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Follow on Google News | New Erie Theatre Company (ETCO) Takes Another Bow, Follows up With Original Historical FantasyThought-Provoking Kellie C. Turner Original "Jimmy Earl's Defense" Next in Inaugural Season
By: Erie Theater Company Their follow-up productions are equally noteworthy, and very challenging. The sixties were a very volatile and ever-changing time. "Jimmy Earl's Defense" lays bare one fateful night when one bullet forever changed this nation and propelled a movement into its next dimension. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. His accused assassin, James Earl Ray was channeled through the halls of the justice system. "Jimmy Earl’s Defense", starring Erie's own--- ERIK HOLMAN--- deals with the “what ifs” of the man's trial. The audience serves as part of the jury, and sit in anticipation as Ray is defended by the most unlikely of counselors. One bullet changed the lives of two men. This original drama, by playwright Kellie Turner, sets out to ask: "Can truth, justice, and freedom truly ring?" The performances will be held on Feb. 26, 27, 28 & Mar. 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 PM in the Strong Vincent Auditorium, 1330 W. 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502, (814) 874-6500. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students/seniors) Also slated this season is the Tony Award Winning "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill", The work, most-recently starring Audra McDonald on Broadway and earning her a record-braking sixth TONY award, is a play with music by Lanie Robertson, recounting some events in the life of Billie Holiday. 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 many years ago. 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 artistic outlets for the entire community--- in order to benefit it 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: Erie Theater Company's Jimmy Earl's Defense, on twitter: https://twitter.com/ End
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