Professor Founds St. Louis Theatre Company

College Professor of Theatre Trish B. Schmit is building new bridges across the Mississippi River—straight from the College to the bustling St. Louis theatre scene. Professor Schmit, known as Trish Brown in theatre circles, launched the Prism Theatre Company this summer with business partner Joy Addler—a respected St. Louis area stage manager, company manager, and nonprofit professional.

The company’s debut season featured two nights of staged readings celebrating new works by women playwrights. Each night’s performance consisted of a short and a full-length play, followed by discussions with the actors, playwrights, and the creative team. This festival of women writers took place on August 13 and 14 in University City, Missouri, and played to sold-out houses.

The productions featured professional actors, directors, and technicians from St. Louis area performing arts organizations such as Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Variety Children’s Theatre.

Prism Theatre is a small professional company with big aspirations. “What we are trying to do with this company is build a bigger stage for women and emerging artists to share their work in a kind, collaborative, inclusive environment,” Brown says.

Prism Theatre Company only has two performances under its belt so far, but the endeavor has already helped to build bridges between Principia College and the professional theatre scene in St. Louis. Ideas and opportunities are flowing across that bridge in both directions. Principia College alumni Angela Sage Larsen and Doug Beck serve on the theatre company’s board and are helping create new opportunities for professional actors, directors, and behind-the-scenes experts in St. Louis. Brown and Addler are currently working to form relationships with donors while actively producing a new season at Prism.

“I work as a professional director and I work as a professional educator,” Brown says. “Those lives sometimes blend together and they are sometimes separate. But having a professional company provides opportunities that benefit both my students and Prism. I am able to give my students and other young, emerging artists a place to do their work alongside professionals outside of the college or university setting. That was very important to both Joy and me as a pillar of our mission.”

The company was featured in St. Louis Magazine and The Riverfront Times and is currently working on planning its next season, which will include two full productions—one world premiere and one known work—as well as another Festival of New Works that will spotlight a different group of playwrights. For further information, visit Prism Theatre Company.