06/01/2026
Some of my favorite shows over the years? Follies was a standout musical. But I go for the serious stuff. So – Arcadia, History Boys, Gross Indecency, Angels in America, August: Osage County, I Am My Own Wife, and The Brothers Size. There are a lot more. Some in the studio from way back when – one was called The Living about the plague – like I said, I like the dark stuff. There is some really meaty stuff that The Rep has done. And The Brothers Size has carried on that tradition. Also Primary Trust I thought was wonderful, too. It had such a good message, but it was also sad, poignant. I like shows that are going to have me thinking about it years later.
Attendance is the biggest thing that the pandemic affected. Getting the audience back is still the most important thing. And that’s why we all want to get out there and get people to remember that there is this live theatre here. Because they’re now comfortable at home watching Netflix, and I understand that – I am too. And it’s not it’s like an unusual situation here in St. Louis, it’s all over the country. But I think moving forward, this present leadership has done a great job of trying to read the audience and bring in things that the audience wants. And I have heard so many people come in, as a greeter, who have said “The Rep is back”, and that is just a great feeling.
I think The Rep is going in the right direction. I’m thrilled. As I said, I like the more serious shows, but I’m probably not in the majority – more people want to be entertained and The Rep is doing that, and I appreciate that. I appreciate what they are doing. And I’ll keep going, because I know whatever they do is going to be good. And the studio this past year is so different from anything they’ve ever done before, and look how successful it was! So, you know, I’m going to show up. (3/3)
- Linda Vandivort, Member of the Rep’s Volunteer Board for 38 years
