Black Rep announces historic 30th season
The Black Rep will host its 13th Annual Woodie King, Jr. Awards Ceremony on Sunday, June 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. The star-studded gala will be emceed by Kingsley Leggs who currently stars as Mister in the Broadway hit The Color Purple.
Proceeds from the star-studded gala will benefit the Company’s Education and Community Programs that serve more than 65,000 people each year.
In addition to presenting awards for the outstanding artistic work from its mainstage season, The Black Rep will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed orchestrator, conductor and musical arranger, Harold Wheeler. The company will also present an award for Outstanding Education to Janet Bonner of East St. Louis Public School District #189 and St. Louis Mary Institute and Country Day School (MICDS).
“Having Harold (Wheeler) and Kingsley (Leggs) join us for the Woodie Awards is so fitting, considering their St. Louis roots and ties to Dreamgirls, our final production of a wonderful season. We are looking forward to a really special night of celebration that will energize us for the 30th year,” said Ron Himes, founder and producing director.
This week the Black Rep also announced its historic 30th season (see below).
Leggs worked at The Black Rep for nearly 10 years, appearing in numerous shows, working with the touring company and as a member of the administrative staff. His Black Rep credits include Ain’t Misbehavin, Blues in the Night and Five Guys Named Moe.
Leggs also appeared in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon and the national tours of Miss Saigon, Ragtime, It Ain’t Nothing But the Blues and Forbidden Hollywood. He received L.A. Ovation Award nominations for his performance in Dreamgirls and Ragtime. Leggs has appeared on the stages of many regional theatres including The Full Monty (Gateway Playhouse), Two Gentleman of Verona (Baltimore Cornerstage), Chasing Nicolette (Prince Music Theatre), Violet (Laguna Playhouse) and Almost Heaven (Denver Center Theatre).
Wheeler, a St. Louisian, has arranged and produced music for such superstars as Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill, Diana Ross, LeAnn Womack, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa L. Williams, Anita Baker and jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie.
An Education Award will be presented to Janet Bonner of East St. Louis Public School District No. 189. All of the middle school students in the district attended a matinee performance of Caroline, or Change and, as the Language Arts Coordinator, Bonner helped to develop an impressive study curriculum that students used to guide their research, study and activities before coming to see the play.
MICDS will be honored for their continued partnership with The Black Rep. For the past two seasons, the Company’s fall productions have moved from the Edison Theatre to the Orthwein Theatre for successful runs on the MICDS campus. In fall of 2006 that tradition will continue with Ain’t Misbehavin, September 28 – October 1.
In addition to the award’s namesake, Woodie King Jr., national celebrities participating in the festivities include actress, producer, director and Broadway veteran Hattie Winston, who was most recently seen on the primetime series Becker, and stage and screen veteran Ernie Hudson.
“The Woodie Awards give us a chance to reflect upon the successes of the season and to recognize those who have supported us along the way,” said Rudy Nickens, executive director.
“The 29th season was dedicated to the loving memory of August Wilson and Ossie Davis and it has been a truly wonderful season artistically.”
The evening will follow last year’s format and will begin with a champagne reception and silent auction at 3:30 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the theatre. Immediately following the ceremony all guests are invited to join the award recipients and celebrity guests in the Grand Hall for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and musical entertainment.
Subscribers received their secret ballots in early June. As always, only Black Rep subscribers are allowed to vote. “This secret balloting process adds suspense to the evening,” Himes said. “No one knows who the winners are until that night.”
The Awards are named for one of the pioneers of the Black Theatre Movement, Woodie King, Jr.. Corporate sponsors include Anheuser Busch, Ameren, BJC HealthCare, Emerson, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Monsanto Company and National City Bank.
Tickets are $150. To reserve your seats, contact The Black Rep at 314/534-3807. For more information call 314/534-3810 or visit www.theblackrep.org
The Black Rep turns 30
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
Music by Thomas “Fats” Waller,
Based on idea by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby, Jr.
September 13-24, 2006
Edison Theatre at Washington University
September 28-October 1, 2006
Orthwein Theatre at MICDS
THE WIZ
By Frank Baum, Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
January 3-February 4, 2007
The Grandel Theatre
AND HER HAIR WENT WITH HER
By Zina Camblin
February 14-March 11, 2007
The Grandel Theatre
CROSSIN’ OVER
Conceived by Ron Himes
March 21-April 15, 2007
The Grandel Theatre
GEM OF THE OCEAN
By August Wilson
April 25-May 20, 2007
The Grandel Theatre
THE DANCE ON WIDOW’S ROW
By Samm-Art Williams
May 30-June 30, 2007
The Grandel Theatre
