Upstream Theater

WORLD CLASS THEATER FOR A WORLD CLASS CITY

Since 2005, Upstream has been bringing a world of theater to St. Louis, producing plays from places as far-flung as Argentina and Australia. Two-thirds of our shows have been U.S. premieres, and all are chosen for local impact. Upstream shows continue to spark discourse in and beyond our local community.

UNIQUE IN ST. LOUIS

Upstream’s international focus is unique in the region and rare in the country. Our innovative productions of classical and contemporary works have attracted consistent local recognition as well as national acclaim, including three grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. We are the only local company (and first in Missouri) to be awarded a National Theatre Grant from the American Theatre Wing (founder of the Tonys). We have been committed to professionalism since our first production, and have always operated under a full contract with Actors’ Equity, which assures our actors safe working conditions, regulated wages and benefits.

GLOBAL THINKING LOCAL ACT

St. Louis is a city of great diversity, with a wealth of artistic talent. From the beginning we have put that diversity on stage by deliberately and consistently hiring across lines of race and ethnicity. In 2021 the theater received the Missouri Arts Award, the state’s highest honor in the arts, in recognition of our work “promoting diversity, inclusion, and the cultures and concerns of people from around the globe by bringing audiences international plays performed with imaginative, non-traditional casting.”