The Black Rep Announces 46th Season Exploring Theme of Identity and Self-Worth Subscriptions on Sale Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2022 - St. Louis, MO - The St. Louis Black Repertory Company announces its 46th Season with performances beginning September 2022 at the Edison Theatre on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The Company is set to present a compelling new season of work featuring both well-established as well as new Black voices.

The season opens with The African Company Presents Richard III, a true story of a conflict between New York theaters in 1821, followed by the Pulitzer-prize winning classic Death of a Salesman. The season continues with The Light, exploring issues of gender, trust, love and color, and Skeleton Crew, the third work in Dominique Morisseau’s powerful Detroit trilogy. The season closes with the Tony-award-winning musical revue Eubie! New this season is The Black Rep’s Phoenix Rising Series focusing on new works and new artists. Presented in part by The Whitaker Foundation, details on the new series will be announced separately.

“We look at Arthur Miller’s American classic through an African American lens, we present new work by Loy Webb and Dominique Morisseau, and we celebrate the genius of Eubie Blake,” said Ron Himes, Founder and Producing Director of The Black Rep. “But first, we kick off the season with the rarely performed look at the struggles of the African Company of New York.”

The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown | September 7-25, 2022 | Edison Theatre, Washington University

It’s 1821 in New York, and two productions of Shakespeare’s Richard III are vying for audiences. One is presented by the African Company of New York, a downtown theater known for its growing popularity with both Black and white audiences. A white theater owner is threatened by the success of his competition and will stop at nothing to shut them down. Learn what happens in this true story straight from American theater history.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller | January 11-29, 2023 | Edison Theatre, Washington University

The classic story of traveling salesman Willy Loman and his family explores the disillusionment of the American Dream and the toll it takes on all aspects of life. When Willy faces the end of his career without much to show for it, he begins to lose his grip on reality. His wife, Linda, and sons, Biff and Happy, are struggling to survive in the same crumbling world, each desperately trying to reach a version of happiness that proves elusive.

The Light by Loy A. Webb | February 1 - 26, 2023 | Hotchner Studio Theatre, Washington University

On their two-year dating anniversary, modern day couple Rashad and Genesis have plenty to celebrate—a marriage proposal and the promise of a new life together. But will their relationship survive when memories buried long ago are uncovered? The Light takes us on an emotional journey of love, laughter, and heartache as the two young adults reconcile their past and reaffirm their personal values to live in the truth.

Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau | March 29-April 16, 2023 | Berges Theatre, COCA

The Great Recession threatens the future of one of the last auto stamping plants in Detroit, and with it—the future of those whose jobs are on the line. Each worker must grapple with how to move forward if the plant goes under. Skeleton Crew is the third of Dominique Morisseau's Detroit cycle trilogy.

Eubie! by Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf, Noble Sissle and Julianne Boyd | May 3-21, 2023 | Edison Theatre, Washington University

Eubie! is a musical revue from the 1970s that taught Broadway audiences about Eubie Blake, a groundbreaking American musician and composer of the early 1900s. Blake helped break down racial barriers with his 1921 musical, Shuffle Along - the first Broadway musical written, directed by, and starring Black Americans. The show helped shape American musical theater as we know it today.

Subscriptions are available for purchase by calling the box office at (314) 534-3807 or online at www.theblackrep.org. Groups of 12 or more may also reserve tickets by phone.

Season and individual production support comes from Arts and Education Council; The Black Seed, Centene Charitable Trust, Missouri Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Arts Commission, Rodgers Townsend, Shubert Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, and Washington University in St. Louis.

About The Black Rep

The Black Rep, a 45-year-old legacy Black arts organization, is committed to producing, re-imagining, and commissioning work written by Black playwrights and creating opportunities for new voices and youth. Founded by Producing Director Ron Himes, the vision for The Black Rep continues: a more equitable distribution of opportunities and resources for Black professionals and students in the theater; improved representation on and back-stage in the theater industry; and a fostered community culture of support and mentorship for those who will follow. For more information: www.theblackrep.org