About Us

OUR HISTORY

Mahogany Ensemble Theatre (MET), resident theatre of the M.E.C.C.A. Foundation, is the brainchild of Angelique Feaster, Artistic Director of this emerging community theatre. Having performed in a cross-section of theatres and organizations throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area, Ms. Feaster recognized the need for a permanent seasonal offering of quality theatre of the African Diaspora. After meeting Mr. Curtis King, founder of The Black Academy of Arts & Letters in Dallas, Texas, Angelique was inspired to independently produce a dinner theatre experience for the community.

In June of 2003, Ms. Feaster’s vision of African American community theatre became a reality with the Mahogany Moods Dinner Theatre production of Indigo Blues, by Louisiana’s own, Judi Ann Mason. This pilot production continued with touring performances at Southern University in Shreveport and Mississippi Valley State University in late 2003 and early 2004. With the highly favorable reception of this pilot production, faith, and belief in the vision of providing ongoing African American theatre in the community, Mahogany Ensemble Theatre was born.

In November of 2005, MET debuted as the premiere seasonal African American theatre company of Northwest Louisiana. Recognizing the importance of nurturing and developing the next generation of creative artists, MET formed the Young, Gifted & Black teen troupe to present social awareness and youth centered plays in the community. In December of 2005, the troupe performed Defining Moments, a play about teens and their lives touched by AIDS, which toured in area recreation centers, schools, and libraries as a partnership with The Philadelphia Center.

In September of 2008, MET and Angelique Feaster produced the inaugural Southern Black Theatre Festival as an outreach effort to celebrate the rich tradition of African American Theatre in the south, while forging a regional collective of culture bearers committed to sustaining the legacy of this theatrical genre.  In the summer of 2009, MET will produce its first summer arts experience CAMP Aspire in partnership with area arts organizations and artists.  Mahogany Ensemble Theatre stages at least four productions each season—two mainstage plays, one children’s play, and one original play by a local playwright.


OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RENEE BAKER-SECRETARY
LEIA LEWIS-TREASURER
ALYNETTA BECK
RENEE CALDWELL

OUR ADVISORY BOARD
T.R. EVANS, SR.
LINDA LYNN
BRANDY EVANS
ROSHANDA SPEARS
NEVERLYN TOWNSEL
MYRA ROBINSON
VINCENT WILLIAMS

OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

If first impressions lasting impressions, then Angelique Feaster is a dynamic young woman that upon meeting you will certainly remember. She is “phenomenal” woman who shares her gifts and life’s journey to touch, move, and motivate others to be their greater selves. She not only captures hearts with her “warm and inviting” personality, but she touches lives through candid and powerful mediums of expression. Angelique, a woman of many talents, is an artist, speaker and creative educator.

During the 2005-2006 inaugural year, she collaborated with some of Shreveport’s most recognized actors, choreographer, and director to successfully mount the first two productions—Waiting to be Invited, a poignant story of four ordinary women who decide to do an extraordinary thing during the Civil Rights Movement; CROWNS, a spirit filled musical tribute of the faith and fashion of African American women and church hats; and Amazing Grace, a summer children’s play based on the book by Mary Hoffman . The local success of CROWNS paved the way for a Northeast tour of the production in Minden, Homer, and Ruston Louisiana. Her additional directing credits include The Drum and Indigo Blues by Judi Ann Mason; Ritual Murder by Thomas Dent; and a staged reading of For Colored Girls by Ntozake Shange.

As an artist, Angelique has made accomplishments on the local, regional, and national level. She has been featured in print and internet media including Belle Magazine, The Shreveport Times, Ebony BBWs Online, KSYB 1300 AM, KOKA 980 AM, KTBS-TV 3, KSLA-TV 12, KTAL-TV 6 annd was the spec model for the National Lottery of the United Kingdom. Her television credits include a co-starring role on the Lifetime Television series THE DIVISION, starring in “The Early Bird” cancer video produced by Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, and appearing in several regional and local commercials.

Angelique’s stage credits include CROWNS, Frankenstein, Having Our Say, Indigo Blues, The Little Foxes, Marvin’s Room, Talk Radio, Tigerhood and The Women. She has performed under the directorship of Hollywood veteran Judi Ann Mason; Vincent Williams; Robert Buseick and Patric McWilliams formerly of Centenary College’s Marjorie Lyons Playhouse and now with River City Repertory Theatre—Shreveport’s first Equity theatre company.

Angelique Is a state certified creative educator who enjoys the challenge of molding the minds of young people. She seizes the moment to expose youth to social graces, public speaking, and the arts as a positive form of creative expression. She is also a motivational speaker on the topics of the arts, communication, empowerment, etiquette, and self-enhancement. Her distinctive blend of spirituality, sensibility, and self-expression draws an audience and captures their spirit. With over 15 years of experience in the performing arts, Angelique honors and acknowledges that she is simply a vessel the Creator is using to fulfill the divine purpose of her life and the lives of others.

Angelique, a Detroit native, was raised in Louisiana where she currently resides with her children. This Centenary College graduate has a B.A. in Speech and a minor in Theater and a Masters in Education Administration.