This event is being rescheduled. A new date will be announced soon.
Join Alley Theatre, Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum, Inc., The Ensemble Theatre, and the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of the Arts for a staged reading of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, directed by Eileen J. Morris.
This reading is supported by an Our Town award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
Kedrick Brown
Kedrick Brown (Citizen Barlow) attended the University of North Texas and the University of Houston’s MFA Program. Theatre credits: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Dr. John Prentice), Miracle on 34th Street (Fred Gayley); Sassy Mamas (Ladonte), Too Heavy For Your Pocket (Tony), Fly (Tap Griot). TV appearances include The Rookie, The Chosen, The Game, Black Lightning, and New Amsterdam. Follow him at www.kedrickbrown.com.
Jason E. Carmichael
Jason E. Carmichael (Eli) is an award winning actor (United Solo Fest-Best Actor 2025 for Tied: A One Man Play) with a BFA in Theatre from Howard University. Some credits include Twelfth Night (Alley Theatre), Fences (Ensemble Theatre), Black Superhero Magic Mama (STAGES). Jason can soon be seen in the Regional Premiere of Purpose.
Brandon Carter
Brandon Carter (Caesar Wilkes) Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Folger Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Rec Room Arts, Classical Theatre Company, Virginia Rep, and Off-Broadway’s Classical Theatre of Harlem and National Black Theatre. A former American Shakespeare Center Artistic Director, Carter holds an MFA from Penn State and joins Alley Theatre’s A Christmas Carol this winter.
Michele Harrell
Michele Harrell (Aunt Ester Tyler) has appeared in theater, film, and television in New York and Los Angeles, as well as with several local theaters. She currently serves on the advisory board for Lionwoman Productions TX. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Brown University and earned a Master of Arts from the University of Southern California.
Troy Anthony Hogan
Troy Anthony Hogan (Solly Two Kings) is an accomplished stage actor, recently in Houston’s Ensemble Theatre Coconut Cake. Transitioning seamlessly to the screen, his notable television credits include Queen Sugar and The Righteous Gemstones. His feature film work includes acclaimed historical dramas like The Highwaymen and Free State of Jones.
Chris Hury
Chris Hury (Rutherford Selig) is a veteran actor who was last seen on stage as Clarence in Richard III at the Prague Shakespeare Company. In addition to countless stage productions, he has been seen in numerous television shows and commercials, voiced an array of characters in anime, and works in MoCap in video games.
Delali Potakey
Delali Potakey (Black Mary) is honored to return to the stage in the reading of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean after taking a brief bow to earn her M.A. in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston. Some credits include Pretty Fire, Freeda Peoples, Sistas, All Shook Up, and Doubt. The journey continues.
Eileen J. Morris
Director
Eileen J. Morris (Director) is the Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre-Houston. Recent Ensemble Theatre directing credits: The Bluest Eye and Akeelah and the Bee. Alley Theatre directing credits: Fences (2026), associate director for Sweat (2021), and the Alley Theatre’s “All New” Festival. She also preformed as the first Black Ms. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol and appeared in the 1990 production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Eileen was named 2023’s Best Artistic Director by the Houston Press Awards. She holds the distinction of being the ONLY woman in the world to have directed nine out of the ten plays in the August Wilson Century Cycle.
Trinity A. Nobles
Stage Manager
Trinity A. Nobles (Stage Manager) Favorites include Alley Theatre: August Wilson’s Fences, Agatha Christie’s Mirror Crack’d, Primary Trust, Alley All New Festival 2024: Uhuru and Zero Hour; TUTS: Million Dollar Quartet, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Disney’s Frozen, Cinderella, Ain’t Misbehavin’; Stages: the ripple, the wave, that carried me home, Miss Rhythm: The Legend Of Ruth Brown, Othello: The Remix, You Are Cordially Invited to Sit-In; BFA: Stage Management, University of Houston. Always, Nate, Cashew, and Pistachio.
August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Originally Produced on Broadway by Carole Shorenstein Hays Jujamcyn Theaters
Originally presented at National Playwright’s Conference of The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
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