The Black Ensemble Theater starts 2011 with All In Love Is Fair

The Black Ensemble Theater is thrilled to launch 2011 with a different kind of love story featuring the music of Luther Vandross. "All In Love Is Fair" written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor and choreographed by Rueben Echoles is a story about relationships and how the people that live in this fictitious multi-cultural town of Love, Illinois move in and out of love. "All In Love Is Fair" celebrates the music of Luther Vandross but also features music made popular by other classic artists such as Brook Benton, James Ingram, Gladys Knight and Roberta Flack. Running through May 8, preview performances begin March 12 at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon Street, with the official press opening on Sunday, March 20 at 3:00pm.
"All In Love Is Fair" takes place in Love, Illinois, a small fictitious town located on the southernmost tip of Illinois. This town is populated by an eclectic group of characters who have learned to live together. Although the town is multi-racial, that doesn't mean they don't have their racial issues. They do, and at the center of it all is love. Everyone in Love, Illinois loves someone, but as the story unfolds, each relationship reveals a different meaning when it comes to how we love ourselves, how we love each other and how we love our fellow man. "All In Love Is Fair" is a musical comedy, full of dance, great music and a whole lot of love that will uplift, inspire and ignite the fire that lives within us all.
"Black Ensemble Theater is known for its successful formulaic productions; however 'All Is Fair In Love' is not a tribute to an individual, but a story defining the meaning of who we love and how we love as human beings," states Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Artistic Director Jackie Taylor. "Love is a universality that all human beings can relate to and this is a story that will resonate beyond our racial identity and speak to everyone, while utilizing the beautiful language of music."
Rhonda Preston stars alongside Zachry Boyd as Renea and Zeland, an older couple experiencing a mid-life crisis. The cast of "All In Love Is Fair" also includes Katrina Miller (Katie), Lyle Miller (Lee), Vasily Deris (Venie), Carrie (Cara), Lawrence Williams (Lewis), Aeriel Williams (Athena), Jenny Lamb (Jenean), Quinton Guyton (Cortez), Deja Taylor (Diedra), Dwight Neal (Dorian) and Donald Barnes (Doug).