Black Ensemble Theater to Premiere ONE HIT WONDERS, 5/9-6/29

Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor announces the world premiere musical One Hit Wonders by Black Ensemble Theater Associate Director Rueben D. Echoles and Dawn Bless, directed by Black Ensemble Associate Director Daryl D. Brooks. One Hit Wonders will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, May 9-June 29, 2014. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 3:00PM.

This not-to-be-missed, hilarious musical spans some of the world's biggest hits of the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. They may have been one hit wonders, but they were hits nonetheless, including I Will Survive, It's Raining Men, Kung Fu Fight, Doin Da Butt, Ooh Child, Funkytown, Ice Ice Baby, and Macarena, among many others.

Ticket prices: $55 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday matinees; and $65 on Fridays, Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinees. A 10% discount is available for students, seniors, and groups.

Box Office: Buy online at www.blackensemble.org or call (773) 769-4451

Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space; rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage. The completion of a 150-seat theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), is expected in to begin construction in 2014.

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org.