INSIDIOUS Opens 5/23 at the Black Rep of St. Louis

Ibn Shabazz's Insidious , an original play that first premiered in 2010 for Western New York (WNY) theatre company Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP), returns to the stage this month at the nation's largest African American theatre company, The Black Rep of St. Louis. The Black Rep's production of Insidious opens Wednesday, May 23rd , 2012.

This "raw and unsettling modern drama" is the work of WNY playwright Ibn Shabazz and was developed in RLTP's Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop beginning in 2008. Insidious subsequently enjoyed two critically successful and wildly popular runs at RLTP's Road Less Traveled Theater – originally in the summer of 2010, and then again during a revival in the summer of 2011.

The news that Insidious had been selected for The Black Rep's 2011-2012 Season originally was announced at RLTP's 2011 Spring Gala in May 2011. Exactly one year later, the production is set to open in St. Louis in a nationally recognized theatre and for a nationally connected audience.

RLTP Artistic Director Scott Behrend called the continued life of Insidious "a momentous occasion for RLTP, and a major step forward for Buffalo playwrights." Remarked Behrend, " Insidious is now the first new play written by a local writer and premiered by RLTP that will be produced at a major National Theatre outside of Buffalo. We couldn't be happier or more proud of Ibn and his fine play."

The Black Rep of St. Louis was established in 1976 by founder and Artistic Director Ron Himes, with the mission of producing theatre and dance from the African American perspective and heightening the social and cultural awareness of its audience. Himes calls the Black Rep "the country's premier African American theater."

The Black Rep's production of Insidious opens Wednesday, May 23 rd , and runs through Sunday, June 24 th , 2012. The production will be directed by Himes himself.

Behrend stated that both he and playwright Shabazz will be in attendance at opening night on May 23 rd , and that they will be joined by a group of RLTP board, staff, and RLTP Ensemble members.

Behrend also suggested that the Black Rep would not be the only large, professional theatre company outside of Buffalo to be producing Insidious in the future, and asked audiences to stay tuned for more announcements about other potential productions.More information about Insidious at The Black Rep of St. Louis is available online at http://theblackrep.org/theater/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=169 . Ticket information for The Black Rep of St. Louis production is available at http://ev6.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=BLA23MAY12&linkID=metro .

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