The Ensemble Theatre stands out this Christmas Season with one of the most soulful and entertaining plays to hit the stage! A Motown Christmas is a festive holiday revue that blends the traditional Christmas carols with the soulful sounds of Motown in a way that entertains and brings holiday cheer to the entire family!

Written by Nate Jacobs (Founder and Artistic Director of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, FL), “A Motown Christmas” is being Directed by Aisha Ussery with Musical Direction by Phillip Hall. Aisha Ussery is a recognized and accomplished Director, Choreographer, Musician, Playwright and Performing Arts Educator. Having worked both Nationally and Internationally, Aisha has years of experience across the board and has brought her seasoned spectrum of talent to The Ensemble Theatre for A Motown Christmas. Phillip Hall is a well known and respected Musician, as well as an accomplished Pianist with remarkable versatility. Phillip has performed with Aretha Franklin, Delfeayo Marsalis, Melissa Manchester, Rita Moreno, Omari Tau and for United States Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton. A Motown Christmas also features a multitalented cast with professional level experience across the board!

Admitting that the holiday season is one of his favorite times of year, Playwright Nate Jacobs admits to writing A Motown Christmas as a “gift to the community.” Nate Jacobs has blended everyone’s favorite traditional Christmas carols with the original Christmas recordings from the classic and legendary roster of Motown recording artists. The song list even includes some seldom heard gems that audiences are sure to love. With an extensive library of original Christmas songs belonging to the African American-owned record label, there’s tons of excitement to be had throughout the show!

A Motown Christmas runs from Thursday, November 17, 2022 through Saturday, December 24, 2022 at The Ensemble Theatre.

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE 

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. It is 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. Forty-five years later, the theatre remains one of Houston’s finest historical cultural institutions.  

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 a season of live performances for students both off-site and at the Theatre. The Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.  

For information regarding subscriptions, tickets, group sales, and other theatre programming call The Ensemble Theatre Box Office: 713-520-0055 or visit www.EnsembleHouston.com.  

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Ensemble Theatre has been following recommendations from the CDC, AIHA and Texas state and local governments. We have crafted policies and procedures to create the safest possible environment, and to prioritize the health and safety of everyone who enters our building. For more information regarding our COVID-19 safety protocols, please visit our website.