Saint Louis Black Repertory Company

Producing Director Ron Himes founded Saint Louis Black Repertory Company (The Black Rep) in 1976 while a student at Washington University because many of his peers were not receiving practical experience in campus productions due to the lack of roles for African-Americans. The company began touring to college campuses and eventually found a home in Greely Presbyterian Church's former sanctuary in 1981, which was later converted into the 23rd Street Theatre. In 1992, the company moved into the newly renovated Grandel Theatre, located in the Grand Center, St. Louis' arts and entertainment district. As a result of Himes' leadership, The Black Rep has become highly respected both locally and nationally for its quality productions from the African-American perspective. The Black Rep offers educational and community programs to assist educators and community groups in efforts to provide holistic academic experiences for young people. These programs include touring productions that illustrate math, communication arts, history, and literature; theater workshops that encourage creative expression, technical, set, costume, and sound engineering; a summer youth performing arts program that features instruction in speech and movement techniques, costume, acting, dance, and music; student matinees of mainstage productions; and a teen tech program that offers opportunities for teens to work behind the scenes of mainstage productions.

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, Saint Louis Black Repertory Company will produce a mainstage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production will bring Shakespeare’s defiant lovers and matrimonial-minded politicians together in a disco-fund infused forest. Activities will include study guides and workshop conducted with actors. The targeted youth audience will be from grades 5-12.