Jitney

The Ensemble Theatre Presents August Wilson’s ‘Jitney’

Who/What: The Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director, Eileen J. Morris will direct the theatre’s upcoming production of ‘Jitney,’ the eighth production in August Wilson’s 10-play cycle.

Set in 1977, Jitney tells the story of a group of men in Pittsburgh’s Hill District who drive unlicensed “gypsy” cabs that for years have served as a vital means of transportation for the working class in Pittsburgh and other urban centers. The men must ban together in their struggle to earn a living (and respect) as urban redevelopment threatens their livelihood with demolition. They struggle to overcome their personal conflicts in order to foster a sense of solidarity against a backdrop of diminishing opportunities.

When: Previews: Saturday, March 26, 2011: 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 27, 2011: 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011: 7:30 p.m.

****Opening Night and Media Reception is Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 6:30 p.m..***

Where: The Ensemble Theatre

3535 Main St.

Houston, TX 77002

713-520-0055

www.ensemblehouston.com

The Ensemble Theatre’s 2010-2011 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and Texas Commission on the Arts. Continental Airlines is the exclusive airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre. This production is generously underwritten by Chevron.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. Thirty-four years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins’ car to being one of Houston’s finest historical cultural institutions. The Ensemble is one of a few professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. The oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble’s $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997. The Ensemble Theatre has fulfilled and surpassed the vision of its founder and continues to expand and create innovative programs to bring African American theatre to a myriad of audiences.

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The Ensemble Theatre's 'Jitney' Picks Up Special Guests

Actor Anthony Chisholm and Houston Jitney Entrepreneur Lauren Barrash Help Celebrate the Opening Night Performance of 'Jitney' by August Wilson

HOUSTON, March 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensemble Theatre welcomes Tony Award nominee Anthony Chisholm and Houston jitney entrepreneur Lauren Barrash to kick off the theatre's Opening Night and media reception, for 'Jitney,' Thursday, March 31, 2011, 6:30pm.

Lauren Barrash and Anthony Chisholm have never met and they share two relevant yet totally different connections to 'Jitney.' Chisholm is an actor who has performed in several August Wilson productions, including a tour of 'Jitney,' and Barrash owns and operates The Houston Wave, the only permitted jitney service in Houston within the last 15 years.

"I invited Anthony to participate in our opening night festivities because he has such a commitment to 'Jitney,' and he was one of the original cast members," says Eileen J. Morris, The Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director. "He has performed in several August Wilson productions and remains dedicated to preserving Wilson's work."

Barrash and her staff will be seeing the production of 'Jitney' for the first time. They plan to take one of their jitney buses to the theatre. She recently took the entire Ensemble cast of 'Jitney,' on a tour ride and shared the story of how her business was started and some of the history behind jitneys.

"We are still educating people about what jitney means," says Barrash. "When I first began operating I'd notice the strange looks from people when we'd drive by or ask if they needed a ride, but now everyone from Mayor Parker to some of our local professional athletes have caught a ride on The Houston Wave."

Anthony Chisholm is an award winning American actor who has performed in several August Wilson productions. He is a Tony Award Nominee (Best Supporting Actor in a play, in the role of Elder Joseph Barlow in August Wilson's 'Radio Golf'). He also performed on Broadway in August Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean' in the role of Solly Two King, and 'Two Trains Running' in the role of Wolf. He is a winner of both the Drama Desk Award and the Obie Award for August Wilson's 'Jitney,' which enjoyed a ten month run in New York City. He also performed 'Jitney' at London's Prestigious National Theatre on the South Bank winning the Olivier Award for Best New Play.

Lauren Barrash is owner of The Houston Wave, one of the first permitted jitney services in 15 years. Her route started on Washington Avenue, and has since grown to several routes in and around the 610 loop including: Upper Kirby/ Sheppard, Rice Village, Montrose, Galleria/ Uptown Park, the eights, Downtown, and Midtown. The Wave now operates a fleet of jitney buses with plans to add more. The City of Houston has installed 25 jitney stops, but if anyone sees her orange jitney buses in route they can wave one down for a ride.

Set in 1977, Jitney tells the story of a group of men in Pittsburgh's Hill District who drive unlicensed "gypsy" cabs that for years have served as a vital means of transportation for the working class in Pittsburgh and other urban centers. The men must ban together in their struggle to earn a living (and respect) as urban redevelopment threatens their livelihood with demolition. They struggle to overcome their personal conflicts in order to foster a sense of solidarity against a backdrop of diminishing opportunities.

Performances: Thursdays: 7:30 p.m; Fridays: 8:00 p.m; Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m; and Sundays: 3:00 p.m.

Featured cast members include: Wayne DeHart, Timothy Eric, Henry Edwards, Troy Hogan, Byron Jacquet, Broderick Jones, Jordyn Lorenz, Joseph Palmore, and Lee Stansberry.

The Ensemble Theatre's 2010-2011 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and Texas Commission on the Arts. Continental Airlines is the exclusive airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre. This production is generously underwritten by Chevron.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. The theatre is known as the only professional theatre in its region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. In addition to being 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. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble's $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997.

Let me tell you what. Nobody, I mean nobody does August Wilson better than Eileen J. Morris at the Ensemble Theatre. And nobody does Jitneys better than August Wilson. I got to the Ensemble Theatre on 3535 Main Street earlier than the allotted 6:30pm reception time because I was scheduled to interview Jordyn Lorenz who plays the only female cast member in tonight’s production of August Wilson’s JITNEY. Everyone at the Ensemble Theatre was very busy running around in preparation for the big premiere night. The reception tables were adorned with floor length table cloths in bright yellow spring colors tied with formal black evening ribbons. Food is being prepared and the fragrance is intoxicating. I hear drinks being mixed with ice. Wine glasses are being polished while clear, fancy plates are being stacked up. The aroma of a fancy feast is lingering in the air. The Metro rail train passes by seemingly unnoticed by the people preparing for the party. There is a sign that says “Please be advised, smoking occurs onstage during the performance.” Beside the sign is a framed dedication from the famous poet Maya Angelou named “A Pledge to Rescue Our Youth.” Heated trays and platters of food are being prepared. On the menu tonight are teriyaki chicken on barbecue sticks and meatballs in gravy served with delicious vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, cucumbers roasted in onions. Silver utensils are being polished, napkins are being laid out. While I’m waiting to interview the actors, they serve me lemon-colored sparkling punch with a sweet refreshing taste. The bright, yellow spring colors of the tables in the lobby match the color of my drink. I help myself to a plate of meatballs in gravy, chicken and roasted vegetables and the aroma surround the room as they are heated up before the party begins.

In the lobby, I greet the Artistic Director of the Ensemble Theatre Eileen J. Morris who is also the director of tonight’s August Wilson play JITNEY. She looks absolutely stunning in a sexy, red hot wrap dress. I give her a big hug and ask her excitedly, “So are you ready for your August Wilson party?” She gives me a warm welcoming smile and laughs at the comment. I remind her, “You know it’s a party every night!” She leads me to the green room and instructs me to wait for the actors that I ask to be interviewed.

Jordyn Lorenz is a tiny little thing. She is 4 foot 11 inches in height, weight 110 lbs and is a size 2. So, I should not have been surprised when I finally met her for the interview. She is playing the role of Rena in Ensemble Theatre’s production of JITNEY, which is the only female member in the cast. However, don’t let her small frame fool you. Packed in this tiny, little package is a learned student of business and accounting and an artist who is passionate about her craft.

Jordyn is an actress, entrepreneur and organizational communication consultant. Raised in Houston, Texas by an engineer father, an artist / school teacher mother, and being influenced by an entrepreneurial grandfather, she developed a natural inclination towards business and art at a very young age. After obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX), Jordyn spent eight years as an auditor in corporate America. During that time, she made her acting debut in community theatre, an experience that opened her heart to a passion so deep it changed the course of her entire life. Fueled by her need for professional development, Jordyn went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication from Howard University (Washington, DC). However, growing intensely uncomfortable inside the box of routine and tradition, Jordyn decided to satisfy the passion and thirst within for artistic expression, making her way to New York City to study acting. She entered a special program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and trained in acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

Jordyn: The story of Jitney is about a group of men who works in a Jitney station in Pittsburgh in 1977. It’s a story about their lives at this very moment in time. It’s about taking each of their situations and how they are navigating in their lives. It is about their relationships, the addictions in their lives, their hopes and dreams at this moment in time. It’s almost like everybody’s situation is crashing in this very moment; their past and present relationships and their future, all of those things coming together in this moment. That’s the story and that’s where the audience will find themselves.

Jordyn: I play the role of Rena, which is the smallest role in terms of the amount of text in the script of the play. August Wilson doesn’t normally put female characters into his plays. So, that in it of itself makes it a heavy role for me. Because, I’m like, “Why is she in this play?” I’m still asking that question as we are opening. But I play the role of the young girlfriend of the youngest Jitney driver and we have a child. And we are at a place of conflict in our relationship when the play begins.

Joseph "Joe P" Palmore as Youngblood and Jordyn Lorenz as Rena in JITNEY by August Wilson. JITNEY is playing at the Ensemble Theatre at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas through April 24th, 2011. For more information visit www.ensemblehouston.com. Photo courtesy of the Ensemble Theatre.

Theresa: You are so tiny and so pretty and your eyes are huge, they are like windows to your soul.

Jordyn: I’ve been waiting for that question (laughs). Nobody’s asked that of me! It’s phenomenal. When you see the play and when you see these actors, it is an honor to be in this cast with these men. They are all fabulous actors. At the same time, it is also a beautiful experience watching men play these masculine roles. Watching each of them navigate the roles is like 8 men in the cast and then me, and each male role is very different. So it’s been a real journey to watch them develop in their characters; also seeing the differences between men and women backstage. I mean the practical things, but it’s really been fun. And they all have been like big brothers to me in this experience and that has been very welcoming. So I’ve loved it. I’ve loved working with this all-male cast.

Jordyn: Who doesn’t? Absolutely! An August Wilson play, if for no other reason, challenges us as African Americans about our own existence, about our experience, about what we believe. Because even if playing this character, I’m asking myself continuously, “What would I have done?” I wouldn’t do the same thing this character is doing. So it really makes me think, why wouldn’t I do the same thing she is doing? Why wouldn’t she do what I would do in this situation? So, it really challenges us to: number one, look at the history and number two, why were these people this way at this point in time? So you have to accept certain truths about your people in their experiences. And then, you get to see how it has evolved over time. No other piece can do that. That is why I respect August Wilson’s work so much.

Theresa: From your website www.jordynlorenz.com, I learned that you have a Bachelor in Business Administration in Accounting from Sam Houston State University. You’ve done well, girl! How do you parlay that into Acting? How do you go from an accounting degree to acting?

Jordyn: The short version is I got my degree in accounting, I worked as a senior auditor for many years and as well as I was doing in my career I just wasn’t fulfilled. I was happy, I was enjoying it but there was something missing.

Jordyn: That goes to show you how the driving Force behind the passion and the dream that it trumps convenience any day. My Accounting degree and then my Masters degree is in Organizational Communications. I think the way I parlay those into Acting is being meticulous, looking at details, focusing on details. I look at my character for details, which I think all actors are trained to do that. I am always asking specific questions about the character and the role and the play. The organization, I think I’m systematic about how I do that. So all those skills still translate and because I do producing as well, I get to use them even more in that arena.

Theresa: How has your lifestyle changed? You don’t make as much money as you did when you were an accountant. But it’s not about the money, is it?

Jordyn: No. I had to learn what it meant to be…I didn’t know that the word “starving artist” is a real term. I heard it and I go, “Yeah, I know, the bohemian lifestyle, that whole starving artist thing.” It was a big adjustment. For me, it wasn’t immediate because I have saved up so much money. When I quit my job and decided I was gonna do this, I didn’t know the impact for awhile. But then, you know, money runs out. And then I got to learn what it’s like to need five dollars for gas and to not have money for things that you consider to be necessities. And those where the times where I would ask myself if I was insane and “why did I do this”?

I will try to do something else like I would take a consulting project and be totally miserable. I got to see that it’s more…..I validated that it’s about way more than money. I’m a sensitive type of person so I live a lot in how I experience the world sentimentally. So, when I lay down at the end of the night, I really am one of those people who lay my head on the pillow and I ask myself, “Did I accomplish anything today?” Am I happy with what I accomplished? Am I happy? Trying to do only the other kind of work I do, I’m unhappy. So, it is worth the struggle for me and it’s worth the sacrifice because I just believe that it will lead to my ultimate fulfillment and purpose in life.

Jordyn: And that is what holds me. I have those conversations with myself even on the way to the theatre today. I’m tired. I teach full time. I have a one-year old. I’m exhausted even at opening night today and I have to say, “You know what Lord? You wouldn’t put more on me than I can bear.” This has to be for a reason. I want to know what that reason is.

Theresa: It’ll come, it will come. You attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

Theresa: That is where Marilyn Monroe went and famous actors such as Dustin Hoffman, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Paul Newman and Robert De Niro.

Jordyn: I went to the very school Marilyn Monroe trained at. I really did and a host of others. Al Pacino trained at the very school I was at. It was an amazing experience. There really are people there from all over the world. I mean, there were fewer people who sounded like me and us right now than anywhere else.

Jordyn: I mean the students sound like they were from other places. There were accents from everywhere, from every corner of the world. My American English accent was in the minority.

Jordyn: It was almost like the training of gods. But you were smack dab right in the middle of New York City. And the standard was high. The work was new to me because I have never really done anything like that. I did community theatre so I was in culture shock.

(L-R) Henry Edwards Jr. as Fielding; Broderick "Brod J" Jones as Shealy; Lee Stransberry as Doub; Joseph "Joe P" Palmore as Youngblood and Byron Jacquet as Turnbo in JITNEY by August Wilson. JITNEY is playing at the Ensemble Theatre at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas through April 24th, 2011. For more information visit www.ensemblehouston.com. Photo courtesy of the Ensemble Theatre.

Theresa: Of all the famous people you have met, I saw a picture of you with Sidney Poitier, who would you say is the most influential?

Jordyn: Ossie Davis. Ossie Davis. I will forever remember the one piece of advice he gave me. I met him on the campus of Howard University when I was in grad school. I asked him what advice he would give to someone coming along behind him trying to establish a career in the field. He told me, “Know what you will and will not compromise. Because inevitably doing this kind of work you will be asked to compromise. He said you will be asked to do something you said you would never do. He said, “And I’m not telling you don’t do it. But I am telling you, if and when you do it, account to yourself for it. Don’t let is just fall by the wayside.” And so I said, “Ok, what does that mean?” And he said, “It means: be honest with yourself. Be true to yourself. Take an account of all of your decisions so that you don’t wind up resentful to yourself afterwards.”

Jordyn: Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are very well known actors. He had a relationship with Howard University. He did some schooling there at Howard University, I believe. And he was there teaching master classes and establishing a program in his name. And so he would be in the Communication building all the time. So I happen to pass his way several times.

Jordyn: I love Meryl Streep. And I don’t know that I would say she’s an influence as much as she…when I watch her, it’s like time stops. She’s so in the moment. She is so organic. Honestly and truly, even with this role, when I approached it…I remember her body of work. Like to do this role, I remember how alive she was in Bridges of Madison County and how in the moment she was. So, I’m constantly striving for that. I don’t hit it all the time but I keep her in my mind in terms of an ideal.

Jordyn: I want to say, “Come and see it.” It’s a play about the African American experience but it’s also about transcending that. Relationships, like what it means for a couple or a woman to want her husband to share his life with her. It is a story about the man who wants to make good decisions. It’s about a father and son who are estranged and that earthly process of trying to reconcile. Hoping you can reconcile before it’s too late. And it’s about friendships. So it’s about things that we all experience. I would just say to the audience please come and see it because even though all of the cast members are African American, you will find yourself in there.

(L-R) Byron Jacquet as Turnbo, Wayne DeHart as Becker and Joseph "Joe P" Palmore as Youngblood in JITNEY by August Wilson. JITNEY is playing at the Ensemble Theatre at 3535 Main Street, Houston Texas through April 24th, 2011. For more information visit www.ensemblehouston.com. Photo courtesy of the Ensemble Theatre.

Byron Jacquet plays Turnbo in this production of JITNEY. He is a long-time member of the Ensemble Theatre and his many credits include The Waiting Room, Seven Guitars, Livin’ Fat, The Man Who Saved New Orleans, Blue, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and many others. He has performed in the touring productions of The Magic Story Maker, Brer Rabbit and Wiley and the Hairy Man. Byron has also performed at Stages Repertory Theatre, appearing in The Courage of Mandy Kate Brown; The Alley Theatre in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Of Mice and Men and most recently in I, Barbara Jordan; in film and television in Red Ink and American Gigolo and several industrial films. Byron attended the University of Houston and the Writer’s Clinic, Inc.

Theresa: I see you at the lobby all the time. You’re the one who welcomes the audience. You work the door.

Theresa: That’s right. I figure you’re the hardest working man at Ensemble Theatre. Because I see you onstage every time I come here. And then when you’re not onstage, I see you working the door.

Theresa: And so, tonight I was only scheduled to interview Ms. Jordyn Lorenz. But when I saw you as a member of the cast, I thought to myself “I want to interview Mr. Byron Jacquet.” So, I asked Ms. Eileen Morris at the last minute if I could interview you. I’ve enjoyed your last couple of performances here at the Ensemble Theatre. Your characters are always so friggin’ hilarious! I’m sorry for the last minute scheduling but thank you so much, I’m so glad you could join me for this interview. Please tell us about the part that you’re playing here in JITNEY.

The many faces of Byron Jacquet. (3rd from left) Byron Jacquet plays Daddy Calvin Lee Carter in Livin' Fat, May 2009 production of the Ensemble Theatre. Photo by David Bray Photography.

Byron: I play Turnbo. Turnbo is one of the oldest men at the station. He’s been driving cabs for quite a few years. He’s been with Becker for awhile, you know. (Becker is owner of the Jitney cab station, played by Wayne DeHart). There are about 3 of us who have been with Becker, I am one of them. I call myself the informed one. They all say I’m the nosy one because I run my mouth. I know everybody’s business. And I tell everybody’s business. I’m like the newspaper at the station (laughs).

Theresa: (Laughs). As I mentioned earlier, the characters I’ve seen you play are so memorable because you talk so much. You’re just a talker. And you’re so funny. How do you approach the characters you’re about to play?

Byron: (Laughs). Again, I always want to say that this is me. There’s always one character that all actors would desire to play. That character, you know, it’s just him. Again, I say (as Turnbo), I’m not nosy, I’m just informed, me as myself.

Theresa: (Laughs). What kind of preparation do you do? Besides memorizing all those lines, I mean, you have a lot of lines!

Byron: I mean, you know, ahhh…..we do a lot of research especially when we do August Wilson. This is my 8^th show, my eighth August Wilson piece. So, I have a lot of information on him already. A lot of the times I’ve researched months in advance. And it’s not always the character; it’s the playwright, where he’s coming from with this particular character.

The many faces of Byron Jacquet. (Right) Byron Jacquet plays Uncle Big Mouth Patrick Innes in THE WAITING ROOM. Directed by Eileen J. Morris and written by Samm-Art Williams, THE WAITING ROOM was presented at the Ensemble Theatre through October 17th, 2010. Photo courtesy of The Ensemble Theatre.

Byron: August speaks of every man. His pieces are always real and true to life. You know, I can relate to a lot of the stories, a lot of the conflicts that we as black people in this country have. His stories, even though a lot of them are out of Pittsburgh or the North East which is where he grew up. You know, that’s his life story. We all could still relate to him all over the country. Here in the South, we can relate to the same stories. And just knowing the person like I did…….

Byron. He’s been to 3 shows that I’ve done. I met him in the early ‘90s when I did Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Alley Theatre. We got together and hung out and all kinds of stuff.

Byron: An incredible human being. You know, not stand-offish like you would think. He’s a very personable human being, a very wonderful person.

Theresa: He even writes about the past, like way before his time. So it’s like going on a time travel when you see his period plays.

Byron: The plays are ten decades that he actually covers in all ten of his plays. It is like a time travel.

Theresa: Now, you say this is your 8^th August Wilson. How many stage performances have you done?

Byron: (Laughs). Here, I’ve been at the Ensemble Theatre for almost 30 years. I have been in at least a hundred plays here in the 30 years, at least.

Byron: I was born in Port Arthur, Texas. I moved here in 1976. I went to the University of Houston. I majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Theatre. And after U of H, I’ve been here ever since. Theatre has always been in my blood.

Byron: I like Houston, yeah. It’s getting bigger and bigger, in terms of people. It’s getting a little crowded. I come from a small town so I still have that small town mentality. So, you know, so far its okay.

Byron: This is another wonderful piece. It’s a play about life, about our struggles and about our opinions. Come and enjoy! Come and enjoy a bunch of guys and one wonderful female entertain you.

The many faces of Byron Jacquet. (Center) Byron Jacquet plays Uncle Big Mouth Patrick Innes in THE WAITING ROOM. Directed by Eileen J. Morris and written by Samm-Art Williams, THE WAITING ROOM was presented at the Ensemble Theatre through October 17th, 2010. Photo courtesy of The Ensemble Theatre.

The Ensemble Theatre Presents August Wilson's 'Jitney'

**Opening Night and Media Reception is Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 6:30 p.m..*

Where: The Ensemble Theatre

The Ensemble Theatre's 'Jitney' Picks Up Special Guests

Actor Anthony Chisholm and Houston Jitney Entrepreneur Lauren Barrash Help Celebrate the Opening Night Performance of 'Jitney' by August Wilson

The Ensemble Theatre Holds Auditions for Season Finale Musical 'Blues in the Night'