Ebony Repertory Theatre Announces Full Casting and Creative Team for Jeff Stetson's FRATERNITY

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT -  Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown), now in its fifth year, announced today the full casting and creative team for the Los Angeles Premiere of FRATERNITY by internationally acclaimed, award-winning playwright/screenwriter Jeff Stetson (Keep the Faith and And the Men Shall Also Gather).  Director Henry Miller (James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner) leads the creative team. The riveting award-winning political drama FRATERNITY, which begins rehearsals on September 4, 2012, will play October 3 – 28, 2012, with the official press opening on Friday, October 5 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) in Los Angeles.

“I've been waiting a long time to have a production of FRATERNITY in my home town of Los Angeles and I couldn't be more excited or grateful to have that production at the Ebony Repertory Theatre under the leadership of Wren T. Brown with an extraordinary group of actors whom I have admired for many years.  I'm indebted to them for lending their talents and creativity to my play,” said playwright Jeff Stetson.  “I'm looking forward to working with them along with noted director and scholar Henry Miller.  I'm very fortunate to have this gifted ensemble interpret my work and share their vision with the larger Southern California community.  I know it will be a very special collaboration and I'm humbled by their participation.”

Three weeks after Dr. King’s seminal “I Have A Dream” speech, a bomb destroyed an Alabama church, murdering four young girls and shattering the dream that had inspired so many.  Set in a private club in 1987, Jeff Stetson’s FRATERNITY explores the journeys of seven successful black community leaders whose lives were forever affected by that tragedy. It examines what happens to those who seek power, privilege and inclusion, while abandoning the sacrifices that made their success possible.

The full cast for FRATERNITY features:

Harvy Blanks as “Rev. Wilcox” (Drama Desk Award-Winner for
his performance  as  “Oscar” in Table Top)

Ron Canada as “Turner Greystone” (Lone Star)

Rocky Carroll as “Paul Stanton” (“Director Leon Vance” in CBS’s NCIS)

Robert Gossett as “Lawrence ‘Turk’ Maddox” (“Commander Taylor” in TNT’s The Closer)

Nasir Najieb as “Brandon Carrington” (Men of Honor starring Robert DeNiro
and Cuba Gooding, Jr.)

Roger Robinson as “Charles Lincoln” (2009 Tony Award-Winner for August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone)

William Allen Young as “Preston Gherard” (“Frank Mitchell” in the hit
TV series Moesha)

In addition to director Henry Miller, the creative team for FRATERNITY includes scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Wendell C. Carmichael, lighting design by Elizabeth Harper and sound design by Bob Blackburn. The production stage manager is Sheldon P. Lane.

Ebony Repertory Theatre, now in its fifth year, is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, which is located at 4718 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016.  FRATERNITY plays October 3 – 28, 2012, with the official press opening on Friday, October 5.  The performance schedule is Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Early Bird Special tickets are on sale now and are $45.00 for Premium, $40.00 for Orchestra and $30.00 for Mezzanine if purchased by September 7, 2012. All tickets for preview performances are $30.00. Regular price tickets take effect September 8, 2012 and range from $35 - $55. Single tickets go on sale Tuesday, July 17, 2012 and are available through the theatre box office at 323-964-9766 or online at www.ebonyrep.org.

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