For nearly 50 years, The Ensemble Theatre has stood as the home of Black artistic expression in the Southwest. Now, the oldest and largest professional African American theater in the region opens its doors to the next generation, ready to carry it forward.
The theater will hold general auditions for its 2026-2027 season on May 3 and 4 at its Midtown home, 3535 Main St. Auditions run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. both evenings. The Ensemble is seeking equity and non-equity talent, local and non-local, including actors, singers, and dancers of all backgrounds. Auditions are required for any performer who has not appeared in a mainstage production since 2016.
Credit: Eileen J. Morris/Facebook
Eileen J. Morris, who has led the theater as artistic director since 1990, said she wants every aspiring performer who walks through those doors to feel the weight and warmth of where they are.
“They should feel welcome,” Morris said. “They should feel that they are stepping into a part of our community, a Black institution that has been embedded in the Houston artistic community for almost 50 years.”
The general audition is open to any performer who has not previously worked with the theater. Participants should prepare two one-minute monologues. A headshot and resume are encouraged but not required. Newer performers may substitute a recent photo and a brief bio noting past work, including church, school, or community theater experience. Experienced performers should list recent credits, the directors they have worked with, and the roles they played.
Those who advance from generals will return in early June to audition for specific shows. The 2026-2027 season will include six mainstage productions, three revivals, and three regional premieres. Among the new works is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, a show that recently closed on Broadway and at least one Morris described as a classic.
“The actors that are coming forth should be prepared to audition for plays that show the strength of men and women. They should be prepared to take themselves outside of their own comfort zone.”
Eileen Morris, Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre
“The actors that are coming forth should be prepared to audition for plays that show the strength of men and women,” Morris said. “They should be prepared to take themselves outside of their own comfort zone.”
Rehearsals run six days a week, four to six hours a day for four weeks. Performances then run four to five weeks, with five shows per week. Morris said those demands often catch newcomers off guard, and so does what they gain.
“It’s so worthwhile and so fulfilling,” Morris said. “You get an opportunity to fulfill your passion, your dream, and you get to really be impactful to the audiences that see you perform.”
Credit: April Wheat
April Wheat can speak to that impact directly. The Houston-based actress has performed with The Ensemble Theatre for more than 13 years, working her way from understudy roles to the principal stage. She knew she wanted to audition the first time she attended a show.
“I was amazed with the professionalism and the fact that it’s a Black theater,” Wheat said. “So I was like, I’m auditioning for this.”
Wheat, who built her reputation primarily as a singer, said the theater pushed her far beyond what came naturally. A defining moment came when Morris cast her as an understudy in “Paradise Blue,” a production that required her to step in without the safety net of song.
“That is the moment that my life changed as an actor,” Wheat said. “I was like, wow, I could really do it.”
She started at the bottom, spent years understudying, and was challenged to answer questions about character motivation she had never considered before. Once she learned to trust herself, everything opened up.
“Do it scared,” Wheat said. “It’s OK. You could be scared. You’re going to hear 10 no’s before you hear one yes. Go ahead and just put yourself out there.”
For anyone with a dream and the courage to act on it, registration closes this Friday. Auditions begin Sunday.
Audition Information Dates: May 3 and 4, 2026 | Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Location: 3535 Main St., Houston, TX 77002 | Register at ensemblehouston.com
