Penumbra Theatre Company facts for kids
The Penumbra Theatre Company is an important African-American theater group located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was started in 1976 by Lou Bellamy. This theater is known for its amazing plays and for helping famous writers, like Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson, get their start.
In 2020, the company changed its focus. It became The Penumbra Center for Racial Healing. This new center works to help people understand and heal from issues related to race.
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How Penumbra Theatre Started
In the past, many African Americans faced challenges like being forced to move from their homes. Settlement homes helped them with daily needs and also offered arts programs. The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Saint Paul was one such place. It believed that art, like theater, could help people share their voices.
These centers were also key parts of the Black Arts Movement. This movement allowed African Americans to express themselves and talk about unfair treatment. The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center wanted a proper theater space.
In 1976, a special grant of $150,000 helped make this happen. This money allowed Lou Bellamy, who was studying theater, to become the center's arts director. He then founded the Penumbra Theatre Company. By 1991, Penumbra became its own separate organization.
First Plays and Growth
The Penumbra Theatre Company's first play in 1977 was Eden by Steve Carter. This play explored the different backgrounds within the African-American community. It connected Penumbra to the Black Arts Movement.
Another important play was The Taking of Miss Jane by Ed Bullins. Penumbra also showed new works by its own writer, Horace Bond. His plays often focused on African-American life in the South. This helped connect with audiences who had moved North or had family from the South.
Penumbra also performed older, important works. One was The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom by William Wells Brown. The theater wanted to explore the history of African-American theater.
At first, Penumbra saw itself as a theater for all races. While its staff and audience were always diverse, its leaders and plays mostly focused on African-American culture. Over time, it became known as a leading African-American theater company.
What is Black Theater?
Lou Bellamy and the other founders of Penumbra wanted to explore what "black theater" truly meant. Bellamy explained that their style was shaped by the community around them. He wanted the theater to reflect and speak to that community.
This meant creating theater specifically for black audiences, but welcoming everyone. They performed plays by famous writers like Langston Hughes and August Wilson. They also adapted stories by Zora Neale Hurston. Their annual Christmas show, Black Nativity, is also very popular. All these plays share the unique spirit of black culture.
A theater critic named Peter Vaughan said Penumbra's success came from its strong artistic quality. He also noted its good plans, experienced staff, and support from companies and foundations.
Bellamy believes that black theater must be deeply rooted in black literature and culture. This includes understanding the impact of slavery. He says that without this background, a director might miss important meanings in the plays.
Key People at Penumbra
Original Performers
Some of the first performers included Estelene Bell, Phil Blackwell, Danny Clark, Gordon Cronce, Laura Drake, Mazi Johnson, Ruth Lasila, Tia Mann, Jay Patterson, Claude Purdy, Faye M. Price, Abdul Salaam El Razzac, G. Travis Williams, James A. Williams, Marion McClinton, and August Wilson.
Original Staff Members
The first staff included Ken Evins, W. J. E. “Strider” Hammer, Scott Peters, Scott Price, Anne Deem, Craig Theisen, Richard Thompson, Ron Schultz, and Mary Winchell.
Famous Company Members
August Wilson. Penumbra helped start the career of the famous writer August Wilson. He moved to Saint Paul in 1978 and began writing about his experiences. His first play, Black Bart and the Sacred Hills (1977), and later Jitney! (1982) were first performed at Penumbra. His plays are still often shown there.
August Wilson once said that Penumbra Theatre helped him believe in what was possible. He felt that the theater's success encouraged the community to aim higher. He became a playwright because he saw black men and women investing their lives in sharing their stories.
Lou Bellamy. Lou Bellamy founded Penumbra Theatre in 1976. He was the artistic director until 2017, when his daughter, Sarah Bellamy, took over. He also taught at the University of Minnesota for over 30 years. Lou Bellamy is praised for Penumbra's artistic success. He hired and supported many talented artists, including August Wilson and director Claude Purdy. In 2001, Lou Bellamy won an Obie Award for directing August Wilson's play Two Trains Running.
Programs and Outreach
The Penumbra Theatre has 135 seats. It is a place to explore the African-American experience through plays. Each year, over 40,000 people watch performances. The theater also offers workshops for more than 5,000 students.
Penumbra hires more actors, dancers, directors, and staff of color than all other theaters in Minnesota combined. It is located at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Saint Paul. Penumbra is one of the largest African-American theaters in the United States. It has helped many talented people and created unique spaces for black voices.
Cornerstone New Play Contest
In 1984, Penumbra started the Cornerstone New Play Contest. This gave new black playwrights a chance to have their plays performed. They wanted to show new works while still performing classic plays. The contest was an instant success. Jitney! by August Wilson was the first play produced from this contest. Later, thanks to a grant, Penumbra was able to offer cash prizes to winning playwrights.
Community Outreach
Besides plays, Penumbra Theatre also holds public events, discussions, and workshops. These events aim to raise awareness about social issues. Programs include workshops on race, a summer camp for teenagers, and internships for students.
