Ensemble Theatre celebrates 40 years
‘You allow us to stand up,’ honoree Merkerson says of support for arts
In light of world events, the blistering heat and the buzz over the lunar eclipse, gala season couldn’t come soon enough for the guests at the Ensemble Theatre’s “Live it, Love it, Celebrate” gala at the HiltonAmericas.
The more than 600 attendees donned their black-tie best to toast the theater’s 40 years. No talk of politics or current events, only a celebration of the arts.
The famous theme song to “Law & Order” had guests humming along as S. Epatha Merkerson, who played Lt. Anita Van Buren for 17 years on the show, took to the stage to receive the lifetime achievement award. Merkerson played the longest-running African-American character on prime-time television, until Ice T recently beat her record for his role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
“I’m a poster child for the work you do,” Merkerson said. “What you do for the theater, for young people and for artists is to allow them to create. You nurture them. You challenge them. You allow them to be creative in the world that tells them sometimes, ‘Sit down.’ You allow us to stand up.”
Actress Renee Goldsberry, who spent some of her childhood in Houston, received the award for actress of the year. Goldsberry earned Grammy and Tony awards for her role in the Broadway musical phenomenon “Hamilton.” She recently appeared opposite Oprah Winfrey in HBO’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”
Nkrumah Gatling ,a former performer of The Ensemble’s Young Performers Program, was given the rising star award. He’s currently on Broadway as a company member for “Miss Saigon.”
Also honored were retired Booz Allen Hamilton executive and Houston native Reginald Van
Lee, who was presented with the global citizen of the arts award for his long support of the arts and the Ensemble. Then, wearing a stunning La Petite Robe di Chiara Boni red gown, Lauren Anderson, the first African American to be promoted to principal dancer at the Houston Ballet, received the president’s award.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, with the Rev. Marcus D. Cosby accepting, received the community partner of the year award, and Energy Software Consultants was presented with the corporate partner of the year.
The event was chaired by Merele Yarborough and Jane Page, with honorary chairs Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Licia GreenEllis, and Martin Fein and Kelli Cohen Fein. Also in attendance were the Ensemble Theatre’s board chair Argentina James, board president
Alaina Benford, artistic
director Eileen Morris and executive director Janette Cosley.