Dr. Vernell A. Lillie founded it in 1974 at the University of Pittsburgh as a way of showcasing the playwright Rob Penny. The next year Penny's friend, August Wilson, brought his play Homecoming to Kuntu; it was his first play to be produced by a resident company. The theater group remained part of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Africana Studies through the 2010-2011 season when Lillie retired as a professor at Pitt.[1]
Wilson, Penny, and poet Maisha Baton also started the Kuntu Writers Workshop to bring African-American writers together in discussion and to assist them in publication and production.
The Kuntu Repertory Theatre has won multiple awards, including several Onyx and People's Choice awards from the African American Council of Theatre[2][3] The company has also participated in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.[4]
Kuntu's primary venues when based at the University of Pittsburgh were the Stephen Foster Memorial, and later, through the 2010-11 season, the seventh-floor auditorium of the university's Alumni Hall. In 2011 Kuntu moved to a new home at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Homewood branch.[5][6] Due to funding difficulties, the Kuntu Repertory Theatre announced it was closing after the 2012-2013 season.[7]
Conner, Lynne (2007). Pittsburgh in Stages: Two Hundred Years of Theater. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN978-0-8229-4330-3.
^ abcdeCarpenter, Mackenzie (April 24, 2013). "Curtain falls on Pittsburgh's Kuntu Repertory Theatre". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
^Stephenson, Phillip A. (2005-06-27). "African American Council of Arts presents awards for achievement". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
^Lilavois, Stephanie C. (2007-07-23). "ONYX Awards For Pitt's Kuntu Rep". Pitt Chronicle. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
^Hayes, John. "The New Works Festival has become a must-see event". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
^Webb, Genea. . New Pittsburgh Courier. Archived from the original on 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^Rawson, Christopher. "Creativity shines through despite tight staging in Kuntu's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
^Carpenter, Mackenzie (April 23, 2013). "Kuntu Repertory Theatre to shut down after current season". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
^ abDzwonczyk, Amy (March 13, 1984). "25th Anniversary of a "Raisin In the Sun" Celebrated By Pitt's Kuntu Repertory Theatre"" (Press release). University of Pittsburgh Department of News & Publications. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
Kuntu Repertory Theatre, 1975-2013 (1.0 box), Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pittsburgh Theatre Programs, 1840- , CTC.1966.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
kuntu, repertory, theatre, primarily, student, based, african, american, repertory, theatre, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, united, states, formation1975typetheatre, grouppurposeafrican, american, repertorylocationpittsburgh, paartistic, director, vernell, lilliewe. Kuntu Repertory Theatre was a primarily student based African American repertory theatre in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania United States Kuntu Repertory TheatreFormation1975TypeTheatre groupPurposeAfrican American repertoryLocationPittsburgh PAArtistic director s Vernell A LillieWebsitehttps web archive org web 20131208220613 http www kuntu org Dr Vernell A Lillie founded it in 1974 at the University of Pittsburgh as a way of showcasing the playwright Rob Penny The next year Penny s friend August Wilson brought his play Homecoming to Kuntu it was his first play to be produced by a resident company The theater group remained part of the University of Pittsburgh s Department of Africana Studies through the 2010 2011 season when Lillie retired as a professor at Pitt 1 Wilson Penny and poet Maisha Baton also started the Kuntu Writers Workshop to bring African American writers together in discussion and to assist them in publication and production The Kuntu Repertory Theatre has won multiple awards including several Onyx and People s Choice awards from the African American Council of Theatre 2 3 The company has also participated in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival 4 Kuntu s primary venues when based at the University of Pittsburgh were the Stephen Foster Memorial and later through the 2010 11 season the seventh floor auditorium of the university s Alumni Hall In 2011 Kuntu moved to a new home at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh s Homewood branch 5 6 Due to funding difficulties the Kuntu Repertory Theatre announced it was closing after the 2012 2013 season 7 Contents 1 Alumni 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksAlumni editEsther Rolle 8 Glynn Turman 8 Mark Southers 1 Rob Penny 1 Sala Udin 1 Montae Russell 1 See also editTheatre in PittsburghReferences editConner Lynne 2007 Pittsburgh in Stages Two Hundred Years of Theater Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Press ISBN 978 0 8229 4330 3 a b c d e Carpenter Mackenzie April 24 2013 Curtain falls on Pittsburgh s Kuntu Repertory Theatre Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved April 24 2013 Stephenson Phillip A 2005 06 27 African American Council of Arts presents awards for achievement Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pittsburgh PA Retrieved 2010 06 09 Lilavois Stephanie C 2007 07 23 ONYX Awards For Pitt s Kuntu Rep Pitt Chronicle Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh Retrieved 2010 06 09 Hayes John The New Works Festival has become a must see event Pittsburgh Post Gazette Webb Genea Kuntu splits from Pitt New Pittsburgh Courier Archived from the original on 2011 12 04 Retrieved 2012 03 30 Rawson Christopher Creativity shines through despite tight staging in Kuntu s Ma Rainey s Black Bottom Pittsburgh Post Gazette Carpenter Mackenzie April 23 2013 Kuntu Repertory Theatre to shut down after current season Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved April 24 2013 a b Dzwonczyk Amy March 13 1984 25th Anniversary of a Raisin In the Sun Celebrated By Pitt s Kuntu Repertory Theatre Press release University of Pittsburgh Department of News amp Publications Retrieved April 24 2013 External links editKuntu Repertory Theatre Page in PITTARTS Directory via Internet Archive Wayback Machine Kuntu Repertory Theatre 1975 2013 1 0 box Ford E and Harriet R Curtis Theatre Collection of Pittsburgh Theatre Programs 1840 CTC 1966 01 Curtis Theatre Collection Special Collections Department University of Pittsburgh Kuntu Repertory Theatre via Internet Archive Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kuntu Repertory Theatre amp oldid 1175137050, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
