Arts and Culture
Black Repertory Group Future in Peril, Seeks Community Support
Founded in 1964 in the basement of Progressive Baptist Church, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) moved to a storefront at 1719 Alcatraz until the Black community, led by members of Downs Memorial Church, reached deep into their pockets, and, with the help of the City of Berkeley, built their theater on Adeline St. BRG had two missions: to serve underprivileged, underserved and minority populations and perform the works of Black playwrights.
Part II
By Tanya Dennis
Founded in 1964 in the basement of Progressive Baptist Church, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) moved to a storefront at 1719 Alcatraz until the Black community, led by members of Downs Memorial Church, reached deep into their pockets, and, with the help of the City of Berkeley, built their theater on Adeline St.
BRG had two missions: to serve underprivileged, underserved and minority populations and perform the works of Black playwrights.
Established by founders Birel and Nora Vaughn and continued by their daughter, Dr. Mona Scott and grandson, Sean Scott, BRG used theater as a platform to address social issues oppressing the Black community while elevating Black art, music and advocacy.
BRG was instrumental to the African American community to address such issues as:
- Human trafficking
- Health Education Through Theater (HETT) programs
- HIV/AIDS prevention programs and services
- A youth Tutorial and Cultural Enrichment program (TACE)
- Summer day camp drama programs for at-risk youth and children with disabilities
- The Transformation Festival, which celebrated the healing of trauma through the performing arts
- Partnerships with the World of Work projects to provide at-risk youth on-the-job training, anti-violence and recidivism reduction programs targeting at-risk youth and adults
- A three-year partnership with Rome Neal of the Nuyorican Theatre, resulting in his award-winning “Monk,” a one-man dramatization of the life of Thelonious Monk and Neal’s “Banana Puddin’ Jazz Meets Sweet Potato Jazz.”
In addition to staging over 50 plays by Black playwrights, the Black Rep. has hosted political townhalls, book launches, comedy shows and is currently in discussion with Dr. Vileen Shah of the East Bay School for the Blind to write and collaborate in the production of a documentary, “Vileen’s Vision,” about Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system that allowed blind and visually impaired individuals to read through touch.
Despite BRG’s legacy and history, theater administrator Sean Scott alleges that the City of Berkeley is reneging on its $25,000 annual pledge to the Black Rep for upkeep and maintenance and they are now in litigation with the city over unpaid fees despite the city recently touting a reparations program for African Americans.
Scott is reaching out to supporters of the theater, requesting they write letters to Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Berkeley City Councilmember Ben Bartlett, who, Scott believes, have no clue how instrumental BRG has been to the development of Black culture in the City of Berkeley. He is asking that BRG not only be allowed to continue their work but to purchase the theater building currently owned by the city.
“Councilman Bartlett is not representing us, he is not on the same page” as us, said 89-year-old Berkeley resident Ms. Ritchie Smith, who was interviewed while cleaning up in front of the BRG building.
“I’ve known the Black Rep. since its infancy, when they were in the basement of Progressive church across the street from where I live,” Smith said. “I’m not giving up on this, I’m out here fighting, picking up trash on Fairview right now. This theater will not disappear!
“Too many people put their blood, sweat and tears into the Black Rep. for that love to be ignored and dismissed. We got to unite on this. Black folks better do something before we lose everything.”
Concerned citizens may send letters of concern to Mayor Jesse Arreguín at mayor@berkeleyca.gov, Councilman Ben Bartlett at bbartlett@berkeleyca.gov and City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley manager@berkeleyca.gov.
