Lone Star College-CyFair’s Ron Jones recently won a “Best Ensemble” Giorgee Award for his behind-the-scenes work on “Constant Star,” a powerful bio-drama about the life of Ida B. Wells.
The Giorgee Awards represents The Ensemble Theatre’s own Tony Awards, named after The Ensemble Theatre founder, George Wayne Hawkins.
“I directed for The Ensemble Theatre in its early years when they were housed in a tiny store front on Tuam Street in Houston. George was one of the kindest, most gifted men that I have ever met. To receive this award means a great deal to me because I hope that, in some small way, I am helping to continue his legacy at The Ensemble Theatre and in Houston theatre, said Jones, who co-produced this award-winning play with The Ensemble Theatre in April 2009.
“George’s assistant in those years was Eileen Morris, the current Artistic Director of The Ensemble,” Jones said. “I am always proud to say that I directed her in one of her first plays. She shared George’s vision of quality, meaningful theatre about the African-American experience and has been his greatest supporter. I am grateful to Eileen for inviting me and LSC-Cy Fair to participate in this co-production about another tremendous American, Ida B. Wells.
“I am honored by the award, which I share with the remarkable cast and crew of “Constant Star,” humbled by the experience and hopeful that we can work with The Ensemble Theatre again in the near future.”
The Giorgee Awards go to Houston’s best and talented performers, designers and technicians who have performed and/or worked on any of the six main stage shows for the previous year. The 2008-2009 season shows included “Radio Golf”, “The Twelve Ways of Christmas”, “The Man Who Saved New Orleans”, “Constant Star”, “Livin Fat” and “The Wiz.”
The award categories included: Best Lighting Design, Best Lighting Tech, Best Sound Design, Best Sound Tech, Best Costume Design, Best Set Design, Best Stage Manager, Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
Jones put his master’s in theatre from Rhode Island College to good use as he has been acting, directing, producing and teaching for 38 years. This Houstonian’s career includes teaching 16 years in the Houston Independent School District, teaching and serving as artistic director 8 years at LSC-Kingwood and founding faculty and artistic director at LSC-CyFair. In addition, Jones has taught acting classes in the community for Stages Repertory Theatre and Theatre Under The Stars.
Among the more than 100 plays he has acted in and directed, 24 were directed and 33 produced at LSC-CyFair. Some plays were co-produced such as “Constant Star” and most recently “High School Musical 2” performed this summer in collaboration with Houston’s Center Stage Theater.
“In today's economic climate, it seems to make a great deal of sense to produce plays along with other well-known theatres and perform them in our venue. With this form of community outreach, not only are production costs minimized, but co-productions also bring in new patrons from the co-producers subscriber base,” said Jones. “In addition, our students have the opportunity to work with talented and seasoned community actors, perhaps for the first time. For instance, in our co-production of “Crowns” with Houston Family Arts Center, our student performers and crew will be working with Lisa Garza, “Crowns” co-director who has mounted many fine productions at HFAC.”
In addition to “Crowns” set Oct. 8 through Oct. 18, Jones will team up again with Houston’s Center Stage Theater to co-produce “A Taffetas Christmas” set Dec. 4 through Dec. 13. For information on these and other LSC-CyFair Center for the Arts drama, music and choral productions, call 281-290-5201 or go to LoneStar.edu/boxoffice.