MAHOGANY ENSEMBLE THEATRE
Award-winning resident theatre of Mahogany Expressions of Culture & Creative Arts Foundation
The Mahogany Experience
CREATIVITY
CREATIVITY
CREATIVITY
Creative expression is the heart of the Mahogany Experience. Audiences and artists of all ages engage in the creative process through mainstage plays, youth theatre, performing arts camps, master classes, and artist residence experiences. Providing a performance platform of diversity is a significant part of our creative, cultural, and artistic philosophy.
CULTURE
CREATIVITY
CREATIVITY
From theatre festivals to staged readings, emerging and established artists perform plays, create original literary works and present creative workshops for youth, adults, and family audiences. Deeper connections are made through artist talks, youth arts summits, and post-performance discussions.
COMMUNITY
CREATIVITY
COMMUNITY
Outreach partnerships with artists and community organizations actively introduce, inspire, and engage youth and adults in the dramatic arts through direct exposure, interaction and participation on an off the stage.
About Us
Our Mission, Purpose, History
Our Mission
To enlighten, enrich, and empower communities through entertaining African American theater experiences while exploring the common ground of humanity.
Our Purpose
To preserve the tradition of African American theatre by producing and presenting quality classic, contemporary, and original literary works of the African Diaspora.
Our History
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre (MET) is the brainchild of Dr. Angelique Feaster Evans, Artistic Managing Director of this established community theatre. Having performed in a cross-section of theatres and organizations throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area, Ms. Feaster recognized the need for a permanent seasonal offering of quality theatre of the African Diaspora. After meeting Mr. Curtis King, founder of The Black Academy of Arts & Letters in Dallas, Texas, Angelique was inspired to independently produce a dinner theatre experience for the community.
In June of 2003, Dr. Feaster Evans' vision of African American community theatre became a reality with the Mahogany Moods Dinner Theatre production of Indigo Blues, by Louisiana‟s own, the late Judi Ann Mason. This pilot production continued with touring performances at Southern University in Shreveport and Mississippi Valley State University in late 2003 and early 2004.
With the highly favorable reception of this pilot production, faith, and belief in the vision of providing ongoing African American theatre in the community, Mahogany Ensemble Theatre was born. In November of 2005, MET debuted as the premiere seasonal African American theatre company of Northwest Louisiana. Recognizing the importance of nurturing and developing the next generation of creative artists, MET formed the Young, Gifted & Black teen troupe to present social awareness and youth centered plays in the community. In December of 2005, the troupe performed Defining Moments, a play about teens and their lives touched by AIDS, which toured in area recreation centers, schools, and libraries as a partnership with The Philadelphia Center.
In 2008, MET produced the first Biennial Southern Black Theatre Festival. Mahogany Ensemble Theatre stages at least four productions each season—two mainstage plays, one children‟s play, and one original play by a regional playwright. MET was the 2011 State AACT Festival Winner and represented Louisiana at the Regional AACT Festival in Spring 2011 as the 1st Alternate to the National AACT Festival in New York.
Coming Soon
On Stage
TIDEWATER by Sheri Bailey
September 21, 2022 PREVIEW
September 22-25 2022
LSUS-Bronson Hall #307