The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Elects 8 New Board Members for Three-Year Term
Ann Cady Scott returns as board president for a third term during the theater's 60th anniversary season
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) has announced eight newly elected Board Members who will serve a three-year term starting in June 2026. They include:
- Trish Alexandre (Community Volunteer)
- Christy Beckmann (Community Volunteer)
- Don Cobin (Kennedy Capital Management, President)
- Jim Donnelly, M.D. (Epiphany Dermatology)
- Peggy Holly (Community Volunteer)
- Jack Stapleton (Fifth Third Bank)
- Sara L. Vaughan (Executive Director of TEDxStLouis)
- Lynn Yearwood (Community Volunteer)
The Rep's Board Leadership welcomes back Ann Cady Scott (Civic Leader) as President of the board for a third term. She will lead alongside Vice Presidents Susan Stith (Chief Operating Officer, Concordance) and Pat Schutte (Community Volunteer); Vice President, Volunteers Lynn Yearwood (Community Volunteer); Secretary Margaret Augustin (Community Volunteer); and Treasurer Michelle Brady (Ernst & Young).
“As I return for my third term as Board President, it is a true privilege to welcome this remarkable group of leaders to The Rep,” said Ann Cady Scott, Board President. “Their expertise, passion for the arts, and commitment to community arrive at a perfect moment as we celebrate our 60th Anniversary Season. This milestone year honors six decades of extraordinary storytelling while charting an ambitious path forward, and our new board members will play a vital role in shaping that future. I am deeply grateful to serve alongside such dedicated and talented colleagues as we usher The Rep into its next chapter.”
“As Ann Cady Scott returns for her third term as Board President, I'm grateful for her steady leadership and the clarity of purpose she brings to this institution,” said Managing Director Danny Williams. “This year's incoming board members represent a powerful range of lived experiences, professional expertise, and community perspectives. Their diversity of thought and deeply connected voices across St. Louis strengthen our ability to serve this region with relevance and imagination. As we celebrate our 60th Anniversary Season, their guidance will help ensure The Rep continues to be a home where bold ideas thrive and every member of our community feels seen, valued, and invited into the story we're telling together.”
Subscriptions for The Rep's milestone 2026/27 60th Anniversary Season—featuring five Mainstage productions, three Studio Series plays, and a brand‑new Diamond Anniversary Concert Series—are now available. Audiences can experience Little Women, adapted by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Delaney Piggins, September 9–27, 2026; the virtuosic musical comedy 2 Pianos 4 Hands, October 7–25, 2026; the must‑see holiday classic Irving Berlin's White Christmas, December 2–23, 2026; Dominique Morisseau's powerful drama Detroit '67, February 3–21, 2027; and Agatha Christie's iconic thriller And Then There Were None, March 17–April 4, 2027. The Steve Woolf Studio Series will feature three intimate, cutting‑edge productions in the Emerson Studio, with titles to be announced later this year. The season also introduces The Rep's Diamond Anniversary Concert Series, bringing Broadway stars—including Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty and Jeremy Jordan—to the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University for exclusive concert weekends. Subscriptions offer the best seats, the best savings, and a front‑row invitation to celebrate The Rep's 60 years of extraordinary storytelling.
Led by Augustin Family Artistic Director Kate Bergstrom and Managing Director Danny Williams, The Rep is a 501(c)3 non-profit institution committed to the St. Louis arts community, employing over 200 professionals during a nine-month season which contributes significantly to the city's cultural and economic vitality. In addition to transformative theatrical experiences, The Rep provides Learning and Community Engagement (LACE) programs that provide people of all ages opportunities to deeply engage with the art they see on stage through immersive in-classroom and extracurricular learning opportunities, public forums for civic discourse, and opportunities to participate in the artmaking process. Programs include Camp Rep where kids ages 7-13 experience all the magic of acting, music, movement and creative storytelling classes in two summer sessions July 6-17 and July 27- August 7; and the Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC) public performance in Spring 2027 which focuses on theatre for young people and their families.
For more information, please visit repstl.org.
New Board Members:
Ann Cady Scott, Board President, is a distinguished civic leader whose five decades of service have shaped arts, culture, education, and historic preservation in St. Louis and beyond. She holds a Master of Arts in Directing and Theatre History from the University of Missouri (1972) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Drake University (1971). Early in her career, she taught drama at The Wilson School and later served as an Assistant Instructor in Theatre History at Webster University, grounding her lifelong commitment to arts education. Scott's volunteer leadership is both extensive and influential. She has served on the Board of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis since 1989, this being her third term as President (1999–2003, 2007–2011) and Vice President (1996–1999, 2022–present). Her arts advocacy extends nationally through her role as Vice‑Regent for Missouri for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, where she has served since 2010 and held positions including Secretary to the Board and Chair of several committees. She has served on the boards of the Missouri Historical Society, Mid‑America Arts Alliance, the Regional Arts Commission, the Missouri Arts Council, the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, The Woman's Exchange of St. Louis, and numerous other civic and cultural organizations. She has chaired or supported major benefits for institutions such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Across every chapter of her career, Ann Cady Scott has demonstrated a profound dedication to strengthening cultural institutions, preserving history, and enriching the artistic life of St. Louis. Her leadership continues to inspire collaboration, stewardship, and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of the arts.
Trish Alexandre is a dedicated civic leader with deep experience in volunteer governance, community engagement, and retail management. She currently serves as President of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Volunteer Board, leading a 27‑member group that contributed more than 6,300 service hours through committees supporting artistic needs, audience services, development, and company care. She previously served as Vice President and as a board member. Since 2007, Alexandre has also been a driving force behind Women on Mission St. Louis, raising over $1.2 million to support agencies serving the College Hill neighborhood. Her 34‑year retail career included senior roles in merchandising, buying, and international vendor partnerships.
Christy Beckmann is a seasoned corporate and nonprofit communications executive with deep experience in healthcare, mental health, the arts, and philanthropy. She spent the last 15 years of her career in senior communications and development roles, including VP at Abbott Laboratories, SVP at Vista Health, and SVP at United Way of Greater St. Louis. Earlier, she led public affairs at Monsanto and Solutia and served as founding president of their philanthropic foundations. A dedicated civic leader, she has served on more than 15 arts and community boards including the Sheldon, Craft Alliance, Saint Louis Dance Theatre, and is co-chair of COCA's advisory board. She also is national treasurer of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, where she has also served as a board chair. Beckmann holds an undergraduate degree from Washington University and an MA in arts management from Webster University.
Donald Cobin, CFA is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Portfolio Manager of Kenney Capital Management, responsible for directing the business affairs of the firm. Mr. Cobin also serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Don began his investment career in 1993 and served as Director of Research at Delaware Investments and prior to that as an investment analyst at Conseco and WR Huff. From 2002 until 2007, Mr. Cobin was a senior investment professional at Matador Capital Management. Don joined KCM in February 2007 as an analyst and later became Portfolio Manager in November 2007. Mr. Cobin earned a B.A. from Emory University and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Jim Donnelly is a board‑certified dermatologist with a private practice dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield for 35 years. A graduate of Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine, he completed his dermatology residency as Chief Resident. Dr. Donnelly is a member of the AAD and MDS, past president of the St. Louis Dermatologic Society, has been named to the national “Best Doctors” list, and enjoys hiking, cycling, and travel photography.
Peggy Holly's passion is her volunteerism addressing community problems. Peggy is not a patient person; she is an ultimate problem solver. When she sees an injustice or need, either in the community or for her friends and neighbors, she finds a solution. A retired engineer, she is a respected leader with significant experience serving on not-for-profit and civic boards. Her record reflects deep engagement in civic planning and housing, community development, equity-focused initiatives, and the arts. She is the creator and coordinator of the St. Louis Public Radio Theater Showcase. This event (pre-COVID) brought over 3000 people to Grand Center to experience live, local theatre performances. Peggy is currently a Board member of St. Louis Public Radio, The International Photography Hall of Fame, the University City Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board and a steering committee member of the Reparative Justice Coalition of St. Louis. Peggy's community leadership was recognized in 2022 as a Woman of Achievement.
Jack Stapleton drives commercial client partnerships for Fifth Third Bank here in St. Louis. He loves connecting good people and is all about meaningful relationships! Jack grew up in NYC and has now lived in St. Louis for over 27 years and has been a positive force in many of the region's terrific organizations. He served on the Children's Hospital Foundation Board as well as The St. Louis Sports Commission Board for over 20 years each. Pediatric health is paramount in Jack's service as 3 of his 5 kids have had heart surgery. Jack was the first President of the Folds of Honor board here in the region. He has also been a board member on an NIH Pediatric effort as well as Children's Miracle Network, Catherine Cares and Just Enduring Child Loss. Jack is a proud graduate of Boston College and has served as the past President of the St. Louis Alumni Chapter. He is a sports enthusiast serving as the Chair of the STL Frozen Four tournament in 2007 and as a team host in the 2025 event. Jack is a proud season ticket holder for St. Louis City SC as well as very involved in the St. Louisan's Supporter Group. Jack has enjoyed the theater since he was a little boy, back in the day Broadway and Off-Broadway and is thrilled to be part of this “jewel” of St. Louis!
Sara L. Vaughan is a strategic operator and civic leader who serves as Executive Director of TEDxStLouis, where she leads the organization's efforts to elevate ideas that strengthen civic pride and inspire meaningful engagement across the region. Since joining in 2021, she has played a key role in shaping the organization's growth and producing events that have reached thousands locally and millions globally. In addition to her work with TEDxStLouis, Sara is the founder of Salva Strategies, where she serves as a strategic partner to leaders advancing complex initiatives that require both clear direction and disciplined execution. Sara brings a deep commitment to arts, ideas, and community to her role on the Board of Directors of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
M. Lynn Yearwood is a retired educator and senior executive whose career spans teaching, school administration, high‑level leadership in the insurance and healthcare industries, and a lifetime of volunteerism. She served as 2nd Vice President at General American Life Insurance. Her earlier career was as a school administrator and classroom teacher, having earned a BA in English and Speech and a MA in Communications. She has had a long and active career in volunteerism starting as Volunteer of the Year in the Alton, Illinois Junior League and as President of the Alton area AAUW. She has been active with the Repertory Theatre since the 70's when she and her husband accompanied high school students to student matinees. She has served on the Volunteer Board of the Repertory Theatre for 11 years and currently serves as the incoming President of that board. She served as President of the Board for Ready Readers and was active in Social Venture Partners (SVP Volunteer of the Year), Springboard for Learning/Young Audiences and served on the boards of two Charter Schools in St. Louis. She also served as interim President of McMurry University, Abilene, TX and served on the McMurry Board of Trustees for 9 years with the last 3 years as Board Chair of the Trustees.
ABOUT THE REPERTORY THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) is the region's premiere theatre for compelling, award-winning theatrical experiences that entertain, engage, and illuminate audiences' shared humanity. Founded in 1966, for more than five decades The Rep has sustained and built upon its commitment to artistic excellence by creating, developing, and curating adventurous new works and beloved classics from the most exciting emerging and established American voices. The Rep builds bridges within the St. Louis community and beyond by offering productions that allow audiences to see themselves and the stories that matter to them represented on stage, through the organization's robust community engagement programs, and across its educational initiatives.
The Rep welcomes audiences with inspiring and expansive productions at several inviting stages across St. Louis including the Virginia Jackson Browning Theatre and Emerson Studio at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. A thought leader in The National Theatre landscape, The Rep is a dedicated partner with arts organizations in St. Louis and across the country, expanding audiences' appreciation and understanding of the world through theatre. In December 2023, The Rep was named a Missouri Historical Theatre, which is awarded to theaters that contribute to tourism in Missouri, promote arts in its community and throughout Missouri, and has been operational for a minimum of 50 years. For more information, please visit repstl.org.
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