The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis announced Tuesday morning that the search for a new Augustin Family Artistic Director has yielded a new leader for the nearly 60-year-old company.
Kate Bergstrom, who previously directed 2022’s The 39 Steps and the much-lauded 2023 holiday offering, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, has been selected to lead the company. Her previous leadership experience includes directing productions at Marin Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Trinity Repertory Company and other regional theaters, as well as acting as festival director for the Big Eddy Film Festival in Upstate New York and as founder and producing artistic director of On The Verge, a festival premiering female and LGTBQIA writers in Santa Barbara, California. She will begin her tenure at The Rep May 13.
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“Kate is a bold and generous leader, who works with a heart-forward approach to center an artistic vision that will bring out the best in The Rep,” said Danny Williams, managing director of The Rep, in a release announcing the appointment. “At this critical juncture in the organization, her passion, energy and commitment to St. Louis makes her an inspired choice to ensure a vibrant future for the theater. I can’t wait to partner with Kate to realize a beautiful new chapter for our amazing company.”
While the 2024-2025 mainstage season has already been announced, Bergstrom will lead the selection of the upcoming Steve Woolf Studio Series. According to the announcement, she intends to spend the upcoming months “actively listening to audiences as crucial collaborators” as she plans for the series and the 2025-2026 season.
Bergstrom is joining the company at a critical moment. Following a scaled-back season and the launch of the Rally for the Rep campaign, The Rep is focusing on “institutional readiness” and sustainability for the future. In her new role, Bergstrom hopes to help steward the institution and lead it forward.
“We have the grand opportunity ahead to celebrate the power of extraordinary togetherness in this beloved region during a divisive time,” said Bergstrom in the release announcing her appointment. “By bridging the differences that make us unique and the undergirding humanity that unites us all, The Rep looks to spark joy, discovery, and that extraordinary togetherness towards a thriving St. Louis and beyond. I’m ready to infuse care, love for this community and a clear, heart-forward vision of excellence into the Rep for years to come.”
