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THE LEGACY ROOM IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE SITE FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE THE ENSEMBLE THEATER IS CERTAINLY PART OF HOUSTON'S LEGACY.
50 YEARS PLAYING ITS ROLE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS TODAY.
THANK YOU TO MR. HAWKINS AND OTHER LEADERS THAT HAD THE VISION AND THE COURAGE TO START THE ENSEMBLE THEATER EXPERIENCE.
AND TODAY WE'RE ANNOUNCING THAT IT IS STRONG AND FIXING TO GET EVEN STRONGER BECAUSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS GATHERED HERE TODAY AND OTHERS THAT COULD NOT BE HERE BECAUSE OF TRAVEL.
AS A MAYOR OF HOUSTON, I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS, THE CO-CHAIRS, THE LEADERSHIP, THE RANK AND FILE, AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE COMMUNITY.
IT HAS BEEN THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE COMMUNITY SINCE IT CREATED, SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED.
HOUSTON WAS NOT THE GREAT CITY IT IS TODAY, BUT NO ONE BLINKED WHEN THEY CAME TOGETHER AS A BLACK COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO THE ARTS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ENJOYED BY MANY HOUSTONIANS.
THIS IS TRULY A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO WAVE OUR FLAG.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FLAGGED, AND AS THE MAYOR, I'M GONNA DECLARE ALL HOUSTONIANS ARE CELEBRATING TODAY, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
THAT IS OUR STRENGTH, OUR INCLUSION, OUR DIVERSITY, CERTAINLY OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
WE WANT THEM TO LEARN OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO THE ARTS.
HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH BY BEING ASKED AND HONORED TO BE THE HONORARY CHAIR, I WOULD'VE, I I, I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM WHEN IT WAS DISCUSSED,
BUT I KNOW IT WAS NOT ONLY BECAUSE I'M THE MAYOR, BUT I'M CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE ROOM KNEW OF MY HISTORY.
SEE, I WAS ELECTED AS A 22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT IN 1972 BY THE PROUD BLACK COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.
I JUST KNEW I WANTED TO SAVE THE WORLD IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.
I COULD NAME OTHER CIVIC LEADERS.
THEY PUT ME ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
AND THE RESULTS, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK ARE OUTSTANDING.
'CAUSE I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHO PUT ME IN OFFICE.
NOT ONLY THAT, I WAS SHAPED AND MOLDED BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
I SEE ANTHONY HALL ON THE COMMITTEE.
HE AND I CARPOOLED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON.
SO FRON THOMPSON BECAME A CLOSE FRIEND IN OUR FRESHMAN CLASS.
SO I'M CELEBRATING PERSONALLY WHAT THE ENSEMBLE COMMUNITY MEANT TO MY CAREER.
AND I WOULD DECLARE THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
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SO LET ME THANK EVERYONE.I'M GONNA BE A BETTER MAYOR WHEN I LEAVE HERE THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE.
I WANT TO ASK MS. VICE CHAIR, MS. MC PETERS, TO COME TAKE CONTROL OF THIS GREAT CELEBRATION SO I CAN STAND HERE.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND ALL OF OUR SPECIAL FRIENDS OF THE HISTORIC ENSEMBLE THEATER.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, FOR AGREEING TO BE OUR HONORARY CHAIR.
UH, AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY, THE DREAM, AND THE VISION THAT MR. HAWKINS HAD IN 19 76, 50 YEARS AGO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO UPHOLD THAT VISION FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS.
THIS OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST OUR TREASURES, OUR TIME, AND OUR TALENTS IN THE ENSEMBLE'S FUTURE.
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO HAS INVESTED OR CONTRIBUTED IN THE PAST, AND WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE FUTURE FOR KEEPING MR. HAWKINS'S VISION ALIVE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE ARTISTS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THE LIVE PRODUCTIONS TO THE STAGE.
THANK YOU TO OUR LOYAL PATRONS.
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMITTED SPONSORS AND DONORS.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AGAIN, WHO WE COULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.
LAST, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MS. EILEEN J MORRIS, FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND HER PASSION FOR THE ARTS, HER LOVE OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER, AND HER TRUE DEDICATION TO KEEP GEORGE HAWKINS ORIGINAL VISION ALIVE.
UM, AND EILEEN, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, JUST RECEIVED AN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR FOR FENCES THAT WAS DONE AT THE ALLEY THEATER.
SO, AND THE BLUE EYE AT THE ENSEMBLE, AT THE ENSEMBLE.
SO PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO MISS EILEEN J MORRIS.
UH, 50 YEARS AGO, A VISIONARY NAMED GEORGE HAWKINS LOOKED AT THE THEATRICAL LANDSCAPE AND SAW A VOID, A CRITICAL LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK THEATER PROFESSIONALS.
HE ENVISIONED A DEDICATED SPACE TO PRESERVE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CELEBRATE BLACK CULTURE THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER.
SO HE STARTED WITH A SMALL, DEDICATED GROUP OF ACTORS, TOURING LOCAL CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
AND TODAY, THE ARTISTIC FOUNDATION THAT GEORGE ESTABLISHED REMAINS THE BEDROCK OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
TODAY, HIS FOUNDATIONAL VISION REMAINS OUR GUIDING LIGHT.
AS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST PROFESSIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER IN THE SOUTHWEST AND ONE OF EIGHT BLACK THEATERS IN THE WORLD TO OWN THEIR OWN FACILITY, WE STAND ON HIS SHOULDERS GUIDED BY HIS ENDURING BELIEF THAT OUR STORIES DESERVE TO BE TOLD WITH EXCELLENCE, AUTHENTICITY, AND PASSION.
OUR CORE MISSION HAS BEEN ALWAYS BEEN TO SERVE AS A FERTILE TESTING, GROUNDING AND LAUNCHPAD TO THE WORK OF ARTISTS, PLAYWRIGHTS, ACTORS, AND DIRECTORS.
BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST PROVIDE A STAGE, WE NURTURE THE VOICES THAT SHAPE OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE BY DEVELOPING NEW WORKS AND PROVIDING A HOME FOR ESTABLISHED TALENT.
THE JOURNEY HAS NEVER BEEN OURS ALONE.
WE ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE SOIL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS HAVE HONED THEIR CRAFT WITHIN OUR WALLS AND GENERATIONS OF AUDIENCES, AND OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS AND PATRONS HAVE SET IN OUR THEATER AND SHARED OUR JOY AND WEPT AT OUR DRAMAS.
YOU HAVE SUPPORTED US AND WOVEN THE ENSEMBLE THEATER TO THE VERY FABRIC OF HOUSTON'S CULTURAL IDENTITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES OUR WORK SO UNIQUE IS THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRODUCING NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WORK ENTIRELY IN HOUSE.
SO OUR COSTUMES AND POP DESIGNS AND SET DESIGNS AND SOUND AND LIGHTS, ALL OF THOSE TECHNICAL ASPECTS HELP TO MAKE THE MAGIC THAT YOU SEE ON STAGE.
AND IT'S BUILT BY HOUSTONIANS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
AND THIS ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST ARTISTIC QUALITY.
SO AS WE LOOK TOWARD OUR HISTORIC 50TH ANNIVERSARY, WE ARE THRILLED TO PREVIEW A CELEBRATION, A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION FILLED WITH WORLD CLASS SPECIAL PROGRAMMING.
SO SOME OF THE UPCOMING THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE, WE ARE DOING A PLAY CALLED PURPOSE THAT OPENS NEXT WEEK THAT JUST IS FRESH OFF BROADWAY.
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BRINGING BACK A CLASSIC CALLED A RAISIN IN THE SUN.MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW THAT PLAY.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA END OUT OUR SEASON WITH A PLAY CALLED JUBILEE, WHICH IS A CELEBRATION, AN ACAPELLA MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.
THIS MILESTONE BELONGS TO THE GENERATIONS OF HOUSTON ARTISTS AND LOYAL AUDIENCES WHO HAVE WOVEN THIS THEATER INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR CITY'S CULTURAL IDENTITY.
'CAUSE OUR CELEBRATION THEME THIS YEAR, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IS ONE VISION, ENDLESS STORIES.
AND WE'RE HONORING OUR HISTORIC PAST WHILE OPENING DOORS FOR EMERGING CREATORS THROUGH OUR YOUNG PERFORMANCE PROGRAM AND STEAM CENTERED THEATER TRAINING.
SO NOW TO SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS LANDMARK ANNIVERSARY MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE, IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE A CHAMPION OF THE ARTS, A DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADER, AND A VITAL MEMBER OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER BOARD.
UM, SHE'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, RIGHT? UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
UM, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE, UH, REPRESENTING, UH, HEB.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT 50 YEARS.
THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR MILESTONE FOR ANY ORGANIZATION.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, HE B'S BEEN AROUND 120 YEARS.
WE KNOW WHAT THAT TAKES TO MAKE IT TO 50, THE NEXT 50 AND BEYOND.
SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER AND THE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THEIR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY EVENT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE PERSONALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, THE PASSION, THE COMMITMENT, THE DEDICATION OF THE BOARD, THE STAFF, THE ARTISTS, THE VOLUNTEERS.
THIS IS A FIRST CLASS GROUP IN EVERY SINGLE WAY.
AND HOUSTON IS LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ICON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FOR FIVE DECADES, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER HAS PRESERVED AND CELEBRATED AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND SHARED THOSE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES ON STORIES AND TRULY DEVELOPED A GENERATION OF ARTISTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE STAND FOR COLLECTIVELY, IT REALLY IS THAT PASSION FOR UPLIFTING, DIVERSE VOICES, SHARING THOSE STORIES, AND BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN INVESTING IN THE ARTS.
UH, AND THE ENSEMBLE HAS BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER FOR HEB.
SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT.
UH, BUT ALSO THE YOUNG PERFORMERS PROGRAM.
YES, EILEEN TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO EXPOSE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS TO THE ARTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE ARTS.
AND I TOO HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF THAT IN MY OWN LIFE WITH MY NIECES AND GREAT NIECES.
SO WE KNOW THEY CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IS AN IMPACTFUL LEGACY, AND WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE THE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY BLACK T GALA.
WE HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE EVENT AND ENSURE THAT THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE NEXT 50 YEARS EVEN GREATER, EVEN BETTER, RIGHT MAYOR THAN THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT POSITIVE CULTURAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER THE 24TH FOR THE GALA.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE CORPORATE LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENT, TRAVIS TORRANCE.
AND HE'S THE US HEAD OF LEGAL, UH, SERVICES AND VICE PRESIDENT AT SHELL, TRAVIS MAYOR WHITMEYER, DISTINGUISHED GUEST COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
ON BEHALF OF SHELL USA, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO CONGRATULATE THE ENSEMBLE THEATER ON 50 EXTRAORDINARY YEARS OF IMPACT, 50 EXTRAORDINARY YEARS OF INSPIRATION AND 50 EXTRAORDINARY YEARS OF STORYTELLING.
AS YOU'VE HEARD OVER FIVE DECADES AGO, IT WAS GEORGE HAWKINS WHO HAD A VISION TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE BLACK ARTISTS, BLACK STORIES AND BLACK VOICES COULD THRIVE.
WHAT BEGAN WITH ONE VISION HAS BECOME IN THE WORDS OF THE THEME OF THE UPCOMING GALA.
ENDLESS STORIES, YES, ENDLESS STORIES THAT HAVE ENRICHED HOUSTONIANS FOR GENERATIONS.
SHELL HAS BEEN PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE THE ENSEMBLE THEATER, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PERFORMANCES ON STAGE, BUT THE WAY IT HAS SHAPED LIVES OFF OF STAGE AS WELL.
THE ENSEMBLE THEATER TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMAGINE.
IT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO COMMUNICATE BETTER.
IT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO COLLABORATE, AND
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IT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO LEAD.IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITIES BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH STORIES THAT HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER.
AND IT HELPS TO MAKE HOUSTON THE DYNAMIC WORLD-CLASS CITY THAT WE ARE ALL PROUD TO CALL HOME.
IN MANY WAYS, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER EMBODIES THE VERY BEST OF HOUSTON.
IT'S OUR CREATIVITY, IT'S OUR RESILIENCE, IT'S OUR DIVERSITY.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S OUR OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE.
WE AT SHELL ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THE CORPORATE PARTNER LEGACY AWARD, AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS REMARKABLE INSTITUTION.
SO ON BEHALF OF SHELL, USA, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE.
THAT ALL STARTED WITH ONE VISION, BUT HAS LED TO ENDLESS STORIES.
NEXT UP IS THE WINNER OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNER LEGACY AWARD, THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.
IT IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR FOR HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH ENSEMBLE THEATER'S COMMUNITY PARTNER LEGACY AWARD.
FOR SEVERAL DECADES NOW, OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WORKED TO SUPPORT THE ARTS COMMUNITY WITH THE SHARED BELIEF.
WHEN WE SUPPORT THE ARTS, WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPE HOUSTON BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK ARTISTS TO DEVELOP THEIR CRAFT, BUILD SUSTAINABLE CAREERS, AND SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED ON STAGE.
THE ENSEMBLE HAS DONE FAR MORE THAN PRODUCE EXTRAORDINARY THEATER.
IT HAS CREATED A VITAL PATHWAY FOR GENERATIONS OF BLACK CREATIVE TALENT, AND ENSURED THAT THE STORIES, HISTORIES, AND EXPERIENCES OF HOUSTON'S BLACK COMMUNITY REMAIN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CITY'S CULTURAL NARRATIVE.
AND AT HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO HELPING BUILD A CITY WHERE ARTISTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE.
WHERE THE FULL BREADTH OF HOUSTON'S CREATIVITY IS CELEBRATED AND WHERE THE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF OUR MANY COMMUNITIES ARE SEEN, VALUED AND PRESERVED.
THIS RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP.
NO SINGLE ORGANIZATION BUILDS A STRONG ARTS COMMUNITY ALONE.
THAT WORK REQUIRES ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC INSTITUTIONS, PHILANTHROPY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS WORKING TOGETHER, LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER, ANOTHER, AND REMAINING COMMITTED LONG TERM.
BECAUSE A STRONG ARTS ECOSYSTEM DOES MORE THAN PRODUCE GREAT ART, IT HELPS DEFINE WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
IT STRENGTHENS OUR SENSE OF CONNECTION AND BELONGING, AND ENSURES THAT HOUSTON'S EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVITY CONTINUES TO SHAPE OUR IDENTITY AND OUR FUTURE.
HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE IS HONORED TO JOIN OUR CITY'S ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING THE ENSEMBLE THEATER IN THIS 50 YEAR MILESTONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR THE ROLE YOU ALL CONTINUE TO PLAY IN SHAPING HOUSTON'S CULTURAL LIFE.
NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DR.
CERTAINLY, THIS IS A WONDERFUL MORNING TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
AND YOU KNOW THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE ALLOWED TO COME TO THE LEGACY ROOM.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT, AND CERTAINLY FOR SERVING AS THE CHAIRPERSON, BUT LET'S BE REAL NOW, DISTRICT D, WHICH I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, UH, IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WHERE THE ENSEMBLE IS LOCATED.
SO LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T GET IT SIDETRACKED.
I THINK, I THINK THE SENATOR HERE, BECAUSE I WAS HEADING TO THE ENSEMBLE FROM AN EARLIER EVENT, AND HE SAID NO.
I SAID, OH MY GOODNESS, READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
AND SPEAKING OF READING YOU ALL, IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THAT LITTLE BITTY WRITING THAT EILEEN WAS READING, YOU ARE PHENOMENAL, MA'AM.
YOU HAVE A GREAT PAIR OF, OF, OF EYES OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE SISTER, BUT THERE'S NO WAY
AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D AND CHAIR OF THIS, UH, CITY COUNCIL'S ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, I HAVE THE TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING SOME OF THE GREATEST CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND THE ENSEMBLE THEATER IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE TREASURES.
CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE MICHELLE LAL, WHO IS THE MAYOR'S, UH, DIRECTOR OF ARTS.
AND I, I'M GONNA DIGRESS JUST A MINUTE AGAIN, GIRL, THAT OUTFIT IS THE BOMB
UH, ANYWAY, AND I ALSO, MY FRIEND HERE,
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MELANIE LAWSON, MELANIE AND I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOGETHER.NOW SHE SWEARS THAT I RAN HER OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND SAID I WAS GONNA BEAT HER UP.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, MELANIE HAS A MOUTH, SO I'M SURE SHE COULD HAVE TALKED ME OUT OF IT, RIGHT? AND SO, CERTAINLY, AND THEN WHEN THEY ALL, YOU ARE ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HEB HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER IN HEB, IN INDUSTRY D IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND SO, AND I DO SEE PHENOMENAL ACTOR OVER THERE WHO I ENJOY WATCHING YOU AS YOU PERFORM.
I'M TELLING YOU, IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE ENSEMBLE THEATER, YOU ARE CERTAINLY IN FOR A TREAT.
AND I DID ENJOY FENCES TREMENDOUSLY, UH, FOR HALF A CENTURY.
THE ENSEMBLE HAS DONE MUCH MORE THAN PRODUCE OUTSTANDING THEATER.
IT HAS CREATED A PLACE WHERE BLACK ARTISTS COULD BE SEEN, HEARD, DEVELOPED, CELEBRATED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR STORIES AND OUR OWN VOICES.
NOW MAYOR, YOU'RE THE CHAIRPERSON.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS THIS, BUT I DO HAVE, I STILL HAVE ASPIRATIONS.
I THINK I COULD ACT A LITTLE IF YOU PUT THE SCRIPT CLOSE ENOUGH WHERE I CAN READ IT LIKE EILEEN.
AND THAT MATTERS BECAUSE LONG BEFORE EVERYBODY STARTED TALKING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPRESENTATION AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAD A TABLE AT THE SEAT, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER WAS ALREADY DOING THE WORK FOR GENERATIONS.
PEOPLE HAVE WALKED THROUGH THOSE DOORS IN MIDTOWN AND ENCOUNTERED EXTRAORDINARY ACTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, AND YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVERING THEIR OWN TALENTS.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SPECIAL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.
WE ARE A CITY WHERE CULTURE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS DOWNTOWN OR DURING A ONE FESTIVAL A YEAR.
CULTURE LIVES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN OUR INSTITUTIONS, AND IN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROTECTED AND NURTURED THESE PLACES FOR GENERATIONS.
SO TODAY I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
IT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, ARTISTS, VOLUNTEERS, PATRONS, DONORS, AND EVERY PERSON WHO HAS POURED SOMETHING INTO THIS INSTITUTION OVER THESE 50 YEARS.
I CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE MRS. AUDREY LAWSON, WHO CERTAINLY WAS A STELLAR BOARD MEMBER AT THE ENSEMBLE AND JUST HAPPENS TO BE YOUR MOM,
AND I WANT TO, TO SAY SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
THIS INSTITUTION BELONGS TO YOU TOO.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME AND SEE A PRODUCTION.
AND THEN FOR ALL OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE NOT HAVE CHILDREN OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT YOU WANT TO BRING, BRING YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO INTRODUCE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE CULTURE.
AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO, TO, TO UNDERSTAND IT AND LOVE IT AND NURTURE IT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THE ARTISTS.
I DO NEED TO RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, WHEN COVID CAME, IT'S KINDA LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED? YOU KNOW, YOU COULDN'T GO ANYMORE, BUT COVID HAS BEEN OVER NOW.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TELL SOMEBODY ELSE ABOUT IT.
AND BECAUSE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IS WONDERFUL, BUT I WANT THE ENSEMBLE TO BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS.
AND AS CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE HOUSTON THE CULTURAL DESTINATION THAT IT IS.
AFTER ALL, I DO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
SO I'M ALWAYS GOING TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT SOME OF THE BEST ARTS AND CULTURE IS IN HOUSTON.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT D, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENSEMBLE THEATER ON 50 REMARKABLE YEARS.
EXCELLENCE, EDUCATION, STORYTELLING, AND SERVICE.
THANK YOU ALWAYS TO ARGENTINA, JAMES, WHO IS ALWAYS ON THE FOREFRONT.
AND SHE'S ALSO A BOARD MEMBER AT THE ENSEMBLE.
AND NOW IS MY PLEASURE TO BRING FORWARD SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A LONGTIME CHAMPION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE ENSEMBLE.
AGAIN, I WAS WITH HIM THIS MORNING, SO IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MY FRIEND WHO'S ALSO A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT D STATE SENATOR BORIS L.
MILES, REPRESENTING TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 1813.
YOU KNOW, THEY CALLED ME CONGRESSWOMAN.
OKAY, SO WE, I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT THOUGH.
IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL HERE.
AND MAYOR, IT IS DEFINITELY GOOD TO BE IN YOUR
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HOUSE, UH, THIS MORNING.FIVE DECADES IS A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
THE ENSEMBLE THEATER HAS BEEN A CULTURAL CORNERSTONE OF SENATE DISTRICT 13, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IT WAS FOUND IN 1976 BY GEORGE HAWKINS.
THE ENSEMBLE HAS GROWN TO BECOME THE OLDEST, THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEATER IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING INSTITUTIONS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, CULTURE, STORYTELLING, AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE.
YOU GOTTA GIVE IT UP FOR THAT FIVE DECADES FROM ITS HOME.
IN MIDTOWN CULTURAL ARTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, THE ENSEMBLE HAS EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK ARTISTS PROVIDING A VITAL PLATFORM FOR GENERATIONS OF ACTORS, PLAY WRITERS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, TECHNICIANS, AND OTHER CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS.
WHILE BRINGING STORIES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE TO THE AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND BEYOND.
ITS INFLUENCE REACHES BEYOND THE STAGES.
THROUGH ITS EDUCATION OF YOUTH PROGRAMS, THE ENSEMBLE HAS INTRODUCED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE THEATER, TO THE THEATER'S, CREATIVITY, SELF-EXPRESSION, AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS.
IT'S NOT JUST A THEATER SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF ARTISTIC COMMUNITY, APPROXIMATELY 65,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY, 65,000 ANNUALLY.
THE ENSEMBLE ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE CULTURE OF THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF SENDERS 13 AND STRENGTHENED HOUSTON'S REPUTATIONS AS ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST ART CITIES.
THROUGH ITS PRODUCTION, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING ARTISTS, THE ENSEMBLE HAS PRESERVED AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THE ENSEMBLES THEATER CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
ITS ENDURING LEGACY REPRESENTS NOT ONLY THE REMARKABLE HOUSTON HOUSTON SUCCESS STORY, BUT AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULTURE, HERITAGE OF THIS STATE AND AMERICA'S THEATER.
I'VE BEEN PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS TREASURE OF HOUSTON'S INSTITUTION FOR OVER, OVER DECADES AND JOIN THE OUTSTANDING PRODUCTIONS AND CHAMPIONING ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I, LIKE MANY OF YOU CAN THANK FIRST LADY AUDREY LAWSON FOR GETTING ME INVOLVED.
I STILL REMEMBER THAT CALL I RECEIVED FROM A DIETRA IN 1997.
MY PLAY, IF YOU LOOK IN THAT PLAY BILL AND YOU TURN THAT FIRST PAGE, MY ADVERTISEMENT IS SET RIGHT THERE SINCE 1997.
AS WE ALL KNOW IN THIS ROOM, WHEN MAMA LAWSON CALLED, YOU LISTENED, NOT ONLY DID YOU LISTEN, YOU ACTED.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE ENSEMBLES BOARD.
I WOULD CONGRATULATE, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE MAYOR FOR HOSTING THIS AND BEING AN HONOREE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE THE ENSEMBLE'S BOARD.
ITS PAST BOARD MEMBERS AND ITS PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS.
I SEE YOU, I KNOW YOU, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE.
UH, ITS DEDICATED STAFF, THOSE WHO HAVE COME AND GONE AND ARE STILL HERE.
IT'S EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THESE STORIES TO LIFE.
AND ITS GENEROUS DONORS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR MINTY MINTY YEARS.
THIS GENERAL DONORS WHO SUPPORT US HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN, IN ITS MISSION.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S LOYAL AUDIENCE.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE TICKETS AND WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS AND SAT AND FILLED THE SEATS AND SUPPORTED THE INSTITUTION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IT IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TWO EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THIS MILESTONE CELEBRATION POSSIBLE.
IT'S COINCIDENTAL THAT I, I REFER TO BOTH OF THEM AS MY SISTER AND I COULD REFER TO 'EM AS SIS.
AND THEY'VE KNOWN ME SINCE I WAS A RAMBUNCTIOUS TEENAGER.
'CAUSE SOME OF YOU MAY SAY I'M STILL RAMBUNCTIOUS ADULT, BUT THOSE WHO KNOW ME, KNOW ME WELL, LET ME FIRST INTRODUCE TO YOU THE INCOMPARABLE, AND I DO MEAN INCOMPARABLE, MISS ARGENTINA,
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M JAMES, WHOSE COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OF THE ARTS HAVE MADE IT AN ENDURING IMPACT, HAVE MADE AN ENDURING IMPACT ON HOUSTON, ARGENTINA, JAMES, AND JOINING HER AND JOINING HER IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF HOUSTON.THE TRUE SPIRIT OF AUDREY LAWSON AND A HOUSTON TREASURE.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY WE REFER TO HER AS THE DAUGHTER OF THIRD WARD, THE LEGACY IN THE LEGACY OF HERSELF.
MS. MELANIE LAWSON, PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING A WARM, WELL AND DESERVED WELCOME TO OUR GALA CO-CHAIRS ARGENTINA, JAMES AND MELANIE LAWSON.
I WANNA GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT TEARING UP BECAUSE, UM, MANY OF YOU IN HERE HAVE REPRESENTED THE ENSEMBLE THEATER IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
YOUR KIDS, YOUR GRANDKIDS, ON THE STAGE, YOU PARTICIPATING AND GIVING BACK SUBSCRIBER JUST A CHEERLEADER.
BECAUSE EILEEN IS THE LONGEST SERVING STAFF MEMBER OF THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
SHE GOT HERE WHEN GEORGE WAS HERE.
SHE WAS OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST MANAGING DIRECTOR, AND SHE LEARNED UNDER THE TILLAGE OF GEORGE HAWKINS.
SO WE THANK YOU EQUALLY FOR TODAY.
WE WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR SERVING AS THE HONORARY CHAIR AND HOSTING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE ENSEMBLE THEATER MEANS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE A CULTURAL GEM.
I WANT TO THANK SHELL SHELL HAS BEEN WITH US REGARDLESS TO WHO THEIR LEADERSHIP WAS OVER THE YEARS, AS EARLY AS 1990.
THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US EVERY YEAR, NO MATTER WHAT.
THEY MADE A WAY WHEN THEY CHANGED RULES BY WHAT THEY CAN GET.
THEY STILL MADE A WAY TO GIVE TO THE ENSEMBLE THEATER AND HELP US DEVELOP OUR PROGRAM.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR SHELL'S SPONSORSHIP, AND THAT IS WHY THEY'RE RECEIVING THE LEGACY AWARD.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.
UM, THEY ARE THE LONGEST GIVING UNDER FORMER CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL OF HOUSTON, NOW HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE 20 YEARS LATER, WHICH THEY'RE CELEBRATING AS WELL THIS MONTH.
I WANNA THANK THEM FOR NO MATTER WHAT UNDERWRITING OR NOT UNDERWRITING, BUT SUPPORTING THE THEATER IN ITS OPERATIONS, IN ITS PLAYS, UNDERSTANDING THE VISION.
MAY WE NOT UNDER WE, WE MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS AGREED WITH THE AMOUNT, BUT THEY GOT IT
SO I WANNA THANK YOU AND THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE YEARS, I MEAN YEARS LITERALLY ONE OF THE FIRST AGENCIES THAT STARTED GIVING TO THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
AND SO WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
I ALSO WANNA THANK ANTHONY HALL, WHO IS A LONGSTANDING SUPPORTER AND BOARD MEMBER.
HE'S THE HONORARY GALA COMMITTEE.
HE'S INTERNATIONALLY TRAVELING, BUT HE SENT HIS $50,000 ON BEHALF OF WHEELER AVENUE CHURCH.
THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR, AND THEN JUANELLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN JUANELLE FIRST LANDED IN HOUSTON, ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES SHE CAME WAS THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON, HEB HAS BEEN A PART OF HOUSTON ENSEMBLE THEATER AND HOUSTON IN GENERAL.
I THANK YOU ELLE, BECAUSE IT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT KEEPS THE VISION.
IT'S THE STORE THAT HAS THE GREAT FOOD
OKAY? SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THEN RAQUEL LEWIS, I THINK SHE'S HERE, BUT RAQUEL LEWIS IS ALSO AN HONORARY COMMITTEE MEMBER.
AND THEN BILL KING, ALL OF THOSE HAVE STEPPED UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN RAISE THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO RAISE FOR THIS GALA.
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70% THERE AND WE'RE 30 DAYS OUT.WE'RE GONNA GET THERE 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN HOUSTON.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MELANIE SO SHE CAN HAVE A FEW WORDS.
OH MY, WHY DO YOU THINK I WOULD WANNA COME BEHIND ARGENTINA? SHE IS SO PERFECT AT THIS.
UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY.
MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO, UH, KICK OFF THINGS RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL.
UH, AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE SPONSORS.
ONCE AGAIN, I ALSO WANNA THANK ARGENTINA, WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST ORGANIZED PEOPLE ON THE PLANET AND HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF PULLING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
WELL, 50 YEARS IS AN INCREDIBLE RECORD.
UH, WHETHER IT'S A THEATER OR IT'S A CHURCH OR IT'S WHATEVER OUT THERE, 50 YEARS IS A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT.
UH, AND I BET HALF OF YOU IN THIS ROOM WERE NOT ALIVE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UH, BUT WE SO GLAD TO BE HERE AND TO BE A PART OF IT.
AS SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE, UH, SUGGESTED.
UH, THE ENSEMBLE IS REALLY IN MY BLOOD AND MY DNA BECAUSE MY MOM STARTED WORKING WITH THE ENSEMBLE WHEN GEORGE WAS STILL ALIVE.
AND SHE AND ARGENTINA, UH, AND SO MANY OTHERS PROMISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD KEEP THE THEATER ALIVE.
I KNOW EILEEN SAID THAT TO HIM LITERALLY ON HIS DEATHBED.
WE HOPE HE WOULD BE PROUD NOW AT WHAT HAS COME BECAUSE THAT WAS A LITTLE BUILDING OVER ON 2:00 AM AND NOW, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S A GLORIOUS, UH, PALACE ON MAIN STREET.
UH, I'LL SAY JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE.
WE LOVE, UH, ALL KINDS OF, UH, EXCITING VIDEO GAMES AND THE LIKE.
BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SITTING IN A THEATER AND WATCHING A LIVE PLAY ON STAGE.
IT FILLS YOU IN SUCH A WAY THAT NO TV SHOW OR MOVIE COULD DO IT.
UH, AND IT MAKES US SO PROUD EVERY TIME I GO IN THERE TO SEE ACTORS OF SUCH HIGH QUALITY, UH, PERFORMING EVERY TIME, UH, TO SEE, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS GATHER AND WE WORK HARD FOR Y'ALL, BELIEVE.
UM, AND IT'S JUST SUCH AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE.
UH, A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IS A REMARKABLE THING AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE KEPT IT ALIVE ALL THIS TIME, BUT IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO THIS COMMUNITY.
SO WE DO WANNA THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.
YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IS IT LOOKS BOTH BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS FOR YOU.
IT CELEBRATES THE LEGACY ALREADY BUILT WHILE REAFFIRMING THE THEATER'S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING NEW VOICES, INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND ENSURING THAT THE STORIES OF BLACK PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE WRITTEN, PERFORMED, WITNESSED, AND REMEMBERED.
AND THINK ABOUT THAT, UH, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT OF, UH, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE SOME OF YOU ON THE 24TH OCTOBER.
WE HOPE YOU WILL COME TO OUR GALA.
WE HOPE YOU WILL HELP US RUSTLE UP SOME MORE MONEY TO HIT A MILLION.
AND, UH, WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS, UH, HUMONGOUS, I KNOW THAT'S NOT A REAL WORD, BUT THIS HUMONGOUS CELEBRATION.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO AGAIN, THE ENSEMBLE THEATER'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WILL BE AT THE HOUSTON, AT THE, UH, HILTON AMERICAS OCTOBER 24TH AT SIX 30.
UM, I'M SO GLAD THAT H AND HEB IS THE PRESENTING SPONSOR.
AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THE HONOREES THAT WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE NIGHT OF AND FORTHCOMING.
SO WE'RE GONNA CALL THIS AN ENCORE.
THE ENSEMBLE THEATER DESERVES ANOTHER 50 YEARS OF ENCORE.
THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.