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Erie Theater Company (ETC) is Erie, PA's newest theatrical entity. It was created this summer, to provide artists the opportunity to develop and perform in a venue that offers diverse, interesting favorites, and new works, to the wide variety of theater goers of Erie and the surrounding areas. They open tonight, November 6th.
In their opening season, the new company has scheduled the award-winning, hugely popular, and recently re-revived production on Broadway--- Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raaisin in the Sun", as their debut offering in November, from the 6th, through the 8th. This ground-breaking play starred Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeill, Ruby Dee and Diana Sands in the Broadway production which opened in 1959.
Set on Chicago's South Side, "A Raisin in the Sun" revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena, called "Mama". When her deceased husband's insurance money comes through Mama dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans.
ETC came to be as a result of a conversation between the new Artistic Director and Assistant Artistic Director during a reading of "Stormy"--- held in May at the Erie Playhouse. During the planning, and performance of that reading, a desire was expressed for more, Erie-based, opportunities to perform more diverse classic, and new, works. "Stormy" is a new work in development for Broadway written by Kellie C. Turner.
Inspired by that discussion, the management, headed up by Ms. Denman, set forth to bring an inspiring chat to fruition, and swiftly. They rapidly seated their senior management and staff, harvested from highly-qualified, professional theatre people, including those with Broadway, and other NYC theatre credits to their names. Some of those names are:
Artistic Director, Dominique Denman, is the Co-Founder/CEO of Denman Turner Entertainment Group, Inc. (DTEG). Dominique brings more than thirty years of experience as a producer and performer. Dominique has performed in more than twenty-five plays including performances in Dreamgirls, Pippin, Guys and Dolls, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and received rave reviews for her performance in Ain't Misbehavin'. In concert, Dominique has performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Stephanie Mills, Lalah Hathaway, Placido Domingo, and Mirella Freni.
Resident Director, La Trina Rice, is a native of Houston, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Sam Houston State University. She has taught Theatre and English in the Houston Independent School District. She was the first performer to be inducted into Houston's Encore Theatre Hall of Fame.
Assistant Artistic Director, Kelley N. Ulmer, is an Erie artistic fixture and contributor to the arts for her entire life. She began studying classical ballet at the age of 7 at the former Erie Bayfront Ballet Company. After studying for many years under the tutelage of Ms. Charon Battles, founder of the company, she was also introduced to Modern and Jazz dance. During her time at Bayfront Ballet, Kelley was promoted to the position of the company's Dance Captain.
According to Denman, "The theatre, and cultural arts, history of Erie is legendary. It has a magnificent, beloved, and storied theater company in place right now. We are honored to become a part of this nurturing and savvy artistic community, and to share our programming with you all."
The theatre company is working for audiences to be delighted by a mélange of characters and stories that intrigue, and entice, while providing outlets for the entire community--- in order to benefit educationally, recreationally, and creatively. The expectation of Erie Theater Company is to become a treasured resource for artists to hone and develop their artistry in an intimate, supportive, environment.
For show information, and tickets: http://www.erietheaterco.org/a-raisin-in-the-sun/ or call 646-406-1546.
