RON HIMES (Director), has produced and directed more than 200 plays at The Black Rep, including all ten plays written by August Wilson. His Black Rep directing credits include: Eubie!, The African Company Presents Richard III, Jitney, Sweat, Spell #7, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, Nina Simone; Four Women, Canfield Drive, Dot, Lines In The Dust, Twisted Melodies, Sunset Baby, Purlie, Black Nativity: A Holiday Celebration, the critically acclaimed productions of Ruined and The Montford Point Marine. Himes also created and directed the highly acclaimed, Crossin’ Over and Tell Me Somethin’ Good. He has directed a number of world premieres including Torn Asunder, Smash/Hit!, Insidious, Home the Musical, Servant of the People, Riffs and Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms. Directing credits from theatres across the country include Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Fences (The Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville); The Colored Museum and Blues for an Alabama Sky (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Flyin’ West (Delaware Theatre Company); For Colored Girls.........(People’s Light and Theatre Company in Philadelphia); Riffs (Seven Stages in Atlanta); Spunk, Spell #7 and Radio Golf (Studio Theatre in Washington, DC); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and I’m Not Rappaport (Old Creamery Theatre in Garrison, IA); and An Enemy of the People (Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, AK). University and College credits include: Crumbs From The Table Of Joy and Our Town, (University of Southern Indiana in Evansville); Intimate Apparel, (University of Indiana in Bloomington); You Can’t Take It With You, (University of Wisconsin in Madison); The Championship Season and The Dance on Widow’s Row, (Dillard University in New Orleans); Three Ways Home (University of Illinois in Champaign); The Darker Face of the Earth (University of South Carolina in Columbia); For Colored Girls...., Blues for Mr. Charlie, Hairspray, Ragtime, The Lion and The Jewel and Trojan Women (Washington University in St. Louis).
JERMAINE MANOR (Music Director), Jermaine enjoys a versatile career as a Professor of Voice, conductor, collaborative pianist and Worship & Arts Pastor. He is a native of Miami, FL and a graduate of the prestigious New World School Of The Performing Arts and an alumni of Auburn University where he earned his Bachelors of Music Degree in Vocal Pedagogy as well as his Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting. He also has completed certifications in Commercial Music from Berklee College of Music and Church music from The Royal School of Church Music (Croydon, England) In addition to his work as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Webster University, Jermaine has many ties to the performing arts community in St. Louis and abroad. As the former Co-Artistic director of the Vocal Company at COCA, Jermaine was able to shape, mentor and challenge the musical palettes of many young artist. He also has a solid relationship with The Repertory and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He is called in often to coach, create and work on various projects. From coaching a pianist in Noël Cowards 3 act play Private Lives, to composing, arranging and recording original music for James And The Giant Peach and Edward Tulane for the The Reps ITC program to name a few. Jermaine lives by the mantra “what I do is a get-to, not a have to”
KIRVEN DOUTHIT-BOYD (Choreographer), (He/Him/His, Boston, MA) began his dance training at the Boston Arts Academy in 1999, and continued his dance education at Boston Youth Moves and on scholarship at The Boston Conservatory and The Ailey School. He has performed with Battleworks Dance Company, Ailey II, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2004-2015. He joined Ron K. Brown/EVIDENCE, A Dance Company as a Guest Artist in 2016. In 2018, he earned his MFA in Dance from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. He has choreographed works for The Ailey School, The Juilliard School, Webster University, Washington University in St. Louis, The Repertory Theatre of St Louis, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, Saint Louis Dance Theatre, and Ailey II. He has also staged works by Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, and Robert Battle on companies in Japan and St. Louis. In 2010, he performed at the White House Tribute to Judith Jamison hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. Douthit-Boyd is the Associate Director of Dance at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), and Artistic Director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre.
TIM JONES (Scenic Designer), is from the Washington DC area and he is happy to be returning to The Black Rep stage. His work was last seen at The Black Rep in King Hedley ll. His work has been seen at theatres throughout the DC area including the Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences, African Continuum Theatre, Theatre J and Round House Theatre just to name a few. He has also designed scenery at Kansas City Rep, The Black Rep, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and others. Tim is presently the full time Prop Shop Manage and instructor at the Clarice Smith Performing Art Center at the University of Maryland. He is a member of The Black Theatre Network, USITT and Society of Props Artisan Manger He holds a Masters of Fine Art in Scenery and Properties Design from the University of Memphis and a BA in Communication from the Salisbury State College in Salisbury Maryland. Tim is a Veteran and a native of Washington DC Metro area but has lived and worked throughout the United State. https://tjprops.wixsite.com/set-designr
ETHAN STEIMELl (Light Designer), has designed lights for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Tuacahn, La Mirada), Masters of Illusion--Live! (US/Canada Tour), The Cher Show, The Wedding Singer (Gateway Playhouse), The Goodbye Girl, The Baker’s Wife (Theatre Row, NYC), Kinky Boots (Forestburgh Playhouse), and Othello (New Place Players, NYC). He designed the 2024 season of Tent Theatre (Springfield, MO) and Coming Home For Christmas (Silver Dollar City). As a lighting director he has worked at CNN, Bloomberg, and Broadway HD. He co-produced Broadway's A Christmas Carol and hosts Artistic Finance, a personal finance podcast for theatre people. https://www.ethansteimel.com/
TONY ANSELMO (Assistant Lighting Designer), is presenting his first lighting design for The Black Rep. He has worked as an electrician for several past company shows including Coconut Cake, Whipping Man and Wedding Band. He works all over the greater St. Louis area to create performance art, usually through lighting. Local theater companies that Tony works with include Moonstone, New Jewish Theater, and Winter Opera. Favorite past lighting designs include The Year of the Bicycle from Upstream Theater, and Souvenir from Max and Louie Productions.
GREGORY HORTON (Costume Designer), is a Tenured Associate Professor and Director of Theatre. Horton is on faculty at North Carolina A&T State University in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts/Theatre. He has designed such productions as, Mya, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Simply Simone, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,.Trav’lin, Gee’s Bend, Sweet Charity, just to name a few. Greg has worked professionally around the country as Guest Director and Costume Designer in such theatres as, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Triad Stage, The North Carolina Black Repertory, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Columbia Basin College/Pasco WA, Western Washington University/Bellingham, Hampton University, Hampton VA, The Ensemble, Houston TX, The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Colorado, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville NC, Penumbra Theatre, Min. Minnesota, Swine Palace, Louisiana, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Play House on the Square, Memphis Black Repertory, Memphis TN, Kuntu Repertory, Pittsburgh PA, and the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, St. Louis MO..
KAREEM DEANES (Sound Designer), thrilled to be working with The Black Rep this season. Kareem has been on stage most recently at Mustard Seed Theatre in Clayton, MO where he serves on the theatre’s advisory board. Kareem’s most recent sound designs include: Wedding Band, Sweat, Crowns, Torn Asunder, Fences, DOT and Seven Guitars (The Black Rep). One Flea Spare (Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble (SATE)) and Playland and Tartuffe (Mustard Seed Theatre). While not working in professional theatre, Kareem teaches theatre and media studies at Parkway West Middle School. He also spends his summers developing young performers at Sherwood Forest Camp. Kareem would like to thank his loved ones for their continued support.
MIKHAIL LYNN (Prop Designer), Mikhail is a prop designer and maker who has worked on numerous stage shows across the St. Louis area. Recent productions include King Hedley II, Timbuktu!, Wedding Band, Hold On! and Fly for The Black Rep, Million Dollar Quartet, Clue, and Aida for STAGES St. Louis, and Confederates for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. He has also served as production designer for several short films and commercials shot in the St. Louis area and has built custom props for countless other film projects. Mikhail is an internationally award-winning replica prop builder, with his work recognized by entities such as BBC America, DC Comics, and Sony Pictures of America. In particular, his contributions within the Ghostbusters replica prop community have been utilized by Blitzway Toys, Disguise Costumes, Insight Editions, and Adam Savage’s Tested.com..
J. SAMUEL DAVIS (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be a part of Raisn at The Black Rep. He was last seen at The Black Rep as The Man in Blues In The Night (2024), then Elmore in King Hedley II (2024), Fielding in Jitney (2022) and as West in Two Trains Running (2020). He also was seen in the much acclaimed production of King Lear (2021) with St Louis Shakespeare as Earl of Kent. He also appeared in the Repertory Theater of St Louis production of Its A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play this past holiday. J. has played roles from Shakespeare to August Wilson in a career that spans over 30 years. He has worked in major theaters, regional and national as well as appearing in video projects, industry films, and has headlined his own concerts. Starting out as a company member for The Black Rep, J continues to expand his career to include many diverse and challenging roles. J is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.
TRACY HOLLIWAY-WIGGINS (Stage Manager), is a native of East St. Louis, IL. and is thankful for the long term relationship and opportunities afforded her as part of The Black Rep Family. She is thankful of the vision and how it comes into fruition with creative team players from the administrative, production staffs, and the cast. She has been with the company since 1988. Some of her favorite productions include the following: Black Nativity, Crowns, Strands, and Blues In The Night, to name a few. Tracy thanks God and looks forward to another season of excellent and outstanding theatre.