Parson will Direct Signature's 'Home'

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is proud to announce that Ron OJ Parson will direct HOME, by Samm-Art Williams, the second production of Signature's 2008-09 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

HOME begins performances on November 11, 2008 and continues through January 4, 2009 at The Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).  Opening Night is December 7th.
 
Parson just directed The First Breeze of Summer by Leslie Lee at Chicago's Court Theatre, where he is resident artist. His upcoming directorial slate includes the world premiere of Palmer Park by Joanna M. Glass at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, the Pittsburgh premiere of August Wilson's Radio Golf, August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean at the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati and then two more productions at the Court Theatre: the suspense thriller Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott and The Piano Lesson by August Wilson.  Parson is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, and a co-founder and co-director of Ripe Mango Productions Film and Television Production Company. Some of the theatres Ron has worked with in Chicago include The Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Court, Black Ensemble Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation and Writers Theatre.  Some of the regional theatres include Virginia Stage Company, Portland Stage Company, Studio Arena Theatre, Studio Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic, Center Stage and, most recently, The Actors Theatre of Louisville.  An accomplished actor, some of Ron's TV and film credits include "ER," "Early Edition," "Turks," "American Playhouse," Vamping, Ali, Barbershop 2, Primal Fear and Drop Squad. He is a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of the University of Michigan's professional theatre program.

Cast and creative team for HOME will be announced soon.

Samm-Art Williams' critically acclaimed HOME is a wonderfully theatrical tale of one man's struggle to stay true to himself amidst a rapidly changing and turbulent America. Leaving behind his family's farm in North Carolina, Cephus Miles seeks refuge and prosperity in the North. Three actors portray more than twenty-five characters over the course of Cephus's epic journey from adolescence to adulthood, spanning the 1950's through the Vietnam War and Civil Rights eras.

Signature's 2008-2009 season will be an examination of a body of work from the historic Negro Ensemble Company's collective of writers, whose contributions have helped shape America's theatrical heritage.  Ruben Santiago-Hudson will serve as Associate Artist for the season. Subscriptions to the Negro Ensemble Company season are on sale now on Signature's website at www.signaturetheatre.org, by phone at (212) 244-PLAY (7529) and in person at the Box Office at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Through The Signature Ticket Initiative, which seeks to make great theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience, all regularly-priced single tickets ($65) are underwritten and are available for $20 every performance for the entire season, during a show's initial run.  The Signature Ticket Initiative continues through Signature's 20th Anniversary Season (2010-2011).

The Signature Ticket Initiative is made possible by the lead sponsorship of Time Warner Inc.  Generous support for The Signature Ticket Initiative is provided by Margot Adams, in memory of Mason Adams.

Support for the Negro Ensemble Company Season is provided by American Express.

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