the Secret of Sweet! TSU is in the process of a major transformation and that journey is not lost on TSU's Visual & Performing Arts Department, more specifically it's Theatre program. "While we have done all types of genres and styles of plays in the past that covered a multitude of topics, to my knowledge we've never done anything quite as stylized, topical, and diverse as Marcus," says Cleo House, Jr. who is not only the director of the play but the Chair of the Department.

The play is the third in a trilogy from Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed "Brother/Sister Plays", a newly 18-year-old Marcus is haunted by dreams and dogged by doubts from his friends and family. Days before an ominous storm on the Louisiana bayou, Marcus journeys to discover who he is and where he comes from by unraveling the secrets of his deceased father Elegba. As Marcus pieces together his own ancestral legacy with help from his tightly-knit, inter-generational community, he realizes the special power that being "sweet" brings.

"We have a really good feeling about this production and we've even extended our performance dates to accommodate the campus and the community." It performs nightly tonight, October 2 and October 3, 4, 10, 11 at 8pm and Sundays October 5th & 12th at 4pm. All shows perform in the Ollington Smith Playhouse located adjacent to the Granville Sawyer Auditorium on the TSU campus (3100 Cleburne St.) Tickets are $5 for students and $10 general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at marcusattsu.brownpapertickets.com or at the box office during the night of the show. The box office number is 713-313-7157. The show promises to pack the house so get your tickets early!

House quotes Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 20-21, Shakespeare writes "The purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature." "I mean that's one of the reasons I love the theatre is that there is room for all of our humanity no matter our background. While the play doesn't necessarily explore homosexuality we do have a lead character who is gay and very spiritual. He is struggling with how to reconcile his sexuality and his place in his community. It is a true coming of age story because regardless of sexual preference we've all struggled to find our place in the world at some point," House said. "Other important aspects of the play are the emphases on community and family. Oh and it is also very very funny!"

The Visual & Performing Arts Department at Texas Southern University is comprised of B.A. in Theatre and B.A. in Art. For more information on the department contact Cleo House, Jr. at 713-313-7339 or housec@tsu.edu.