Lou Bellamy is a prominent member in the local arts community for over four decades as a theater founder, educator, actor, director, and currently as Emeritus of Penumbra Theatre. His work has been a powerful force in bringing voice of the Black experience to the stage.
Born March 10th, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, Bellamy would move to St. Paul, Minnesota and graduate from Central Highschool in 1962. He then attended University of Minnesota, Mankato, followed by University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he would later teach at the theater and dance department from 1979-2011.
In 1976, Bellamy founded The Penumbra Theatre, in the same St. Paul neighborhood in which he grew up. The theater dedicated itself to the dramatic exploration of the African American experience. As artistic director, Bellamy produced 39 world premieres. Penumbra produced August Wilson’s first professional production, and more of Mr. Wilson’s plays than any other theater in the world. Penumbra has been recognized as the largest African American theater in the country.
Along with his leadership role at Penumbra, Bellamy would direct for numerous other organizations, including The Guthrie Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Signature Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Cleveland Play House, Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and Hartford Stage Company.
Bellamy has won numerous awards for his achievements and stewardship of African American arts in our community and throughout the country.
More recent Bellamy audio highlights of can be found at the MPR News homepage https://www.mprnews.org/
February 13, 2009 - The Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul announced it is trimming its budget by almost a quarter and pushing a major production into next year.
March 10, 2009 - Penumbra's artistic director Lou Bellamy and actors join Midmorning to talk about Lorraine Hansberry's play, "A Raisin in the Sun."
August 3, 2009 - MPR’s Euan Kerr speaks with Penumbra Artistic Director Lou Bellamy about Claude Purdy, a founding member of the Penumbra Theater in St. Paul. Bellamy says Purdy offered many strengths to the stage.
October 12, 2009 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles August Wilson’s last play “Radio Golf.” Roberts talks with Lou Bellamy and Quentin Skinner about the play.
February 17, 2010 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on the play "Black Pearl Sings." Kerr talks with director Lou Bellamy and actors from play.
April 18, 2011 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews playwright Dominic Taylor, actor Dennis Spears, and director Lou Bellamy about the play "Black Pearl Sings." The "I Wish You Love" production at the Penumbra Theatre examines the significance of the Nat "King" Cole Show, one of the first network TV programs hosted by an African American, and the role it's star played in the modern civil rights era.
February 3, 2012 - As part of Arts Week, MPR’s Marianne Combs has a conversation with scholar Paul Carter Harrison and Penumbra’s Lou Bellamy. The group discusses the history behind the Black Arts Movement and its impact.
May 10, 2012 - Penumbra Theater is presenting James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner" at the Guthrie. Director Lou Bellamy says he's waited 30 years to do the show, but now he has all the elements he needs, including his own perspective.
September 6, 2012 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Lou Bellamy, artistic director of Penumbra Theatre, on the financial struggles affecting the organization. The nationally-acclaimed African-American Theater company will stage no shows this season and has laid off a third of its 16 full-time staff members.
January 7, 2013 - St. Paul's Penumbra Theatre says it's ready to raise the curtain once again.