Heads Up: Street Closure Near GEM Theater – Plan Your Route!

Just getting information from the American Jazz Museum who rents the GEM Theater.

Currently, 18th street  is closed to the west of the museum. The best bet for people coming is to exit from I-70 on Paseo and turn left onto 17th Terrace. 

Then wind through the Gregg Klice parking lot. Or if you are traveling North on Paseo make a Right onto 19th or 17th Terrace. There should be open parking on Highland which is one-way heading North from 19th St.

The block of 18th street in front of the Gem has been open in evenings lately, but it is not a through street.

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, I DO SUGGEST YOU PASS THIS ON TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND HAVE THEM MAKE A DRY RUN TO THE DISTRICT BEFORE NEXT THURSDAY'S SHOW. 


Welcome to The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City

We're thrilled to celebrate a milestone moment - ten powerful years of storytelling, artistry and community.

This year's theme - A Decade of Drama: Celebrating Ten Years of Storytelling

Since our founding, we've proudly amplified Black voices and experiences through bold, compelling theatre that inspires, educates, and entertains. This season, we honor our journey, the artists who've brought our stories to life, and the audiences who've walked beside us.

Join us as we look back with gratitude, move forward with purpose, and continue to shine a light on the richness and depth of Black culture through the transformative power of the state.

Welcome to the celebration!

DALE RICARDO SHIELDS, PEARL CLEAGE AND THE BLACK REPERTORY THEATRE OF KANSAS CITY TO RECEIVE PAUL ROBESON AWARDS

New York -– Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, and the Actors’ Equity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization supporting the professional theatre community, jointly announced the Paul Robeson Award will be bestowed on Dale Ricardo Shields for 2021, Pearl Cleage for 2022 and The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City for 2023.

A theatre designed to impact the Kansas City community by telling stories of the black experience.

  • The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City (BRTKC) is a not-for-profit organization designed to impact the Kansas City community. This production company utilizes theatre productions, and educational programming to enhance the contributions made by minorities in our neighborhoods and communities and beyond. Each production has been tasked to give life to the neglected stories, virtually untold in American theatres. In an effort to bridge the gap between the rich realities of black experiences and the incomplete depiction displayed in most media outlets, BRTKC tells the tales of the unsung.

  • BRTKC recognizes that only through shared experiences and true depictions can we come together as one strong community. Both the lack of stories told via minority perspectives and the presence of minorities in Kansas City theatre is what gave birth to this company. Theatre is often the home base for those who are frequently marginalized, yet for blacks, this is hardly the case. Without these stories, theatre is incomplete - missing huge portions of truth. BRTKC knows that understanding comes from mutual experiences, and through these productions, the entire community can appreciate and participate in the success and losses, happiness and sorrow, and fears and triumphs within the lives of African Americans.​

  • The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City equally focuses on education and the inclusion of black youths in theatre. BRTKC has begun to take its educational programming with Ruskin High School and Hickman Mills Freshman Center with the first phase engaging students through playwriting. We seek to pick additional schools throughout the Kansas City Metro area schools - implementing scholarships, internships, and mentorships. BRTKC is inspiring students and youths by helping them to see all the choices and opportunities found within theatre and beyond.

Our mission.
Our vision.

Mission Statement: The mission of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City is to educate and inspire our community by presenting and promoting appreciation for African-American culture through our stories.

Vision Statement: The vision of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City is a united community embracing stories of the African-American experience.

Meet our director.

Damron Russel Armstrong is a producer/director/actor who spent his formative years right here in Kansas City. He has worked on most of the stages Kansas City has to offer. He's been a familiar fixture at Unicorn Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, Theatre for Young America, The American Heartland Theatre, The Living Room Theatre, Chestnut Fine Arts Center, New Theatre Restaurant, and Kansas City Actors Theatre.

Our Partners.

Make a donation.

The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City cannot exist without donations from generous individuals and corporate sponsors. Ticket prices cover only a small portion of the cost of creating live theatre. Please click the button below and make a tax-deductible donation to help us fulfill our mission. If you would rather make a donation by check, please make your check payable to BRTKC (or The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City) and mail it to PO Box 410294, Kansas City, MO 64141