Ralph E. Greene, Artistic Director of Unity Theatre Ensemble, Bonnie Harmon, General Manager and the Ensemble recently received the prestigious Pathfinder Award, presented by the President of the Black Theatre Network (BTN), a national African American Theatre Organization celebrating its seventeenth year of supporting and promoting, and preserving Black Theatre through performance on all levels throughout the Diaspora. They received the Award at BTN's 2004 Conference held at Kent State University on August 5, along with Karamu House, the oldest African American theatre producing organization in the country.

According to Greene, "this award was indeed an honor for us, as we have been working to preserve African American theater through performance for going on thirty-three years. We don't have a lot of money, we don't have a permanent venue, but we have purpose, and that has made the difference. That is what makes patrons say that they 'experience the difference.' I think that we are finally getting the national recognition that we deserve. In August, 2003, we were tapped to perform at the 14th Bi-annual National Black Theatre Festival for six performances of our production of Terry McMillan's novel, "Mama," to critical acclaim at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We trust that we can get individual, corporate and community support to help us to continue our legacy, especially at a time when African American theaters around the country are folding because of lack of funding."

We encourage all our patrons, old and new, to support our next production David Barr and Mamie Till-Mobley's "The State of Mississippi vs. Emmett Till," to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Till's death, (February 10-13, 2005).

Unity Theatre Ensemble is supported in part by grants from the Minority Arts Program of the Missouri Arts Council, The Regional Arts Commission, and The National Endowment for the Arts.