Ronald Himes (born June 30, 1952) is an American theatrical producer, director and actor. He established The St. Louis Black Repertory Company in 1976. He also is the Henry E. Hampton, Jr. Artist-in-Residence, a joint appointment of the Performing Arts Department and African and African American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.

Himes received an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1993, and an honorary doctorate in Arts from Washington University in St. Louis in 1998.

Early life and education

Ronald Himes was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 30, 1952. He graduated from Soldan International Studies High School, and in 1978 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from Washington University in St. Louis.

He founded the Phoenix Theatre Troupe in 1976 while an undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis (later becoming The St. Louis Black Repertory Company), saying, "The goal was to fill the void of black actors on stage. It was really about showcasing African-American stories, because our stories weren't being told."

Following his graduation from Washington University, Himes led the St. Louis Black Repertory Company on tours of local colleges, and in 1981 the company got a permanent venue in St. Louis.

Filmography +YearFilmRole2010KingshighwayPender2025On FireHospital Worker

Theatre

Actor

1987, The Little Foxes, Cal, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 1992, Miss Evers' Boys, Dr. Eugene Brodus, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 1993, Unquestioned Integrity: The Hill/Thomas Hearings, Clarence Thomas, 7 Stages Theatre 2002, The Sty of the Blind Pig, Doc, The Black Rep 2002, Conversations on a Dirt Road, Joe Lee, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2006, King Hedley II, King Hedley, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2007, Boesman & Lena, Boesman, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2007, Gem of the Ocean, Caesar, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2008, Death and the King's Horseman, Elesin, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2012, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Toledo, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2012, On Golden Pond, Norman Thayer, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2013, The Whipping Man, Simon, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2015, All The Way, Ralph Abernathy, The Repertory Theatre of St Louis 2015, Romeo and Juliet, Capulet, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2016, Sunset Baby, Kenyatta Shakur, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2017, Seven Guitars, King Hedley, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2017, Fences, Troy Maxson, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2020, Two Trains Running, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2023, Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company 2024, Dreamgirls, Marty, Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis

Director

1990, Spell #7, by Ntozake Shange, Studio Theatre 1992, Spunk, adapted for the stage by George C. Wolfe, music by Chic Street Man, based on three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston, Studio Theatre 1995, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enfu, by Ntozake Shange, People's Light and Theatre Company 2007, Fences, by August Wilson, The Clarence Brown Theatre 2008, Ain't Misbehavin', The Clarence Brown Theatre 2008, Radio Golf, by August Wilson, Studio Theatre 2019, Dutchman, by LeRoi Jones and Amiri Baraka, Nebraska Rep 2021, Highway 1, U.S.A., by William Grant Still, Opera Theatre St Louis 2024, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, The University of South Carolina 2024, Ligeia Mare: The Radio Opera, Episode 4, by Damon Davis with Alarm Will Sound, Carnegie Hall

References