Of the St. Louis American
The Black Repertory Company celebrated the opening of its 29th season with the debut of Crossin’ Over last Friday at Washington University’s Edison Theater. The musical revue, created by Black Rep founder and producing director Ron Himes, is a history of African-American struggle and triumph set to the soul-stirring tunes of gospel music.
The premier performance was well attended and, other than running a bit long, the show was flawless.
With very few spoken words, director Ron Himes is able to tell the story of roughly 400 years of African-American history from the shores of Africa to the interiors of mainstream black churches in America, all set to the uplifting and inspirational sounds of gospel music. The show is a beautiful musical celebration of the culture, character, creativity and strength of African and African-American people.
Crossin’ Over opens with a drum call followed by a medley of Negro spirituals. The talented cast performs dozens of tunes spanning African culture, the Middle Passage, slavery auction blocks and cotton fields to emancipation, the great Northern migration and the fight for Civil Rights.
Created by Himes and Black Rep musical director Charles Creath, Crossin’ Over is comprised of five suites: African Suite, Captivity Suite, Auction Block/Fields Suite, Thomas Dorsey Suite, Civil Rights Suite and finally the Contemporary Suite.
Crossin’ Over is like a gospel music soundtrack for millions of Africans and African-Americans, with songs like “Kum Ba Ya,” “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” “Steal Away,” “Precious Lord” and recent gospel hits like Mary Mary’s “Shackles” and “The Reason Why I Sing” by Kirk Franklin and The Family.
The Crossin’ Over ensemble cast includes Denise Thimes and Karen E. Hylton along with J. Samuel Davis, Chuck Flowers, Herman Gordon, Deondra Means and powerful vocals from both Kelvin Roston Jr. and Leah M. Stewart, who made her debut with the Black Rep.
Thimes is no stranger to the Black Rep stage. She has starred in the company’s productions of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ain’t Nothing but the Blues and Seven Guitars. She is also the recipient of several Woodie Awards for her work.
Hylton has appeared in Black Nativity, Tambourines to Glory, The Gospel at Colonus, Eubie and Bubblin’ Brown Sugar with the Black Rep. Other cast members have appeared in several Black Rep productions.
The Black Rep has a rich and illustrious 29-year history under the guidance of Himes. Himes was appointed the first Henry E. Hampton Jr. Artist-in-Residence at Washington University in 2003.
Crossin’ Over runs until September 25 at Washington University’s Edison Theater before moving to Mary Institute Country Day School September 30 to October 2.
The Black Rep’s season will continue January 4 at the Grandel Theatre with Caroline, or Change (book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori), which plays through January 29.
King Hedley II by August Wilson, which chronicles the lives of African-American families living in Pittsburgh’s Hill district, plays February 8-March 5. Before it Hits Home, a tale about the AIDS crisis and how one family deals with it by Cheryl L. West, runs March 15- April 9. Relativity by Cassandra Medley (April 19-May 14) explores stem cell research and theories of racial superiority and science. The season concludes with Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen, with music by Henry Krieger (May 24 – July 2), which tells the story of a young group of singing sensations and the high price of fame.
Season subscriptions are on sale now and range from $101.25 to $180. For ticket information, call (314) 534-3810. For more information about the Black Rep, visit www.stlouisblackrep.org.
