Taking Center Stage: The Black Rep at 50

Since 1976, The Black Rep has served as a cultural touchpoint for the St. Louis region. Founded by Ron Himes, then an undergraduate at WashU, the award-winning theatrical organization delivers sold-out productions, educational outreach programs, and ever-evolving responses to Black history in motion.

The Black Rep theater maintains its mission of reflecting on Black history while supporting the future of Black playwrights and emerging artists. Taking Center Stage features materials from its five decades of impact. These objects tell a story of community, resilience, and celebration. In documenting and presenting the history of Black storytelling, The Black Rep continues to make an indelible and vibrant mark on Black theatre.

Taking Center Stage is organized by Julian Edison Department of Special Collections Visiting Researcher Samantha Ramay in collaboration with the University of Missouri–St. Louis Museums, Heritage, and Public History program.