Congo Square Ensemble Theatre

Congo Square Ensemble Theatre This page is dedicated to upholding the legacy of the Ensemble of Congo Square Theatre.

DAY 25 of 25!! We decided to end our celebration of 25 years with the work of August Wilson. August Wilson was a support...
05/13/2026

DAY 25 of 25!! We decided to end our celebration of 25 years with the work of August Wilson. August Wilson was a supporter of our company both vocally and monetarily. And with your support we continue our mission. We are an ensemble dedicated to producing works that reflect the reach and complexities of BLACK CULTURE.

Featuring Ensemble Members
Aaron Todd Douglas - Joe Turner's Come and Gone
TaRon Patton - Joe Turner's Come and Gone/King Hedley II
Javon Johnson - Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Allen Gilmore - Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Bakesta King - Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Tracey N. Bonner - Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Daniel J. Bryant - Joe Turner's Come and Gone/King Hedley II (Director)
Derrick Sanders - Joe Turner's Come and Gone(Director)
Ronald L. Conner - King Hedley II/Jitney
Anthony Irons - King Hedley II/Jitney

DAY 24 of 25: THE BLACK NATIVITY! For over ten years brought Holiday Cheer with Langston Hughes' beautiful musical that...
05/12/2026

DAY 24 of 25: THE BLACK NATIVITY! For over ten years brought Holiday Cheer with Langston Hughes' beautiful musical that blended African storytelling and Gospel Music!

Featuring Ensemble Members
Alexis J. Roston
Kelvin Roston Jr
Aaron Todd Douglas - Director
TaRon Patton - Director

Original director - Mike Malone (R.I.P.)
Also directed by Friend of the Square - McKinley Johnson

DAY 23 of 25: GOOD STORYTELLING. Sometimes we gave stories you didn't know you needed. Featuring Ensemble Members Aaron ...
05/07/2026

DAY 23 of 25: GOOD STORYTELLING. Sometimes we gave stories you didn't know you needed.

Featuring Ensemble Members
Aaron Todd Douglas - Director - The Talented Tenth
Bakesta King - The Talented Tenth
Tracey N. Bonner - The Talented Tenth
Daniel J. Bryant The Talented Tenth, Director- The Fall of Heaven and What I Learned in Paris
Ronald L. Conner - The Talented Tenth and Welcome to Matteson
Anthony Irons - The Fall of Heaven and Welcome to Matteson
TaRon Patton- Director Bulrusher
Ericka Ratcliff - Bulrusher, Director- Welcome to Matteson
Alexis J. Roston - What I Learned in Paris, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill and Welcome to Matteson

Thank you to our friends, Seth K. Thomas and Sydney Charles

The Talented Tenth by Richard Wesley
The Fall of Heaven by Walter Mosley
Bulrusher by Eisa Davis
What I Learned in Paris by Pearl Cleage
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson
Welcome to Matteson by Inda Craig-Galván

DAY 22 of 25: The African Diaspora times 2!- Kwame Kwei-Armah's Elmina's Kitchen. A West Indian Restaurant owner in Ha...
05/04/2026

DAY 22 of 25: The African Diaspora times 2!- Kwame Kwei-Armah's Elmina's Kitchen. A West Indian Restaurant owner in Hackney, London struggles to keep his son from gang crimes.

Directed by Founding Artistic Director - Derrick Sanders

Featuring Ensemble Members
Ann Douglas
Anthony Irons

With Friend of the Square Cedric Young

💪🏾

DAY 21 of 25: Celebrating the African Diaspora - there are many plays that showcase the reach and complexities of Black ...
05/01/2026

DAY 21 of 25: Celebrating the African Diaspora - there are many plays that showcase the reach and complexities of Black Culture. "The African Company Presents Richard III" by Carlyle Brown is one of them. This play is the reason why the Congo Square Ensemble refuses to let our legacy be erased. In the words of the character William Henry Brown - 'E too dear.'

Directed by Founding Ensemble Member - Aaron Todd Douglas

Featuring Ensemble Members
Anthony Irons
Ericka Ratcliff
Ronald Conner
Allen Gilmore

Along with Chicago legendary trailblazer Jacqueline Williams. .williams.official

DAY 20 of 25: HEALING - Sometimes Theatre can be intentionally cathartic. Aleshea B. Harris' What to Send Up When it Go...
04/28/2026

DAY 20 of 25: HEALING - Sometimes Theatre can be intentionally cathartic. Aleshea B. Harris' What to Send Up When it Goes Down was a community ritual created in response to the deaths of Black People as a result of racialized violence.

Directed by Ensemble Members Daniel J. Bryant and Ericka Ratcliff

Featuring Ensemble Members
Anthony Irons
Victor Musoni
Ronald L. Conner

DAY 19 of 25: "GOING DIGITAL!" - THE BLACKSiDE was our Web Series created in 2020 in response to the Pandemic. It was a ...
04/25/2026

DAY 19 of 25: "GOING DIGITAL!" - THE BLACKSiDE was our Web Series created in 2020 in response to the Pandemic. It was a way for us to stay creative and also stay connected with our Audience.

Created by Ensemble Member - Anthony Irons
Featuring Ensemble Members
Alexis J Roston
Victor Musoni
Kelvin Roston Jr .
Ronald Conner

Our main cast also featured our friends Tiffany Addison-Ruffin and Alexandria Moorman

DAY 18 of 25: Producing our Own PT. 3 - "THE PIVOT" - In an effort to keep producing during the pandemic; the Ensemble t...
04/22/2026

DAY 18 of 25: Producing our Own PT. 3 - "THE PIVOT" - In an effort to keep producing during the pandemic; the Ensemble turned it's focus to digital content. From 2021 until we closed we produced two Audio Series. 3 Seasons of the Radio Drama "The Clinic" and a relationship podcast titled " Love Noir." B
Original content created by the Ensemble!

The Clinic Ensemble Members
Monifa Days - Creater, Producer, Writer
Daniel Bryant - Director ( Season 1)
Javon Johnson - Director ( Seasons 2-3)
Aimee K. Bryant - Cast
Will II Sims
Aaron Todd Douglas - Cast
Tracey Bonner - Cast

The Clinic also featured Friends of the Square - Neal Moeller, Makila Sims and Jonathan Perkins

The Clinic Sound designers- Brandon Reed and Willow James


Love Noir Ensemble Members
Alexis J Roston - Creator. Producer.
Tracey N. Bonner - Host
Ensemble couples were also featured throughout the podcast.

Love Noir Sound Designer - Brandon Reed

DAY 17 of 25: Producing our Own PT. 2 - In 2014 at our annual Festival on the Square, we jumped into the world of Sketch...
04/22/2026

DAY 17 of 25: Producing our Own PT. 2 - In 2014 at our annual Festival on the Square, we jumped into the world of Sketch Comedy. Created by the Ensemble with some help from our good friend of the Square Seth K. Thomas.

Written, Directed, Performed by Ensemble Members
Anthony Irons
Ericka Ratcliff
Ann Joseph Douglas
Ronald L. Conner

DAY 16 of 25 : Producing Our Own: PT. 1 - Sometimes our Ensemble creates our own work. Here are scenes from Ensemble wr...
04/21/2026

DAY 16 of 25 : Producing Our Own: PT. 1 - Sometimes our Ensemble creates our own work. Here are scenes from Ensemble written productions of Hobo King and Sanctified

Written by Founding Ensemble Member - Javon Johnson
Hobo King Directed by Ensemble Member - Anthony Irons
Sanctified Directed by Founding Artistic Director - Derrick Sanders
Featuring Ensemble Member - Samuel G. Roberson

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Chicago, IL

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