Kuntu Repertory Theatre facts for kids
 |
|
| Formation | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | African American repertory |
| Location | |
|
Artistic director(s)
|
Vernell A. Lillie |
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20131208220613/http://www.kuntu.org/ |
The Kuntu Repertory Theatre was a special theater group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It mainly featured African-American actors and stories. It was a place where students and talented artists could perform and share important plays.
Contents
The Story of Kuntu Repertory Theatre
How it Started
Dr. Vernell A. Lillie started the Kuntu Repertory Theatre in 1974. She was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Her main goal was to show the amazing plays written by Rob Penny.
Famous Playwrights and Writers
Just one year later, in 1975, Rob Penny's friend, August Wilson, brought his play Homecoming to Kuntu. This was a big moment! It was the very first time one of August Wilson's plays was performed by a regular theater company.
Dr. Lillie's theater group stayed connected to the University of Pittsburgh. It was part of the university's Department of Africana Studies. This continued until Dr. Lillie retired in 2011.
August Wilson, Rob Penny, and a poet named Maisha Baton also created the Kuntu Writers Workshop. This workshop helped African-American writers. They could meet, talk about their work, and get help publishing or producing their plays and stories.
Awards and Performances
The Kuntu Repertory Theatre won many awards for its great work. These included several Onyx and People's Choice awards from the African American Council of Theatre. The company also took part in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. This festival helps new plays get seen by audiences.
Where They Performed
When Kuntu was part of the University of Pittsburgh, they performed in two main places. First, they used the Stephen Foster Memorial. Later, they moved to the seventh-floor auditorium of the university's Alumni Hall.
In 2011, Kuntu moved to a new home. This was at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Homewood branch. Sadly, the Kuntu Repertory Theatre faced money problems. They announced they would close after their 2012-2013 season.
Famous People from Kuntu
Many talented people were part of the Kuntu Repertory Theatre. Here are some of them:
- Esther Rolle
- Glynn Turman
- Mark Southers
- Rob Penny
- Sala Udin
- Montae Russell
See also
- Theatre in Pittsburgh
