The Ensemble Theatre is celebrating its 40th year with gala

The Ensemble Theatre is celebrating its 40th year during the performing arts center’s Black Tie Gala Aug. 20.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Ballroom of the Americas at the Hilton AmericasHouston, 1600 Lamar St. The gala includes a mayor’s reception hosted by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a salute to celebrity and corporate honorees, and food.

Celebrity honorees include Oscar-winning actor Louis Gosset Jr., Broadway and television actress Angela Robinson, television and film actor Harry Lennix, actress Anna Maria Horsford and singer C.J. Emmons.

Individual tickets start at $400. Tickets or tables may be purchased online at www.ensemblehouston.com or by calling the theater’s development director, Kathy Kelley, at 713-807-4304. A table order form also is available for download from the theater’s website.

The Ensemble Theatre is located at 3535 Main St. The theater was founded by George Hawkins in 1976 to preserve African-American artistic expression and to entertain, according to the theater’s website. What began as a touring company is now one of the only professional theaters in the region devoted to the production of works portraying the African-American experience. According to the Ensemble Theatre’s website, the production company is the oldest and largest professional African-American theater in the Southwest and is one of the nation’s largest African-American theaters owning and operating its facility and producing inhouse.