Little Rock, Arkansas – Steve H. Broadnax III has been named the next artistic director of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
Broadnax will take over the post after Ken-Matt Martin served as temporary artistic director for The Rep’s 2024 season. Martin and Executive Director Will Trice will continue to work for The Rep as Producing Director.
Broadnax, who graduated from Parkview High School and was born in Little Rock, had his Broadway debut as the director of Thoughts of a Colored Man.
His previous works include the premieres of Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Hot Wing King at NY’s Signature Theatre and Suzan-Lori Parks’ Sally & Tom at the Guthrie Theatre and Geffen Theatre.
He is the Co-Head of the MFA in Directing program at Penn State University, where he also has degrees from Webster University.
Broadnax recently directed Marie & Rosetta and Native Gardens at The Rep. She also starred in Jitney from the previous season and Dreamgirls from 2004.
The Rep’s 2025 SummerStage season will begin with Me & The Devil, a musical production written and directed by Broadnax that will have its world premiere.
Broadnax remarked, “It is a privilege to come home and assume the position of Artistic Director at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.” “The Representative has a long history of encouraging community involvement and gripping storytelling. I’m excited to expand on that foundation, connect with Little Rock’s thriving artistic community and beyond, and tell compelling and varied stories on stage. The Rep is expanding its dedication to daring, timely, and revolutionary works, and my appointment marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the organization’s history. While respecting the customs that have made The Rep a beloved institution for nearly 50 years, I wish to bring in new viewpoints.
According to The Rep’s Board of Directors Chair Nikki Lovell, the decision was made unanimously.
“The Board of Directors seized the chance to appoint Steve as The Rep’s Artistic Director with great enthusiasm and overwhelming approval. The Board was even more pleased by his contagious personality, his passion, and his love for The Rep than by his enormous talent and accomplishments. We are really lucky to have Steve back at The Rep and prepared to guide us into the 2025 season. After a very successful SummerStage 2024, it was clear that we already had an abundance of resources with Will Trice and Ken-Matt Martin.
“It has been a true joy working with Ken-Matt Martin this past year, and I couldn’t be more excited to expand that collaboration going forward with Steve Broadnax,” said Rep. Executive Director Will Trice. Steve, like me and the other members of our leadership team, was born in Little Rock and developed a passion for theater at The Rep. He turned that passion into a career as one of the most in-demand directors in the business, and the fact that he wishes to return home to carry on The Rep’s legacy is evidence of the influence this organization can have. He is a fantastic human being in addition to being a star.
The work of renowned filmmaker, author, educator, and activist Broadnax connects social justice, education, and the arts. As a self-described member of the Hip Hop Generation, Broadnax uses theater to challenge stereotypes and elevate marginalized voices while incorporating the cultural energies of globalization, mass media, and civil inequity into his artistic practice.
According to Broadnax, an artist and educator, “You don’t know who you are until you see your reflection.” His dedication to producing works that both amuse and educate audiences is fueled by this concept.
The 18 years that Broadnax spent at Penn State University serve as a testament to his scholarly accomplishments. He is the Co-Head of MFA Directing and a tenured full-time professor at PSU. He has fostered a vibrant artistic community by giving faculty, students, and alumni professional possibilities. In addition, he was the Associate Artistic Director of People’s Light Theatre and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Because of his important contributions to the arts, Broadnax was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
Fostering the next generation of artists is a priority for Broadnax. His dedication to diversity, accessibility, and representation of the international community has been shown in his work in both academic and professional contexts. The goals of Broadnax are to strengthen communities who are marginalized by prevailing cultural narratives, restore humanity to those who are misrepresented, and give voice to the voiceless.
In the Penn State community and beyond, his contributions have spurred important discussions on intersectionality, identity, and the human condition. Steve H. Broadnax III honors the hopes of his forebears and the dreams of his descendants by using his art and activism to create a more compassionate, thoughtful, and inclusive world.
