The Rep Continues Year Three of IGNITE! FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, Beg. Today

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues the Ignite! Festival of New Plays. Taking place in March, the festival will include commissions of nationally recognized playwrights, culminating with three public readings including Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher About Evolution by Stephen Massicotte and directed by Tracy Brigden; Every Reason to Hope and Believe by Laura Eason and directed by Seth Gordon; and Georama-A Mostly True Story of the Forgotten John Banvard by West Hyler and Matt Schatz and directed by West Hyler. The festival productions will take place in the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, located at 210 Hazel Avenue, directly behind the Loretto-Hilton Center.

The purpose of the festival is to commission, develop and produce new plays to premiere at The Rep; thereby increasing both the audience's appreciation of new American plays, as well as the visibility and stature for The Rep in the national community. Locally, it gives St. Louis audiences exposure to new works, as well as the opportunity to experience the creative process.

Ticket prices are $10 for individual readings or $25 for all three. To purchase, visit The Rep Box Office, located inside the Loretto-Hilton Center, charge by phone by calling (314) 968-4925, or visit The Rep's Online Box Office at http://www.repstl.org/ignite.

Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher about Evolution (by Stephen Massicotte, directed by Tracy Brigden) is on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30pm. In this show, high school biology teacher Ms. Kelly encourages her students to ask questions about the world around them. But when one student starts openly questioning the very basis of her teachings and the school science curriculum, her own personal faith is put to the test.

Every Reason to Hope and Believe (by Laura Eason, directed by Seth Gordon) is on Sunday, March 23 at 3:00pm. In this porduction, Emma, a successful St. Louis fundraiser, and Nathan, one of the city's most celebrated African American artists, couldn't make it work as a mixed race couple. When they reunite professionally to discuss creating a statue of DrEd Scott to be erected in front of the Old Courthouse, their conversation quickly turns personal in this moving story of entitlement, privilege, passion, and how the past informs the present. Commissioned for Ignite! by The Rep.

Georama-A Mostly True Story of the Forgotten John Banvard (book by West Hyler and Matt Schatz, music and lyrics by Matt Schatz, additional music and lyrics by Jack Herrick, directed by West Hyler) is on Saturday, March 29 at 3:00pm. In the mid 1800s, American artist John Banvard created the first georama, a 3,000 foot-long scrolled painting celebrating the beauty of the Mississippi River. His creation took him from the life of a starving artist to one of luxury and notoriety when his moving panorama became a nationwide hit. But can he handle the stresses and competition this new life brings or will his passion fall by the wayside in the search for fame and fortune?

Funding for The Rep's new play festival has been provided by Mr. & Mrs. David P. Gast, the Gertrude & William Bernoudy Foundation and two anonymous donors. For more information on Ignite! or to purchase tickets to the readings, visit The Rep's website at http://www.repstl.org/ignite.