About Us
Robert L. Douglas
Playwright/Artistic Director
Playwright/Artistic Director
Playwright/Director Robert L. Douglas is the artistic director of the Repertory Theatre of Hope, Inc.
An accomplished actor, Douglas is a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville,
Tennessee, with a degree in Communication and Theatre. At TSU, he studied under the late
W. Dury Cox, and the late Dr. Thomas E. Poag, America’s first black Ph.D. in drama. His
experiences include performing with Bobby Jones and New Life on the Nashville Gospel Show, the
movie Sister, Sister by Maya Angelou for NBC-TV, an extra in the movie Nashville, directed by
Robert Altman, and Wilma, for NBC-TV. Some of the plays and roles Douglas has performed on
stage include:
Luke in The Amen Corner
Grandpa Baker in Family Love
Singer/Dancer in Purlie
Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Earl of Kent in King Lear
Ramsey Eyes in The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolias
Mr Jenkins in Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
The Narrator in The Zeitgiest: The Tragedy of Martin Luther King Jr. (with Oprah
Winfrey)
Father Kelleher in Catch Me If You Can
An accomplished actor, Douglas is a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville,
Tennessee, with a degree in Communication and Theatre. At TSU, he studied under the late
W. Dury Cox, and the late Dr. Thomas E. Poag, America’s first black Ph.D. in drama. His
experiences include performing with Bobby Jones and New Life on the Nashville Gospel Show, the
movie Sister, Sister by Maya Angelou for NBC-TV, an extra in the movie Nashville, directed by
Robert Altman, and Wilma, for NBC-TV. Some of the plays and roles Douglas has performed on
stage include:
Luke in The Amen Corner
Grandpa Baker in Family Love
Singer/Dancer in Purlie
Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Earl of Kent in King Lear
Ramsey Eyes in The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolias
Mr Jenkins in Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
The Narrator in The Zeitgiest: The Tragedy of Martin Luther King Jr. (with Oprah
Winfrey)
Father Kelleher in Catch Me If You Can
Douglas’ original play Family Love played at the Detroit Music Hall in 1997, and his original plays
Gettin' Up Outta Here, I Want My Forty Acres and a Mule! With Interest!, Bringin’ The
Word: The Legacy of Black Preachers in Detroit, Pressure Points: Teenage Trials &
Triumphs, Young Soul Rising: The Other Side of the Street, and Grandma Rogers’
Neighborhood for the Hope Repertory Theatre. Along with directing his own plays, he also
directed The Amen Corner, Purlie Victorious, and A Raisin in the Sun. Douglas moved to
Michigan in June of 1980 and worked as a counselor and administrator at Oakland University in
Rochester, Michigan until 1988. He began writing plays at O. U. to meet the cultural needs of
African-American students enrolled at the university. He worked as a counselor at the University of
Michigan from 1988 to 1995. Before coming to Hope United Methodist Church as youth director and
artistic director of Community Theatre in 1997, he worked as a copywriter at Don Coleman
Advertising, Inc.(GlobalHue) in Southfield, Michigan. He is a member of Hope United Methodist
Church, a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is married (Jacqueline), with two sons
(Kali and Omari Jones), and a dog (Cory).
Gettin' Up Outta Here, I Want My Forty Acres and a Mule! With Interest!, Bringin’ The
Word: The Legacy of Black Preachers in Detroit, Pressure Points: Teenage Trials &
Triumphs, Young Soul Rising: The Other Side of the Street, and Grandma Rogers’
Neighborhood for the Hope Repertory Theatre. Along with directing his own plays, he also
directed The Amen Corner, Purlie Victorious, and A Raisin in the Sun. Douglas moved to
Michigan in June of 1980 and worked as a counselor and administrator at Oakland University in
Rochester, Michigan until 1988. He began writing plays at O. U. to meet the cultural needs of
African-American students enrolled at the university. He worked as a counselor at the University of
Michigan from 1988 to 1995. Before coming to Hope United Methodist Church as youth director and
artistic director of Community Theatre in 1997, he worked as a copywriter at Don Coleman
Advertising, Inc.(GlobalHue) in Southfield, Michigan. He is a member of Hope United Methodist
Church, a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is married (Jacqueline), with two sons
(Kali and Omari Jones), and a dog (Cory).
Christopher E. Knight
Composer
Composer
About the Composer
Christopher E. Knight is the composer and musical director for the Repertory Theatre of Hope.
Knight has teamed with Douglas to write music for all his plays, including Family Love performed at
the Music Hall in Detroit, Bringin’ The Word: The Legacy of Black Preachers in Detroit, I Want
My Forty Acres and a Mule! With Interest!, and Gettin’ Up Outta Here all performed here at
the Repertory Theatre of Hope. Knight is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester,
Michigan. A native Detroiter, Knight began playing piano at the age of seven. Over the years, he
had studied with and been trained by such musical luminaries as Charles Boles, James Tatum,
Harold McKinnney, and Sam Sanders. His high school teacher, Rose Hubbard encouraged him to
develop his writing abilities to the fullest, after she heard an original piece he had written. For over
eight years, Knight was the “keyboard man” for the Flaming Emeralds, a popular local group. With
the Flaming Emeralds, he performed in major concerts with the O’Jays, the Manhattans, Millie
Jackson, and has toured with the Floaters. He is currently the founder and lead keyboard player
for the jazz group Knightlife and is working on a CD that will be released soon. He is married
(Denise) with two sons (Christopher, Jr and Nikolas).
Christopher E. Knight is the composer and musical director for the Repertory Theatre of Hope.
Knight has teamed with Douglas to write music for all his plays, including Family Love performed at
the Music Hall in Detroit, Bringin’ The Word: The Legacy of Black Preachers in Detroit, I Want
My Forty Acres and a Mule! With Interest!, and Gettin’ Up Outta Here all performed here at
the Repertory Theatre of Hope. Knight is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester,
Michigan. A native Detroiter, Knight began playing piano at the age of seven. Over the years, he
had studied with and been trained by such musical luminaries as Charles Boles, James Tatum,
Harold McKinnney, and Sam Sanders. His high school teacher, Rose Hubbard encouraged him to
develop his writing abilities to the fullest, after she heard an original piece he had written. For over
eight years, Knight was the “keyboard man” for the Flaming Emeralds, a popular local group. With
the Flaming Emeralds, he performed in major concerts with the O’Jays, the Manhattans, Millie
Jackson, and has toured with the Floaters. He is currently the founder and lead keyboard player
for the jazz group Knightlife and is working on a CD that will be released soon. He is married
(Denise) with two sons (Christopher, Jr and Nikolas).
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| Our Mission... The Repertory Theatre Hope is a non-profit organization that produces African American theatrical plays from established and new playwrights, and offers work for seasoned and beginning actors and aspiring directors. Exposure to backstage functions will serve as the catalyst for advancing the interest and knowledge of youth and adults in the theatrical field, thereby helping to create a new generation of people who will appreciate and support the arts. |
| Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others; faithfully administering God’s grace in it’s various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4: 10-11 |
| Our Vision... The Repertory Theatre of Hope will be a theatrical center that serves as a portal to live performances, using the "dramatic play" as a forum to entertain and inform youth and adults about the richness, history and culture of African-Americans. |
| The Repertory Theatre of Hope |
About the Musical Director
Kali Douglas is the musical director, a composer, drummer
and keyboardist for the Repertory Theatre of Hope, Inc. Growing up around theatre has allowed
him to soak up all aspects of production. He is now using his God given gifts of music as one of
the drummers for the music ministry of Hope United Methodist Church and Hartford Memorial
Baptist Church, and as an occasional keyboardist for Christian Tabernacle Church. As a
drummer, Kali has played with recording artist Penny Wells, the Al McKenzie Trio, rapper Self
MEYI , Motown recording artist Suai, and is currently one of the two drummers for Motown
recording artist KEM. In addition to music, Kali also acts and has performed in Robert L. Douglas’
Bandele: Follow Me Home for the Spaulding Center for Children, Gettin’ Up Outta Here, I
Want My Forty Acres and A Mule! With Interest!, and Bringin’ The Word: The Legacy of
Black Preachers In Detroit for the Repertory Theatre of Hope.
Kali Douglas is the musical director, a composer, drummer
and keyboardist for the Repertory Theatre of Hope, Inc. Growing up around theatre has allowed
him to soak up all aspects of production. He is now using his God given gifts of music as one of
the drummers for the music ministry of Hope United Methodist Church and Hartford Memorial
Baptist Church, and as an occasional keyboardist for Christian Tabernacle Church. As a
drummer, Kali has played with recording artist Penny Wells, the Al McKenzie Trio, rapper Self
MEYI , Motown recording artist Suai, and is currently one of the two drummers for Motown
recording artist KEM. In addition to music, Kali also acts and has performed in Robert L. Douglas’
Bandele: Follow Me Home for the Spaulding Center for Children, Gettin’ Up Outta Here, I
Want My Forty Acres and A Mule! With Interest!, and Bringin’ The Word: The Legacy of
Black Preachers In Detroit for the Repertory Theatre of Hope.
Kali Douglas
Musical Director
Musical Director
