This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 10, 2009 - A woman whose legacy is "playing" well with others will be remembered and celebrated Monday, Sept. 14, at The St. Louis Repertory Theatre, her artistic home for more than two decades.
Gregg, who died in July at the age of 65, served for more than 21 years as The Rep's associate artistic director and dramaturg, or someone who researches the history of a play and nurtures its development. During this period, she directed more than 30 productions, including "A Number," "Three Tall Women" and "Wit." In February 2009, she directed her last production, "The Miracle Worker," which played to full houses virtually every night.
Gregg shared her love of theater with children as well as adults. Fourteen years ago, she founded WiseWrite, a program in which fifth-graders in St. Louis city schools learn to write plays that are then produced, starring professional and advanced student actors. Her promotion of local theater defined not only her professional life but her personal time as well.
"She was really very good about seeing a lot of the work in town at local theaters and being a cheerleader for them and for the entire theater community," said Steven Woolf, The Rep artistic director, who brought Gregg to St. Louis.
Before coming to St. Louis, Gregg worked in New York City, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., among other cities.
The memorial event begins at 4 p.m. at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road.
Nancy Larson is a freelance writer who has covered theater over the years in St. Louis.
