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* ARTHUR FRENCH, another native-born New Yorker, made his professional acting debut in "Raisin' Hell in the Son" at the Provincetown Playhouse. Since then he has acquired a long list of off-Broadway credits, his most recent being "Jonah." He also played the part of Princess Grace in "The Hostage" (starring Julie Harris), a role which he also recorded for the Columbia Records cast album. Mr. French's other off-Broadway appearances include "A Ballad for Bimshire," and "Day of Absence," where he originated the role of Luke. As a director, he was recently hailed for his mounting of "One Last Look" at the Old Reliable Theater Tavern. Mr. French is a veteran television performer in drama and commercials. In film, he has recently completed a role in "Out of It," scheduled for summer release. Mr. French also doubles as production consultant for the American Community Theater, a producing group for which he has acted and directed countless plays. 

* WILLIAM JAY became a member of the Negro Ensemble Company soon after appearing last summer in the American premiere of the world-famous Polish play, "Tango," presented by the Theater Company of Boston.  He also performed in the same Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Caucasian Chalk Circle."  Mr. Jay's two most recent off-Broadway appearances occurred in "Happy Ending" and "Day of Absence" as replacement for Robert Hooks in the roles of Junie and John (parts which he subsequently recreated in the Chicago production of Mr. Ward's plays), and in the Equity Library Theater production of "The Hostage" as Princess Grace.'  Following his New York debut in "Utopia" at the Folkshine Playhouse, this Omaha, Nebraska native has been seen also in "Hamlet" and "Othello" at the New York Shakespeare Festival, and the touring road company of "Blues for Mr. Charlie."  While in Omaha, Mr. Jay was a member of the Omaha Playhouse where his performance in "Roman Candle" won him a Best Actor Award.  He has appeared on television in the current "N.Y.P.D." series and will be seen on film in "Out of It."
  
* JUDY ANN JONSSON is making her professional New York acting debut as a member of the Negro Ensemble Company.  Miss Jonsson, a recent graduate last June of Emerson Collect in Boston, was recipient of that school's annual Carol Burnett Award in the Performing Arts.  It was partially this $1,000 award which encouraged the young actress to come to New York, although she says her mind was made up to come "no matter what!"  In Boston, Miss Jonsson was featured in the Theater Company of Boston's production of "Funnyhouse of the Negro," and at Club 47 appeared in "The Triangle," and "The Two."  As a writer-actress, she collaborated and performed in a satirical revue, "The Inquest."  Auditioning and being accepted into the Negro Ensemble Company cut short ("happily," she says) her brief, interim stint as a New York Playboy Bunny shortly after arrival here.  Miss jonsson is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where she graduated from Shaker Heights High School.

* DENISE NICHOLAS, a Detroit native, was last seen in New York in the controversial "Viet Rock."  Since then she has been one of the city's busiest young actresses.  In addition to appearances with the Judson Poets Theatre, she has found time to continue her work with the Free Southern Theatre, with which she toured in "In White America" and O'Casey's "Shadow of a Gunman."  Currently she can be seen as a regular member of the "N.Y.P.D." television series, on which she plays Ethel Ward, wife of the detective played by Robert Hooks.  She toured the United States with Vivica Lindfors in "Three Boards and a Passion."  Like many members of the Negro Ensemble Company, Miss Nicholas' talents cover a wide range of artistic interests: she plays the guitar, is an able theatre administrator, and has her poetry and articles published in Liberator Magazine.

She has studied prelaw at the University of Michigan and art at Tulane University in New Orleans.  Miss Nichols has the added distinction of being a bi-lingual actress, having performed in Spanish and English.

* ESTHER ROLLE, prior to her professional acting debut in an off-Broadway production of "The Hit" by Julian Mayfield, had spent ten years as lead female dancer in Asadata Dafora's Shogola Oloba dance company.  Since deciding upon a dramatic acting career, Miss Rolle has been busily active both on and off-Broadway.  Following a two-year stint in "The Blacks," she beam a member of the Broadway companies of "The Amen Corner," "The Great Indoors" and "Blues for Mr. Charlie."  More recently, she can be remembered and relished for her original portrayals of Ellie in "Happy Ending," and the Clubwoman in "Day of Absence" at the St. Marks.  For year, Miss Rolle toured Australia as lead Narrator in the world-acclaimed "Back Nativity."  She also has appeared in "The Crucible" at Washington's Arena Stage Theater and at Philly's Hedgrow Theater in "Purple Victorious."  Miss Rolle made her film acting debut in the role of Sister Sarah in the much-praised "Nothing But a Man."  On television she has been seen on such programs as "East Side, West Side," "The Guilding Light," and has toured recently in Thornton Wilder's "The skin of our Teeth" with the Scandanavian Theatre Co.

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* CLARICE TAYLOR is a seasoned actress, director, and teacher whose theatre career has spanned more than two decades of activity.  In many difference capacities, Miss Taylor as participated with such companies and groups as the American Negro Theater, The Committee for the Negro in the Arts, and the Greenwich Mews Players. As an actress, she has distinguished herself in such wide-ranging plays as Shaw's "Major Barbara," and Langston Hughes' "Simple Speaks his Mind."  Among the major triumphs of this Buckingham, Virginia-born actress are: "Trouble in ind," which she co-directed along with its author, Alice Childress; "Nat Turner" in which she co-starred with Frank Silvers; "In Splendid Error" where she portrayed the wife of Frederick Douglas; an integrated production of "Juno and the Paycock" at the Greenwich Mews; "God Through the Trees," which she also directed at Harlem's Club Baron; and an off-Broadway presentation of Alice Childress' "Wedding Bank" in Michigan.  Miss Taylor explains her infrequent appearances upon the New York stage lately as stemming from the demanding responsibility entailed in teaching and directing children's theater for the Board of Education and operating her own drama school for professional children with above-forty enrollment.  She adds wryly that her absence also has something to do with my single-mindedness in pursuing "my own kind of theater, which causes me to turn down parts I don't give a damn about."    

* HATTIE WINSTON is an original member of Robert Hooks' Group Theater Workshop.  She made her professional debut here at the St. Marks' Playhouse in "Day of Absence," whose run witnessed her winning the Heroine award from the junior high school students of Col. David Marcus School 263 in Brooklyn.  During the span of her short career, she has already appeared in the file "Sweet Love Bitter" with Gregory and Mr. Hooks, in the "Prodigal Son" at the Greenwich Mews Theater.  "The Weary Blues" at Lincoln Center Library Theater, and "Star of Libertyt [sic]" a narrative-canata based on the life of Nat Turner, written by Douglas Turner Ward.  Born in Greenville, Mississippi.  Miss Winston is a graduate of Washington Irving High School in New york and attend Howard University in Washington majoring in Fine Arts.  She is another of the Negro Ensemble Company's accomplished singers.  The Negro Ensemble Company presented her in "An Evening with Hattie Winston."

* ALLIE WOODS hails from Houston, Texas, from where he ha to take a job-leave of absence following his successful audition with the Negro Ensemble Company.  Mr. Wood is a singer and musician as well as an actor.  His opera appearances here and in Houston include roles in "Madam Butterfly,""Cavelleria Rusticana" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors," and in the New York City Opera Company's production of "Julius Caesar." He has conducted the Houston Symphony Orchestra.  Acting credits cover a broad range of roles in "Day of Absence," "Toys in the Attic," "You Can't Take It With Your," "In White America," "Cry the Beloved Country," and "MacBird."  He has performed at the Nutmeg Playhouse in Connecticut, and at Hoston's [sic] famed Alley Theatre where he made his professional debut.  Mr. Woods also established himself as a director in Houston with notable production which included "The Owl and the Pussycat," "Five Finger Exercise,"The Raven," and "The Other Foot."

* Original members of the Negro Ensemble Company, who have complete the first season.

EDMUND CAMBRIDGE {Production State Manager) a native New Yorker, has been involved in every imaginable phase of theater: producing, teaching, stage managing, directing and acting.  Off-Broadway, he directed "A Ballad for Bimshire."  On Broadway, he was the stage manager for "A Hand Is On The Gate" and "Amen Corner," and assistance on "The Taming of the Shrew" at the City Center.  Off-Broadway managership includes an impressive list of plays such as the "The Slave" and "The Toilet," Theatre in the Streets, "Blood Knot" and "The Blacks."  He has taught acting for a young group at the Mobilization for Youth, and directed a play for them which was presented at Expo '67.  Mr. Cambridge participated as an associate producer of the off-Broadway production of the Wole Soyinka plays "Brother Jero" and "The Strong Breed."  Mr. Cambridge directed our production of "Summer of the 17th Doll earlier this season.