Last week, the Historyonics Theater company, based at the Missouri Historical Society, was dissolved after two decades of providing great theater. The closing is a tragedy and a loss for the African-American community.
Many young black artists found their way to Historyonics, due to the company’s insistence on developing original scripts covering the lives of famous African Americans. In addition, the predominantly white and very loyal 1,000 subscribers were exposed to the humanity and struggles of African Americans.
Apparently, without a sustained fight to save the organization, the Board of Directors and other stakeholders walked away from a “model” company for a still culturally divided St. Louis. The challenge remains to passionately support the arts or we face cultural bankruptcy.
Cecilia Nadal
Gitana Productions