CAST/DIRECTOR OF LOWER NINTH - Ensemble Theatre

WILLIAM CLARENCE MARSHALL* (MALCOLM)

Celeste, thank you for the opportunity to work with you and appear alongside Mr. Primes and Mr Briscoe in this powerful work! William Clarence Marshall’s upcoming engagements include Sarastro in The Magic Flute and Dr. Pangloss/Voltaire in Candide for Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s Summer Festival. Mr. Marshall has appeared locally with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Solon Philharmonic, Tuscarawas Philharmonic, Warren Philharmonic, Opera Cleveland, Opera Western Reserve, Opera per Tutti, Beck Center, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, Fairmount Performing Arts Center, Kalliope Stage, Karamu House, Playhouse Square, Porthouse Theatre and the Solon Center for the Arts. Mr. Marshall has made appearances at Carnegie Hall in an Evening of Spirituals and as the bass soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C. He is best known for the role of Joe in Hal Prince’s Tony-award winning revival of ShowBoat on Broadway, the Kennedy Center and the Broadway national tour. Mr. Marshall’s television and film appearances include Aida’s Brothers and Sisters: Black Voices In Opera, on PBS’ Great Performances, the Making of Porgy and Bess as Porgy for the Jerusalem Music Festival in a command performance for the late Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. He also appeared as a featured soloist in An African-American Christmas, with Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis, for Vision TV and as a featured guest soloist on the Phil Donahue Show. In The Shadow Box Theatre’s, How The Turtle Got Its Shell: An African Tale, Mr. Marshall created the roles of Nyame, The Sky God and Osebo, The Leopard. This work garnered an award for Notable Children’s recording by the American Library Association. (*Member of Actors' Equity Association)

J'VAUGHN T. BRISCOE (E.Z)

Having started at a very young as a student of Cleveland School of Arts, J'Vaughn Terell Briscoe began his career as a dance major, being trained by the likes of Alison Chase of Pilobolus. J'Vaughn recently starred in plays featured at the Karamu House such as, the Triangle, written by Michael Oatman where he played the character Tupac. He received rave reviews when he starred as the character "G", in You've Got Nerve, another development of Michael Oatman also at Karamu. Now at his new home at the Ensemble Theatre, J'Vaughn hopes to achieve and conquer even more difficult roles as he makes a full and steady effort to develop his craft.

JOSEPH PRIMES (LOWBOY)

Joseph Primes is a veteran performer, who is thrilled for the oppotunity to perform at Ensemble Theater for the first time.

CELESTE COSENTINO (DIRECTOR)

Celeste has served as an Artistic Associate and Operations Manager for Ensemble Theatre since 2001. She is well known and respected in the Cleveland Theatre Community having worked with The Cleveland Play House, Dobama Theatre, Clague Play House, Cain Park, Bang and Clatter, The Illusion Factory, Karamu, Willoughby Fine Arts and Weathervane Playhouse. Ms. Cosentino is a graduate of the Ohio University School of Theatre and recently returned to Cleveland, after two years in New York City. She is the daughter of Ensemble Founder, Lucia Colombi and has returned home to support her mother's mission by providing a fresh perspective as the next Artistic Director. She was raised by Ensemble Theatre and has a special dedication to it's continuation for many years to come. She recently directed the critically acclaimed "Huck and Holden" for Ensemble's 2010-11 Season.