Director Lou Bellamy is the founder and artistic director emeritus of Penumbra Theatre. During his 40 year tenure, Penumbra has evolved into one of America’s premier theaters dedicated to dramatic exploration of the African American experience. Under his leadership, Penumbra has grown to be the largest theater of its kind in America and has produced 40 world premieres, including August Wilson’s first professional production. Penumbra is proud to have produced more of Mr. Wilson’s plays than any theater in the world. Bellamy is an OBIE Award-winning director, an accomplished actor, and for 38 years was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Mr. Bellamy most recently directed Penumbra’s production of Alice Childress’ Wedding Band at Penumbra Theater. Selected directing credits include plays at Indiana Repertory, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Penumbra Theatre, Signature Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Kennedy Center, Kansas City Repertory, Gem Theater, Round House, and Hartford Stage.
