By
Ruth Wood-Steed
Do you remember your thirtieth birthday? I remember mine. What
an awful revelation. I was no longer 20-something. I actually
had to acknowledge being an adult. Ugh!
The Black Repertory Theater’s 30th birthday, however, is different;
it is clearly a milestone to celebrate! From humble beginnings
as the Phoenix Theater Troupe started by then-Washington University
student Ron Himes, The Black Rep has grown steadily to become
the country’s largest professional African American theater
company. But it is not only a large, successful company; Board
President Debra Denham of BJC HealthCare calls it a national
treasure.
Why? Perhaps, because it is one of very few African-American
theater companies that have thrived for 30 years and are still
growing. Perhaps, because it offers St. Louisans from all cultural
backgrounds an opportunity to experience high-quality professional
theater from an African American perspective. Then again, maybe
it is a treasure, because it offers educational opportunities
for students of all ages throughout the bi-state region. Or
because it is valued not only in St. Louis, but also in venues
throughout the United States, including the Kennedy Center,
where it has performed several times. Even more likely, though,
“all of the above” have contributed to making it a treasure.
Regardless of the reason, Denham is right. The Black Rep is
a treasure valued throughout the U.S., and more and more highly
respected in St. Louis. You can see a wide variety of shows
at its home, the Grandel Theater, ranging from Greek classics
to Shakespeare, to Broadway musicals, to world premiers of plays
written by African and African-American authors—all given an
African-American twist.
This 30th anniversary season is a great example. It began with
“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” featuring toe-tapping music by Fats Waller,
and moved to “Crossin’ Over,” a show conceived and directed
by Founder and Producing Director Ron Himes, that chronicles
the history of Africans in America through music. “Gem of the
Ocean,” by August Wilson, will run from March 21 through April
15; “The Dance on Widow’s Row,” by Samm-Art Williams from April
25 through May 20; and “Guys and Dolls,” based on a story and
characters by Damon Runyan, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser,
from May 30 through June 30.
Next year’s program looks equally diverse and exciting. It includes
Shakespeare’s “Othello” and the world premier of a new play,
“Iago,” by Esiavo Irobi, an African playwright.
Educating future generations also is an important part of the
company’s mission. Each year, about 60,000 students benefit
from its educational and community programs. This is thanks,
in part, to sponsors who underwrite the programs, allowing a
graduated fee scale dependent on ability to pay. Also, the company
has a nearly 20-year-old professional internship program, which
Himes wants to expand and supplement by establishing a theater
certificate program in conjunction with one of our local institutions
of higher learning.
Touring groups from The Black Rep perform for many schools throughout
the bi-state region. The company conducts workshops to teach
students and teachers creative drama, theater performance, cooperative
games, theater production, and poetry performance. During the
summer, youths from seven to 17 receive instruction in acting,
movement, and voice, and also prepare for and perform in a special
production during the company’s Summer Performing Arts Program.
Teenagers gain experience in stage management and backstage
operations in the Teen Tech Program. Guest artists and theater
experts are featured throughout the year in various symposiums
and programming.
With all that The Black Rep has achieved, Himes is still reaching
for new heights. He says, “We are developing a second space
in which to create new work, such as our I STAND ALONE series,
which is held in the Monsanto Center for Performing Arts Education.
We’ll continue to co-produce and collaborate with other local
and regional theaters, and we’ll continue to develop and expand
the company’s educational programs.”
As with most arts organizations, however, obtaining adequate
funding is a constant challenge. Himes initiated the Woodie
Awards about 15 years ago with a two-fold purpose: first, to
recognize outstanding achievement in African-American theater
throughout the U.S., and second, though equally important, to
raise funds to support the company’s educational activities.
Rudy Nickens, the company’s executive director, and the company’s
30th Anniversary Committee, have established an endowment fund
with an initial investment of $250,000 from the Orthwein Foundation.
Denham, Himes, and Nickens are excited about the company’s achievements
and prospects for the future. They look forward to The Black
Rep’s continued growth and contributions locally, regionally
and nationally.
