The Ensemble Theatre Lights Up The Holidays With World Premiere Musical SOULFUL SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS

The Ensemble Theatre lights up the holidays with the world premiere musical Soulful Sounds of Christmas, book, music and lyrics by Chika Kaba Ma'atunde, based on a concept and title by Greg Williams, Jr, and directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris; Opening Night Media Reception Thursday, November 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

"The holidays can inspire a variety of emotions by the heightened awareness of scenarios that can either isolate, or bring us together, says Ma'atunde. "I wanted to develop a story line infused with music and songs that string us together in one continuous thread of love."

A Christmas miracle adventure connects a community and gets everyone into the holiday spirit. Infused with original new songs, this play tells the story of Ella Washington, owner of a family soul food restaurant in Florida whose motto is "when you give to others, it comes back to you." Soulful Sounds of Christmas is a heart-warming story that shines light on family, the art of giving and love as the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

Cast members include: Regina Hearne, Troi Aryana Coleman, Andre Neal, Bridgjette Taylor-Jackson, Anthony Boggess-Glover, Jayla McDonald, Kyle Anthony Mosley, Kai Tregre, Tabitha Clay, Elijah E. Goston, An'gelle Sylvester, Daria Savannah, Brandi Milton Gilmore, Tarnisha Hartsfield, Eboni Williams, Shon Sims, Silvanus Latoison, Daniel West, Salima Muhammad.

Previews: November 11, 12, and 15
Show Runs: November 16 - December 30, 2017

Performance Days and Times: Thursdays: 7:30 p.m; Fridays: 8:00 p.m; Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m; and Sundays: 3:00 p.m.

Tickets available online at www.EnsembleHouston.com.

Ticket Prices: $30 - $61

Opening Night and Media Reception, November 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

The Ensemble Theatre's 2017-2018 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. United Airlines is the official airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre. Soulful Sounds of Christmas is funded in part by Enbridge and Shell Oil.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. 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.

The Ensemble Theatre produces a main stage season of six 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; and the Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.