Founding the Missouri Repertory Theatre

After her negative experiences off-Broadway in New York, Dr. McIlrath wanted to create a professional theater where KCU students could get professional experience. The Missouri Repertory Theater was created around the time of the merging of the University of Kansas City with the University of Missouri system. Dr. McIlrath later said that “one had to be there to know the trials and tribulations of living through such transitions.” (History of the rep)​

Dr. McIlrath had a number of staff members who helped with the founding of the Missouri Repertory Theater, such as J. Morton Walker and Vincent Scassellati. University leaders such as Carelton Scofield and James C. Olsen also helped in founding the company.​

The Missouri Repertory Theatre started in 1964 as the UMKC Summer Repertory Theatre.​

In 1967, it officially became a professional company and, for the first time, had actors who were members of the Actors’ Equity Union.​

1968 was an important year for the theatre! It was renamed to the Missouri Repertory Theatre, which remained its name until 2004. In addition, the newly named Missouri Rep created a new traveling company called the Missouri Vanguard Theater! Initially, the traveling productions would be taken around Missouri, but the range eventually expanded to include neighboring states as well.​

By the 1980s, the Rep was performing eight or nine shows a year, as well as two touring shows and three or four “Summer Showcase” shows, which allowed apprentices and students to gain experience. The shows would often alternate performances, with different shows occurring on successive days. According to Dr. Felicia Londre, each year, for a single weekend, the Saturday matinee, evening performance, Sunday matinee, and evening performance would all be different shows! This allowed out-of-town visitors to see four plays in a single weekend.​

As the Missouri Repertory Theater grew, it attracted well-known actors and directors, such as Marissa Pavan and Gardner McKay.​

One of the largest production in the history of the rep was the 1983 production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. The Missouri Repertory Theater was the third theater company in the world to produce the play, after the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival. The production was a large financial and reputational risk for the Rep! It cost $500,000 to stage. The play lasted 8.5 hours in total and was divided into two parts. Audience members could either see the two parts on consecutive evenings, or in a single day with a break for dinner. The show included 55 actors who played 200 different roles as well as extensive costuming and choreography. After several intense weeks of rehearsal, Nicholas Nickleby opened to wide acclaim and financial success, boosting the reputation of the Missouri Repertory Theater. More than 10,000 audience members experienced the show!​