LINKS TO PRESS​ & REVIEWS from the St. Louis Black Rep Production

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Feature: TOP 10 BEST OF ST. LOUIS THEATRE 2018

By Mark Bretz - 12/26/2018

#"5: Torn Asunder at The Black Rep. Nikkole Salter’s moving, profound and magnificent drama about the search of a former slave for her husband, separated from her when he is sold off in the shadow of the Civil War, was given its stunning world premiere by The Black Rep. Salter’s marvelous prose was elevated to epic status with searing performances by an excellent ensemble under producing director Ron Himes’ astute direction, making this a poignant and unforgettable saga."

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Review: St. Louis Post - Moving Drama of Former Slaves Makes Its World Premiere at the Black Rep

By Judith Newmark - 04/16/2018

“The absorbing drama making its world premiere at the Black Rep, “Torn Asunder,” takes place long ago, around the time of the Civil War. But if you have a family, it’s easy to relate to...No ending to Hannah’s story could be entirely satisfying. But the one Salter gives us feels right..”

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Review: Ladue News - Black Rep Presents World Premiere of Magnificent, Epic Drama 'Torn Asunder'

By Mark Bretz - 04/20/2018

“The Black Rep closes its 2017-18 season with the world premiere of a moving, profound and magnificent drama written by Nikkole Salter. Searing performances by an excellent ensemble under Ron Himes’ astute direction make Torn Asunder a poignant and unforgettable saga...Himes elicits superior performances by his truly outstanding troupe of players, who make Torn Asunder pulsate with affecting emotions as well as depicting the tortured history of the nation, especially in the South...Torn Asunder is a remarkable piece of theater, elevated to epic status by Salter’s marvelous prose and a cadre of searing, unforgettable performances by Himes’ accomplished players...RATING: A 5 on a scale of 1-to-5.”

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Review: St. Louis American - Black Rep's 'Torn Asunder' Displays Emotional Toll of Enslavement

By Kenya Vaughn - 04/26/2018

“There is an ache that lingers long after the final scene of The Black Rep’s season finale “Torn Asunder” fades to black...The play is a haunting reminder of the resilience of African Americans and showcases the unshakable will of a people to build a legacy through family and communities rooted in love despite the hate and inhumanity that shaped their existence...“Torn Asunder” gives the ills of slavery and the ripple effects that still penetrate the African American experience more than 150 years after emancipation an authentically haunting post script."

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Review: KDHX - Torn Asunder’ Personalizes the Ugly Truths of Slavery in a Powerful Production

By Tina Farmer - 04/27/2018

“The Black Rep gives audiences much to consider and reflect upon with a sharply directed world premiere production of “Torn Asunder.” The deeply moving tragedy, drawn from our nation’s history, shows us some unpleasant realities about the slave trade. Stirring, honest and emotionally connected performances ensure the audience cares what happens, and the play’s conclusion is at once sweetly satisfying and devastatingly painful....Playwright Salter and director Ron Himes do a masterful job of not simply bringing this story to life, but of creating a space where we can look at unpleasant truths many would rather ignore but we need to see."

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Feature: St. Louis American - "Love is Stronger to Bondage: Black Rep closes season 41 with world premiere Civil War drama ‘Torn Asunder’"

By Kenya Vaughn - 03/29/2018

“When I read this play, I probably cried through the last 40 pages,” said Ron Himes, founder and producing director of The St. Louis Black Repertory Company...As soon as I finished the last page, I called Nikkole and said, ‘I want to do this play next year,’” Himes said. “From then on it’s just been me figuring out how to be able to put the resources behind it to give it the production that I feel the story deserves.”

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Feature: American Theatre - "Reuniting Enslaved Families that have been Torn Asunder"

By Jerald Raymond Pierce - 04/06/2018

“Most people consider family to be the stabilizing institution of their lives,” Salter said. “That’s why when someone comes from a ‘broken family,’ we all tilt our head to the side and go, ‘Oh, what an uphill battle you must have.’ Because it’s such an important source of love and stability in a person’s life and their capacity to be able to achieve their destiny. So when you think about how our families were intentionally broken and how we tried to recover, you have a greater appreciation for that family unit.”

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Feature: St. Louis Post - 'Torn Asunder' at Black Rep tells stories of families ripped apart by slavery

By Judith Newmark - 04/11/2018

“I write in a narrative style because I want people who are descended from slaves to read this book, not just professors. But Nikkole created full characters and whole stories from scraps of history [says Dr. Heather Williams].”

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