Media Contact: Julie McGarvie, Director of Marketing
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Penumbra Theatre Company
Elects Five New Members to Board of Directors

July 27, 2009; Saint Paul, MN – Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theater, elected five new members to its board of directors.

"Penumbra has worked hard over the last five years to build a strong foundation," said Penumbra Board Chair Phyllis Rawls Goff. "Given these challenging economic times, we are excited by the talents of our new board members and the support that they bring as we continue to build a sustainable organization. Penumbra's future is bold – and together, we will confirm its rightful place in the American theatrical landscape."

Each of the following new board members will serve a three-year term, which commenced on July 1, 2009, and ends June 30, 2012:

• Carol Barnett is Vice President of International Marketing in Neuromodulation at Medtronic. Barnett received a B.A. in Economics from Carleton College and a MBA from Harvard Business School. She has served on the boards of Carleton College, Vocalessence, and Ault, Inc.
  
  
• Tracey Burton is the Director of Diversity for Target Corporation. Burton received a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Iowa. Burton has served on the boards of the Minnesota Legal Aid, Urban Coalition, Minnesota Women Lawyers and Minnesota Black Lawyers Association.
  
  
• LaShanna Martin is a brand marketing manager in the Our Own Brands division of SuperValu. Martin received a B.S. in Marketing and a B.S. in Business Management from Alabama State University.
  
  
• Mark McLellan is a Lean Six-Sigma Black-Belt in the 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division. McLellan holds a B.A. in Theater, with a Minor in Peace and Justice studies, from the University of St. Thomas; and a MBA from the University of St. Thomas OPUS School of Business, where he currently serves as a Student Advisory Board member.
  
  
• Jeffrey Saunders is a partner in the corporate group of Dorsey & Whitney, with a focus on advising companies and boards of directors of rapidly growing companies in the healthcare and IT industries. Saunders received a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, and a B.A from Gustavus Adolphus College. He has served as a director of several non-profit and for-profit companies.

Media Contact: Julie McGarvie, Director of Marketing
651-288-6784 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Benny S. Cannon: A Celebration of Life
1957 - 2009

June 10, 2009; St. Paul, MN: Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theatre, will host a tribute to honor and celebrate the life and memory of Penumbra Company member Benny S. Cannon. The tribute will take place at Penumbra Theatre on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 6:00 pm. The evening will include words, music and memories of a dear friend and artist. The celebration is free and open to the public.

Mr. Cannon's acting credits at Penumbra include Get Ready, Rollin' on the T.O.B.A., Someplace Soft to Fall, On the Open Road, Pill Hill, Riffs, A Love Song for Miss Lydia, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Two Trains Running, and Joe Turner's Come and Gone. He also performed in Oedipus at the Guthrie Theater, The Wild Party at the Fitzgerald, The Meeting at the Great American History Theatre, Jus' for a While at the Illusion Theater and many others. Regional Theater credits include I am a Man at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Homebound at The Milwaukee Rep, The Piano Lesson at the Portland Rep and Boseman and Lena at the Saint Louis Black Repertory Company. Television and film credits include Suddenly Susan, The Wayan Brothers, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Crossing the Bridge and many others.

All are welcome to join in celebration of Benny S. Cannon and his rich contributions to the art of theatre and our community.

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For Immediate Release
May 12, 2009

Contact:
Julie McGarvie, Marketing Director
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Chris Widdess, Managing Director
651-288-6780, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
2009-2010 Season Announcement

May 11, 2009; Saint Paul, MN: Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theatre, proudly announced its 2009-2010 Season.

• Radio Golf by August Wilson, directed by Lou Bellamy
  October 1 through October 25, 2009
  
  
• Black Nativity: A Season for Change by T. Mychael Rambo & Lou Bellamy
  Directed by Dominic Taylor
  December 3 through December 27, 2009
  
  
• Black Pearl Sings! by Frank Higgins, directed by Lou Bellamy
  February 18 through March 14, 2010
  
  
• Two Old Black Guys Just Sitting Around Talking by Gus Edwards, directed by Lou Bellamy
  April 29 through May 23, 2010

Tickets on sale May 1, 2009 through the Penumbra Theatre Box Office at 651-224-3180 or at www.penumbratheatre.org.

Founder and Artistic Director Lou Bellamy stated, "While we take inventory of the collective progress made as a nation, history has taught us to take nothing for granted. At Penumbra, we take pride in representing the African American experience throughout our country's past and present, looking towards the future. Ultimately, what we find is that history lives in the people. We must care for our history and more importantly care for the people who have carried it for us. This season's lineup explores change, the notion of progress, and the role of individual and collective stories in the creation of history."

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For Immediate Release
February 12, 2009

Contact: Julie McGarvie, Marketing Director
651-288-6784
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Penumbra Theatre Company
Announces Fiscal Response to the Recession

February 12, 2009 - Saint Paul, MN - Penumbra Theatre Company, the largest professional African American theater in the country, unveiled prudent fiscal measures in response to the nation's economic recession.

"Over the last five years, Penumbra's board and staff established a strong infrastructure and are committed to remaining fiscally responsible, especially in light of the successful $3 million campaign in 2008," said Phyllis Goff, Chair of the Penumbra Board of Directors. "The depth and breadth of the current economic crisis has forced Penumbra to adjust its fiscal expectations for the remainder of the current year ending June 30, 2009 as well as for 2010. These adjustments will have significant impact on the timetable to complete our transition from a debt-elimination model to a sustainable one. However, we remain committed to this goal even though it will take longer."

For Immediate Release
January 30, 2009

Contact: Julie McGarvie, Marketing Director
651-288-6784 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tickets: Penumbra Theatre Box Office
651-224-3180 or penumbratheatre.org

The Whipping Man
By Matthew Lopez
A riveting story of the birth of American freedom

January 30, 2009; St. Paul, MN: Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theatre, proudly announces the opening of The Whipping Man, written by Matthew Lopez, directed by Lou Bellamy, February 19, 2009. The production will run February 19 - March 8, 2009. Previews on February 17 & 18.

An exciting new playwright, Matthew Lopez, brings to the Penumbra stage a riveting story of violence, passion and hope surrounding the end of the Civil War and the birth of American freedom. In the spring of 1865, Caleb De Leon returns to his father's home in Richmond, Virginia badly wounded. His family gone, the once grand house has been pillaged beyond recognition. Amidst the wreckage are two familiar faces: Simon, the former slave who raised him, and John, the former slave who grew up alongside him. Out from the rubble of the fallen South, Simon, John and Caleb face one another for the first time as free men.