Kathryn Bentley, MFA, previously served as Artistic Director of the Workers’ Theater and directed our latest original production, Mrs. Palmer’s Honey. Kathryn is an associate professor of theater performance, and artistic director of Southern Illinois University’s Black Theatre Workshop. A theater professional with extensive experience as an actor, director and teaching artist, she holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Directing and professional training in community arts and social justice. She is a 2002 St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Community Arts Institute Fellow, and she now serves as a faculty member for the institute. She is a National Conference for Community and Justice St. Louis Certified Diversity Facilitrainer and a Certified Lessac Kinesensic Voice and Movement Practitioner.

Her career as an artist has spanned several decades, and she has committed to utilizing her artistry as a way to challenge, inspire and build community through shared experiences. As a director, Bentley finds gratification with spearheading collaborations and devised work. Bentley is a member of Actor’s Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. In 2014, She was one of the premiere recipients of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellowship.