Muddy River
May 11-19, 2012
Cardinal Rigali Center
20 Archbishop May Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119
Muddy River is an original play about St. Louis which examines historical and contemporary attitudes about race and class through dance and music. The complicated lens of words and their meaning are eliminated leaving only the raw realities of action and behavior. Hope is not lost in this powerful connection of our past, present and future!
is a three-time winner of E. Desmond Lee Playwriting Competition (2007, 2011), and 2000 Playwright of the Year awarded by the Missouri Association of Playwrights. Lou is also a poet, author, health educator, instructor, and the owner of Sangoma Heritage Media LLC, a company dedicated to history, health, and cultural edutainment. She is pursuing her doctorate in American Studies at Saint Louis University with broad areas of interest including African American/American history and culture, Progressive Era race riots and civil rights, commemoration, and contemporary race relations. She explores these themes and others through her theatrical works and organic poetry, which include productions by Maryville University and First Run Theatre, and publication in The Black Pages 21st Edition of the Community Annual. She has transformed her love for journaling into healing writing instruction over the last decade for St. John Mercy’s Healing through the Arts program for cancer survivors, as well as the community. Lou receives continuing positive feedback for her sensitive and relevant exploration of the challenges facing human beings attempting successful relationships.
has achieved artistic excellence through training with Katherine Dunham, PG. Wren, Orania Simms, Gary Hubler, Archie Savage and Norman Davis. She served the St. Louis Black Rep as Resident choreographer/Director of Arts in Education and Tour Company Director for 23 years ( either performing or choreographing over 37 productions including "For Colored Girls East Coast Tour Show as Choreographer and Performer and has performed several times at the North Carolina Black Theater Festival); also served as Children’s Theater Director/ for SIU-Edwardsville-East St. Louis/Choreographer for Unity Theater Ensemble 4 years.
Vivian received a Kevin Kline nomination for Best Choreography-Dancing On Air with Historyonics Theater and was the Artistic Director for the first Faces of Love Concert presented by Gitana Productions at Westport Playhouse featuring stars of stage and television, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Since 1997 Vivian has been involved with Gitana as Choreographer, actor and Dance Coordinator/ Instructor for Global Education through the Arts, a program for immigrant and African American youth
is a Theatrical Designer based in St. Louis. Local credits include (Mostly) Harmless Theatre, Stray Dog Theatre, Historyonics, New Line Theatre, HotCity Theatre, Union Avenue Opera, the International Theatre Collective and the New Jewish Theatre. Justin has been a guest artist for university theatre programs including Bemidji State University in Minnesota, Washington University in St. Louis, and Saint Louis University. Justin received his MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2010. His designs for CCM have been recognized with multiple Cincinnati Acclaim Awards, a Peggy Ezekiel Award for Outstanding Achievement, and a Cincinnati Entertainment Award nomination. Recently, Justin was the Production Designer for the Style Network's "Too Fat for 15: the Obesity Crisis," a town hall-style event in St. Louis which was recorded and nationally broadcast. Upcoming projects include: Production Designer for the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis' inaugural 'Shakespeare in the Streets’ and Resident Assistant Scenic Designer for the MUNY’s 2012 season. www.JustinBarisonek.com
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Lou Robinson (Playwright)
Justin Barisonek (Set and Light Designer) 
