FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carol Rainey

DATE: November 10, 2009

PHONE: 619-263-7911

SAN DIEGO--- Common Ground Theatre, San Diego’s premier African-American Theatre Company, announces the second show in its 2009-2010 season, the holiday favorite “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” Black Nativity, The Musical. This is the second production directed by new Artistic Director, Hassan El-Amin. Mr. El-Amin returned to San Diego in May to assume the artistic leadership of Common Ground. “We are thrilled to have Hassan El-Amin firmly at the artistic helm of Common Ground Theatre. He got his early start in theatre under the guidance of our longtime artistic director Dr. Floyd Gaffney and he is the perfect person to lead us into the next phase of the theatre’s development. His artistic vision and passion for the theatre’s mission to continue our tradition of bringing high quality theatrical productions to southeast San Diego will be a tremendous asset. He is also committed to enhancing the theatre’s outreach to youth through our Theatre Arts Academy,” said Common Ground’s Board President, Carol Rainey.

In July 2009, Mr. El-Amin directed the opening production of Common Ground’s 2009-2010 season, Jazz Queens Cast Blue Shadows at the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza. A native of San Diego, he holds an M.F.A. in theatre from the University of Delaware and has worked extensively as a regional stage actor at many of the League of Regional Theatres (LORT) across the country including San Diego Repertory Theatre, the Huntington in Boston, the Guthrie in Minneapolis, the Goodman in Chicago, Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, Penumbra in St. Paul, Alliance in Atlanta, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festivals, as well as the Kennedy Center and Arena Stage in Washington, DC and many others. His Broadway credits include The Lion King in the role of Mufasa, Scar and Pumbaa and he has also appeared on television. He has served as a theatrical consultant for schools and institutions across the country, taught theatre, and collaborated as a writer and director on many projects.

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