The Black Rep

What The Black Rep does

The Black Rep (legally The St. Louis Black Repertory Company, EIN 43-1220180) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company founded by Ron Himes in 1976 as the Phoenix Theatre Troupe while he was an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis. Self-described as the largest professional African-American theatre company in the country, it has been operating continuously for approximately 50 years and is the only African-American theatre in the Midwest to operate under contract with the Actor's Equity Association (since 1986). The company has twice produced all 10 plays in August Wilson's American Century Cycle, a distinction held by very few theatres worldwide and the basis for the August Wilson American Century Cycle Award received in 2020.

The core product is a season of three mainstage productions at Washington University's 656-seat Edison Theatre (with additional performances at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center and Grandel Square Theatre), supplemented by the Phoenix Rising Performance Series that stages work in unconventional venues such as the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and National Blues Museum. Education and community programming is a parallel core offering, including Touring Shows to schools and community venues across Missouri and Illinois (audiences of 250 or fewer, with study guides and talk-backs), Summer Performing Arts camps ($150/week plus $50 registration), Performing Arts Workshops ($225 per 90-minute session), Teen Tech Training, the Professional Fellowship Program (6-7 fellows per year; 100+ alumni over 20+ years), the College Audition Prep Program (CAPP), and youth theatre classes ($10 per session). Administrative headcount includes 9+ named staff plus the founder, with additional fellows.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit stack: ticket sales (single tickets $15-$50, Flex Passes $215-$230, group discounts of 10-20%) cover approximately 30% of annual operating expenses, with the remaining ~70% sourced from individual donations across tiered giving levels ($50 to $1,000+), corporate sponsorships (Caleres, ARPA for the Arts), foundation grants (Shubert Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation via Black Seed), and government arts agency funding (NEA, Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission, Mid-America Arts Alliance). Distribution occurs through direct box office sales, OvationTix online ticketing, field sales for group bookings and touring shows, and special-event fundraising (Annual Gala, Sophisticated Ladies). Geographic scope is regional, concentrated in Missouri and Illinois with select Nebraska programming via the #realchange partnership.

Name

The Black Rep

Legal name

The St. Louis Black Repertory Company

Website

https://theblackrep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Black Rep (The St. Louis Black Repertory Company) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 by Ron Himes, operating as the largest professional African-American theatre company in the United States. It produces mainstage and touring productions, education programs, and professional fellowships for audiences across Missouri, Illinois, and Nebraska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Professional theatre productions
• African-American performing arts
• Live stage entertainment
• Youth arts education
• Theatrical touring programs

Headquarters

HQ city

University City

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single tickets, flex passes, group sales, and preview tickets for mainstage productions. Ticket sales cover approximately 30% of annual operating expenses.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individual donors at various giving levels (Directors $1,000+, Stars $999-$500, Ensemble $249-$100, Stage Hands $99-$50, Fans under $50). Frankie Muse Freeman Giving Guild recognizes gifts of $1,000 or more.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Customized corporate partnership packages providing logo exposure, client entertainment, opening night invitations, and recognition in play programs and website. Partners include ARPA for the Arts, Caleres, Missouri Arts Council, NEFA, Shubert Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Washington University, and others.
4. Education Program Fees: Revenue from Summer Performing Arts camps ($150/week plus $50 registration), Performing Arts Workshops ($225 per 90-min session), and Teen Tech Training program fees.
5. Grant Funding: Support from foundations and government arts agencies including The Black Seed Initiative, National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Black Rep is the largest professional African-American theatre company in the country, producing mainstage theatrical works primarily by Black playwrights at Washington University's Edison Theatre and secondary venues in St. Louis. The company supplements its productions with a comprehensive education and community engagement division, including touring shows to schools, summer performing arts camps, teen technical training, professional fellowships, and performing arts workshops. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation/government grants.

Product overview

The Black Rep operates as a multi-venue theatre company offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include mainstage theatrical productions at Edison Theatre (Washington University) and the Phoenix Rising Series for new works, supplemented by a comprehensive education division encompassing touring shows, performing arts workshops, Summer Performing Arts (SPA), Teen Tech Training, Professional Fellowships, CAPP, and theatre classes for youth. Revenue-generating services include individual and group ticket sales via Flex Passes, group sales with volume discounts, an annual gala, and corporate sponsorship packages. All offerings are unified by the company's mission to produce and platform works from the African-American perspective.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Full-scale theatrical productions staged at Edison Theatre (Washington University) and other venues, featuring works primarily by Black playwrights. Each season typically includes multiple dramas, comedies, and musicals.
• Phoenix Rising Performance Series Performance series focusing on new works and emerging artists, featuring alternative performances in unconventional spaces including dance, film screenings, and master classes at venues such as the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and National Blues Museum.
• Touring Shows Live theatre performances touring to schools and community venues across Missouri and Illinois. Each 45-60 minute performance is accompanied by study guides and post-show talkbacks, with audiences of 250 or fewer per show.
• Performing Arts Workshop Drama workshops conducted by professional touring company members at schools and community centers, with customizable subject matter aligned to curriculum requirements. Priced at $225 per 90-minute session.
• Summer Performing Arts (SPA) 8-week arts intensive for students ages 8-18, including acting, visual arts, dance, movement, playwriting, and music. Divided into Youth Camp (ages 8-12) and Teen Camp (ages 13-17). Priced at $150 per week plus $50 registration.
• Teen Tech Training Youth training program providing hands-on behind-the-scenes experience in production development, costume preparation, props management, and backstage operations for teens interested in technical theatre careers.
• Professional Fellowship Program Full-time 1-3 year fellowship program providing comprehensive theatre training, mentorship, and professional development for 6-7 recent college graduates annually in acting, directing, writing, technical production, and arts administration. Has trained more than 100 professionals over 20+ years.
• CAPP (College Audition Prep Program) College audition preparation program helping high school sophomores and juniors prepare for theatre arts college applications through monologue work, resume writing, headshots, and audition coaching.
• Theatre Classes Ongoing theatre classes for young actors including The Young Actor's Ensemble (ages 13-17) and Theatre for Young Actors (ages 8-17), covering improv, dance, acting, and singing. Priced at $10 per class on Saturdays.
• Annual Gala Annual fundraising gala featuring an awards ceremony, live performances, and corporate sponsorship opportunities to support education and community programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ticket sales cover only 30% of annual operating expenses, demonstrating strong donor and grant dependency
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Nebraska Repertory Theatre / Johnny Carson School of Theatre and FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Two-year partnership (2020-2022) focused on positive social change through the #realchange racial justice initiative. Ron Himes served as consultant and coordinated three events. Included joint production directed by Himes in Lincoln in fall 2021, culminating in a special event in spring 2022. Himes also served as liaison to a student/faculty/alumni task force for anti-racism action planning.
• Washington University in St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Main venue partner for mainstage productions at the 656-seat Edison Theatre and A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre. Ron Himes holds the Henry E. Hampton, Jr. Artist-in-Residence position, a joint appointment of the Performing Arts Department, African and African American Studies. Washington University co-sponsors productions and provides facilities.
• Pulitzer Arts FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Phoenix Rising Performance Series events, hosting dance performances and cultural programming in Grand Center arts district.
• National Blues MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Phoenix Rising Performance Series, hosting events including a salute to Bessie Smith by vocalist Denise Thimes.
• Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost theatre for the 2023 Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency program. BIPOC mid-career directors and choreographers mentored by Ron Himes for one year, receiving $40,000 grant plus housing, travel, and health insurance support.
• Sumner High SchoolsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide theatre instruction to students. The Black Rep has a long history of bringing educational programming to St. Louis Public Schools, including Sumner High School (which produced notable alumni including Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Arthur Ashe, Grace Bumbry, and Dick Gregory).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Tony Award-winning professional theatre company based in Chicago. A larger Midwestern peer with similar Equity-affiliated professional production model, ensemble ethos, and nationally recognized brand.
• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Regional professional theatre serving the Cincinnati/Midwest market with mainstage productions and education programming. Comparable in scale, Equity-affiliated producing model, and education/community outreach approach.
• Goodman Theatre: Largest not-for-profit theatre in Chicago with extensive producing, education, and community engagement programs. Comparable in operating a mainstage season plus a deep education/community division, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Penumbra Theatre Company: African-American focused professional theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota. Closest direct mission peer: produces work centered on the Black experience, runs education and community programs, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
• The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Professional regional theatre based in St. Louis producing a multi-show season. Directly comparable as a similarly sized peer theatre operating in the same metropolitan market with overlapping patron and corporate sponsor pools.
• National Black Theatre: Harlem-based Black theatre institution with producing and community programming. Direct mission peer focused on Black artistic voices and cultural preservation through live performance.
• Crossroads Theatre Company: Tony Award-winning African-American theatre in New Brunswick, NJ, dedicated to producing work by and about the Black experience. Direct peer in mission, scale, and nonprofit performing arts model.
• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Regional professional theatre in Louisville, KY, known for Humana Festival and actor development. Comparable professional producing model and a notable employer of The Black Rep's fellowship alumni.
• New Federal Theatre: NYC-based Black-founded theatre producing work by and about communities of color for 50+ years. Direct mission peer that honored The Black Rep's founder with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Regional players

• St. Louis Shakespeare Festival: St. Louis-based nonprofit producing Shakespeare and contemporary works with education outreach. Comparable as a regional theatre operating in the same metro with overlapping patron, sponsor, and venue ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stlblackrep
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCx8ZKmLvz6Lw
• Facebookfacebook.com/stlblackrep
• Instagraminstagram.com/theblackrep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-st-louis-black-repertory-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Black Rep