Dominique Morisseau’s Award Winning Play ‘Paradise Blue’ is Coming to The Ensemble Theatre!
Style Magazine Newswire | 1/4/2023, 2:30 p.m.
Widely described as “powerful” and “intriguing” ‘Paradise Blue’ is an exploration into Noir as Playwright Dominique Morisseau’s second installment in her A Detroit Project (a 3-Play Cycle). Set in 1940s Detroit, the aesthetics of a smoky, yet rooted Jazz club is contrasted by the characters placed in the atmosphere.
“I knew I wanted to tell a story about Paradise Valley in the 40s, so that's where I began my research. And the demands of the world at the time (jazz, liquor, urban renewal) all naturally made their way into the story because that's what was happening. And I knew I wanted to tell a story about how we lost Paradise Valley, because I'd heard so much about it growing up and wanted to experience it for myself. Theatre allows you to resurrect people, places, and communities.”
Dominique Morisseau
Blue, a gifted trumpeter, contemplates selling his once-vibrant jazz club in Detroit’s Blackbottom neighborhood to shake free the demons of his past and better his life. But where does that leave his devoted Pumpkin, who has dreams of her own? And what does it mean for the club’s resident bebop band? When a mysterious woman with a walk that drives men mad comes to town with her own plans, everyone’s world is turned upside down. This dynamic and musically-infused drama shines light on the challenges of building a better future on the foundation of what our predecessors have left us.
“We’ve been trained to value stories like Blue’s, stories of haunted, talented protagonists (usually men) who long to escape their traumatic pasts and suffocating surroundings, and who wreak a certain amount of havoc in their pursuit of artistic and personal freedom.”
Sara Holdren, Vulture
Directed by The Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director, Eileen J. Morris, ‘Paradise Blue’ is a great addition to The Ensemble Theatre’s 46th Season, ‘A Reflection of Our Ethos.’
“This play is a beautiful marriage of dynamic writing, vibrant characters and Jazz-era aesthetics against the urban backdrop of 1940s Detroit. The intricacies of the circumstances, personalities and emotions of the characters in ‘Paradise Blue’ are certain to cause self-reflection into the depths of ourselves…”
Eileen J. Morris
With a star-studded cast, ‘Paradise Blue’ will not only entertain, but captivate. Starring as Blue is veteran actor Jason Carmichael. Jason E. Carmichael is proud to be performing in his eleventh season at The Ensemble Theatre and has an extensive list of previous productions under his belt, including ‘Josephine Tonight’ (Broadway World Award for Best Musical), ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ (Giorgee Award for Best Supporting Actor), ‘Fences’ (Giorgee Award for Best Supporting Actor), ‘Fetch Clay/Make Man’ (Houston Press Theatre Award Finalist Best Actor), ‘The Meeting’ (Giorgee Award for Best Actor), ‘Freeda Peoples’, ‘Knock Me a Kiss’, ‘I Wish You Love’, ‘Fly, Front Porch Society’ (National Black Theatre Festival). Mr. Carmichael has also appeared in ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Alley Theatre, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ at AD Players George Theatre, ‘Water by the Spoonful’ and ‘Black Superhero Magic Mama’ at Stages Theatre. He was most recently seen in ‘Tied: A One Man Play’ by Crystal Rae for On The Verge Theatre Co.
Also joining the cast is Brandon Morgan. Brandon will be playing Corn in ‘Paradise Blue.’ Brandon has been a professional actor for eight years. In that time he has been blessed to be involved in over 70 productions. Voted “Best Actor of 2020” and “Best Everywhere We Looked Actor of 2019” by Houston Press. Brandon has worked for many theatres in Houston: Stages Repertory Theatre, ‘My Mañana Comes’; Houston Grand Opera, ‘Romeo & Juliet’; The Alley Theatre, Skeleton Crew; Main Street Theatre, ‘Love and Information’; Ensemble Theatre, ‘Platanos y Collard Greens’; and Rec Room Theatre, ‘PassOver’.
Playing Pumpkin is Crystal Rae. Crystal Rae is no stranger to stages and screens alike. Crystal Rae is a Houston based actor, puppeteer, writer, and educator who calls Chicago home. Rae is also an award winning playwright whose plays have been staged in Houston, NYC, and Chicago and is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild. Her latest show, Tied a one-man play, which was produced by On the Verge Theater in collaboration with The Ensemble Theatre was the recipient of the Black Seed Grant thanks to the effort and prowess of the Jonathan Williams Center of Performing Arts. Catch her new puppet show, Saving Savant on YouTube, which stars a number of Ensemble Theatre favorites.
Liz Rachelle is cast as Silver and is a celebrity influencer and entertainer. She is best known for her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) hit television show ‘Ready To Love’. Liz has performed and entertained audiences through her singing, acting, and dancing across the country for the past 20 years in shows including: ‘The Piano Lesson’, ‘Fences’, ‘Jump the Broom’, ‘Over 40’, ‘Jezebel’, ‘The Burning’ and a multitude of others.
Lastly, there is Curtis Von, who is cast as Corn. Curtis Von is a native of Houston, Texas. He’s shared the spotlight with nationally acclaimed talents such as Forrest Whitaker, Vivica A. Fox, Terrence Howard, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Clifton Powell, as well as starring with Kelly Price and Lavan Davis in Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married’. Curtis Von presently stars in several films on multiple streaming platforms, such as ‘Weekend Getaway’ and ‘Hero’. Recently, he won Best Actor in the Singapore Film Festival for ‘The Micro’.
