Lou Bellamy is the founder and co-artistic director of Penumbra Theatre. During his thirty-eight year tenure, Penumbra has evolved into one of America’s premier theatres 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 thirty-nine world premieres, including August Wilson’s first professional production. Penumbra is proud to have produced more of Mr. Wilson’s plays than any theatre in the world. Bellamy is an OBIE Award-winning director, an accomplished actor, and for thirty-eight years was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Dr. Bellamy most recently directed Penumbra’s production of By The Way, Meet Vera Stark. Selected directing credits include plays at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Penumbra Theatre, Signature Theatre NY, Cleveland Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Kennedy Center, Indiana Repertory, Kansas City Repertory, Gem Theater, Round House, and Hartford Stage.