[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22774-22775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        KUNTU REPERTORY THEATRE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the House's attention to 
an important cultural resource in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  The Kuntu Repertory Theatre of the University of Pittsburgh's 
Department of Africana Studies has been presenting the works of 
African, African-American, and Caribbean playwrights and poets since 
1974. The Theatre was founded that year by Vernell A. Lillie to 
showcase the works of Rob Penny, the school's playwright in residence, 
as well as those of other authors whose works explore the Black 
experience. It plays an important role in Pittsburgh by providing an 
important voice in the region's cultural mix. In addition, the Kuntu 
Repertory Theatre is the only ongoing African American theater group in 
Pittsburgh; consequently, it provides African American actors, writers 
and technicians with opportunities that might not be available 
elsewhere.
  Over the last 28 years, the KRT has produced more than 80 plays under 
the direction

[[Page 22775]]

of Dr. Lillie, who has been a faculty member in the University of 
Pittsburgh's Department of Africana Studies since 1972. This year marks 
both Dr. Lillie's 70th birthday and her 30th anniversary at the 
University of Pittsburgh.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th 
Congressional District, I want to commend Professor Lillie and the 
members of the Kuntu Repertory Theatre for their important cultural 
contributions and congratulate them as they begin their 28th season of 
high-quality, thought-provoking plays.

                          ____________________