What an audacious season the Black Rep mounted this year. At a time when a moribund economy encouraged the downsizing of theater, the Black Rep sneered into the gloomy face of reality and presented super-sized productions. They didn't merely produce plays; they assaulted them. The result was a veritable barrage of drama and comedy. The season opened with a sumptuous staging of Shakespeare's rarely seen Pericles, Prince of Tyre, then followed that with another large-cast offering, Lynn Nottage's volcanic Pulitzer Prize winner, Ruined. The season continued with a U.S. premiere (The Real McCoy, about inventor Elijah McCoy), a world premiere (the Capra-esque Montford Point Marine) and Black Pearl Sings! which provided a poignant showcase for the talented Denise Thimes. All six shows possessed elements of surprise and originality, which is what should keep audiences returning. The only predictable component in this six-play season was the assurance that sameness would not enter into the equation — and it never did.
St. Louis Actors' Studio
| Sep 25, 2014
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
| Sep 26, 2013
Upstream Theater
| Sep 29, 2010
Upstream Theater
| Sep 30, 2009
Circus Flora
| Sep 24, 2008
Rep Studio
| Sep 26, 2007
Rep Studio
| Sep 27, 2006
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
| Sep 29, 2005
HotHouse Theatre Company
| Sep 29, 2004
HotHouse Theatre Company
| Sep 29, 2004
HotHouse Theatre Company
| Sep 24, 2003
HotHouse Theatre Company
| Sep 24, 2003
St. Louis Black Repertory Company
| Sep 25, 2002
St. Louis Black Repertory Company
| Sep 25, 2002