The Scene Shop Hosts 'Diversity: A Series Of Panel Discussions' Today

The Scene Shop begins presenting a series of panel discussions on diversity in St. Louis theatre. The first panel, "Race in the Theatre: How to Reflect Our Community On and Off the Stage," takes place today, June 15 at 7:00 PM at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr, St. Louis, 63103.

Join us for the first of several panel discussions on diversity in St. Louis theatre. We will be talking with actors and directors from around the community about race in the theatre. Be prepared for a frank discussion of the successes and failings of theatre to represent the totality of St. Louis within the community. We will also explore how we fix these failings and what we can do even better than we already do.

Panelists include: Assistant Professor for Applied Theatre at Fontbonne University Adam Flores; local actor Kevin Corpuz; artistic director of R-S Theatrics Christina Rios; and local actress Jeanitta Perkins.

Find continuing updates on the event invitation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/471322846408477.

About the Panelists:

Adam Flores is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Fontbonne University. He is also a Founding Resident Artist at Mustard Seed Theatre, where he recently directed the "Bosnian American Project: The Dance for Life." In October of 2015 he was a local producer and director for "The Every 28 Hour Plays" a collaboration with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the One-Minute Play Festival, which included 80 one-minute plays about #BlackLivesMatter and Ferguson. He holds an MFA in directing from Baylor University, with research focus on community-engaged theatre and Lation@ performance. In 2013 he travelled to Salinas, California to study with Cornerstone Theatre Company as they produced theatre with immigrant workers from the same Santa Monica Valley that his father and grandmother once picked in. As an actor he has appeared with over a dozen professional St. Louis theatre companies.

Christina Rios has had the good fortune to work locally with The Black Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Insight Theatre, Stray Dog Theatre, The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, The Black Cat Theatre, and New Line Theatre. She is also a classically-trained soprano and is honored to have studied under the likes of Ms. Angela Horn, Dr. Mark Madsen, and Ms. Kathy Lawton-Brown. Above all, Ms. Rios is the Artistic Director of R-S Theatrics, the mother of 4 amazing children, the wife of a wonderful man, and a true believer that art can change the world.

Jeanitta Perkins has been a professional actress since 2010. She has been blessed with the opportunity to work with a variety of local production companies such as The Black Rep, Metro Theater Company, New Line Theatre, Gitana Productions, St. Louis Shakespeare, RS Theatrics, and Solid Lines Productions. Jeanitta is a voice actor with NOW Talent Management and she's had the honor of performing Jazz at the Sheldon Concert Hall! Ms. Perkins is a nationally certified optician by trade and her adorable 4-year-old son has made his acting debut in a Laclede Gas commercial! Jeanitta is eternally grateful to God and her family for their everlasting love and support. A big thanks to YOU as well, for supporting the arts!